After a busy week for firefighters in the Cape Winelands District, mop-up operations began above Waverley Hills last night.
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The blaze between Ceres and Wolseley started on Tuesday afternoon in the mountains just above the R46 after a festive season that resulted in dozens of callouts across the province.
On Wednesday afternoon, firefighters in Cape Winelands were able to contain a fire that was burning in parts of the mountains that couldn’t be reached.
Because of this, helicopters were deployed to the area to help put out the fire.
Additional ground crews were also deployed overnight to relieve those who had been on the front line for most of yesterday.
“The Cape Winelands and partners extend our deep thanks to the community for their care and support,” Cape Winelands District municipality spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto, adding that no injuries, deaths or structural damages had been reported.
Western Cape firefighters had a busy festive season, dousing nearly two dozen blazes across the province.
Earlier this week, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment’s Working on Fire (WoF) programme spokesperson, Limakatso Khalianyane, confirmed that the programme had been called out to deal with four fires, three on New Year’s Day and one in Ocean View, on Tuesday, within the first three days of 2023.
Among others, a fire broke out on New Year’s Day at Kloofnek Drive in Cape Town, and a spotter plane and a Huey helicopter were dispatched to help Table Mountain National Park contain the flames.
WoF was also asked to assist the City of Cape Town with the Steenbras Dam fire.
She further added that aerial resources flew for 79 hours in December and nine hours in January so far.
Khalianyane also confirmed that the busiest teams during December were Kluitjieskraal forestry support, and Bredasdorp and Uniondale units.
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