Update:
In its latest fire update this morning, 24 December, the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) Fire Services confirmed that two of the three fires reported on late yesterday have been contained.
Wemmershoek – Drakenstein
According to the municipality, all lines except for one, burning above the farms in an old plantation and running parallel with the Wemmershoek Road have been contained.
All structures and netted orchards were successfully protected, and no damages were sustained.
Vehicles and teams from CWDN and CapeNature will continue working the line throughout the day.
Paardeberg – Drakenstein
The municipality reported that the Paardeberg fire was successfully contained late yesterday evening after CWDM and Drakenstein municipality, together with several private services contracted by landowners in the area were deployed to tackle the blaze.
‘Due to excellent teamwork, no damages to property or famland was reported,’ said CWDM.
Kwaggaskloof – Breede Valley
CWDM added that teams had their hands full in Kwaggaskloof, where high flames were driven by strong winds often threatening houses.
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre’s aerial resources assisted teams on the ground for an hour before returning to base. Fire and ground crews were able to continue with firefighting efforts and contained the fire late last night.
‘Although there were a few very close calls, no property damages were sustained,’ said CWDM. ‘The fire has been fully contained; however, teams will stay in the area for the next few hours.’
In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday afternoon, the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) Fire Services found themselves stretched thin as they responded to three distinct fires raging across the district, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The swift and coordinated response comes amidst challenging conditions, with strong winds fuelling the flames and the potential threat to local properties significantly heightening.
The first of the fires ignited above a berry farm on Wemmershoek Road, adjacent to a local prison in the Drakenstein municipality.
With a fire line that has expanded considerably due to fierce winds, firefighting teams are working diligently with the support of CapeNature’s ground teams and vehicles. While there are no immediate threats to structures in the vicinity, attention remains focused on protecting several netted orchards that may be at risk.
Shortly thereafter, the Paardeberg area, also located in Drakenstein, reported another significant fire.
Here, local flora is under threat and a coordinated response involving Drakenstein Fire Services and the Winelands Fire Protection Association has been initiated.
Landowners in the vicinity have urgently requested aerial resources, hoping to safeguard properties from the advancing flames.
The situation escalated further with the emergence of a third fire in the Kwaggaskloof Dam area, situated outside Worcester towards Villiersdorp.
This fire prompted immediate action from fire vehicles and ground teams, alongside the aerial assistance of a Black Hawk helicopter provided by the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PMDC).
The Kwaggaskloof area, known for its popularity in water sports, houses numerous properties that now hang in the balance as firefighting efforts persist.
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Picture: CWDM / Facebook
