Water tankers and tip trucks were used to suppress smoke and flames at the municipal dump, where fires have blazed and smouldered for five consecutive days.
Water tankers and tip trucks were used to suppress smoke and flames at the municipal dump, where fires have blazed and smouldered for five consecutive days.
Residents have expressed increasing concern about the health effects of thick smoke from the fires, which has affected various areas at different times, according to the wind direction.
Municipal staff have been attending to the fires since Monday 19 August, said Makana's Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Cleansing, Johann Esterhuizen.
In an email to the Grocott’s Mail on Tuesday 20 August, Makana Communications Officer Yoliswa Ramokolo said, “They have five tipper trucks collecting clay to put on top of the debris to cover the fire. They are also using water tankers to dampen the area and reduce smoke."
“We think that by tomorrow (Wednesday 21 August) this will all be fine.”
The fire began last Friday after vagrants allegedly lit a fire near the dump site. When Grocott's Mail spoke to people at the dump site, however, they denied their involvement, instead blaming municipal workers.
The Grahamstown Equestrian Centre’s Claire Faddel told Grocott’s Mail on Tuesday that the fire had died down a bit. She said there was less smoke than during the weekend and that this was good news for the horses.
When reporters visited the Grahamstown Equestrian Centre on Tuesday however, the smoke was very noticeable.
Causing fresh concern was smoke coming from behind the golf course late Tuesday afternoon. This was from veld burning next to the airstrip, however, and had burnt out by Tuesday night.
Two firemen from the Makana Municipality Department of Fire and Rescue Services were seen at the dump on Friday. The firemen said nothing much could reasonably be done to stop flames at that stage. They said they hoped for rain.
Methane gas, which accumulates underground from rotting trash in large quantities, is highly combustible.
Experts have expressed concern that burning rubber tyres, plastic and other items emit toxic fumes that may harm people's health.
