More than 250 people in the Western Cape have been displaced amid runaway wildfires in the province.
Also read: Pringle Bay residents allowed to return home following wildfire evacuation
On Monday, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a Yellow-level two warning for damaging winds, coastal winds and thunderstorms for the central and northern parts of the Western Cape as well as for the southern parts of the Northern Cape.
On 30 January, the Overstrand Municipality declared a ‘Code Red’, which means the raging fires in Hangklip threatened the safety of residents. Pringle Bay’s residents were advised to evacuate immediately but allowed to return to their homes last night.
According to Overstrand Mayor Dr Annelie Rabie, the municipality responded to six fires in separate areas, including Masakhane and Sea Farm. Four properties were destroyed in Sea Farm, and the families were temporarily relocated to the Kleinmond Town Hall.
In the Breede Valley and Witzenberg in the Cape Winelands, fires continue to burn out of control. Four homes in Steenbok Park were lost. Chalets at the Fairy Glen Nature Reserve also burned down.
As per the Cape Winelands District Municipality, the fire that started above the Brandvlei Prison on Monday afternoon spread across the top of the Dwarsberg mountain. By late yesterday afternoon, the fire was around four kilometres long.
The Dwarsberg Trout Hideaway, a self-catering accommodation in Rawsonville, managed to evade evacuations when a sudden change in wind direction forced the fire away from structures and back into the mountains.
The fires were fuelled by a strong north-westerly wind. ‘The only fire line where progress in securing the line has been made is the Elandsberg line,’ the municipality told News24.
On 29 January, the City of Cape Town firefighters battled blazes in Vrygrond, Masiphumelele, Broadlands and Overcome Heights. Charlotte Powell, spokesperson for the City’s disaster risk management centre, says about 40 structures were lost during the fire at the Overcome Heights informal settlement, displacing 150 people.
A 12-year-old boy also had to receive treatment for burns.
‘Infrastructure damage includes standpipes, portable toilets and electrical infrastructure. The relevant City services will be activated to assist in this regard,’ says Powell.
‘In Masiphumelele, a fire destroyed 30 dwellings, affecting 100 people.’
‘Our NGO partners will provide humanitarian assistance, and various City departments will assess the damaged infrastructure.’
Also read:
Firefighting efforts continue in Cape Winelands despite cooler weather
Picture: JP Smith / Facebook