Several blazes have caused devastation across the Western Cape since the beginning of the fire season, and provincial government has estimated the cost of the damage to be around R80-million already.
In the 2017 fire season, the province quelled approximately 17 000 fires, and have battled big blazes in towns such as Betty’s Bay, Wupperthal, and the Overberg region.
Speaking to IOL, Overberg fire chief, Richard Geldenhuys said that a small flareup happened again on Friday evening, but was put out before it could spread. “At this stage, we’ve a fair idea of how the fires were started, appointed an investigator and we are still waiting for a report,” he said.
The recurrent and devastating blazes this year have been attributed to the drought, which has made the veld dry and prone to fire. “There is a lot of fuel in the form of dead trees, etc., that makes the situation so much worse,” Environmental Affairs MEC Anton Bredell said.
The cost of firefighting includes the prices of fuel, wildfire crews and helicopters.
Last weekend, approximately 150 firefighters were deployed to put out a fire on Signal Hill.
Bredell said resources used to fight blazes vary from fire to fire and depend on risk factors, weather and territory.
Picture: Twitter
