Grahamstown fire fighters have been praised for their courage in preventing tragedy last weekend, as at least three fires ravaged through areas of bush on the west and north of Grahamstown last weekend, forcing families to evacuate their homes.
Grahamstown fire fighters have been praised for their courage in preventing tragedy last weekend, as at least three fires ravaged through areas of bush on the west and north of Grahamstown last weekend, forcing families to evacuate their homes.
Traffic came to a near standstill on the N2 last weekend after a fire broke out on Thursday on the Highlands road behind Waainek prison. It spread quickly from the valley to the top of the mountain, towards houses on the Highlands road.
Brackendale farm was affected, as gale-force winds fanned the blaze, allowing it to rip through the veld.
On Friday the fire flared up again, now travelling down the hill towards the N2 to Port Elizabeth, destroying two cottages along the way.
Municipal spokesperson Mncedisi Boma told Grocott's Mail later that these were privately owned cottages abutting municipal land, some of which had been affected by the fire. Boma said the fire continued through Saturday.
Traffic on the N2 was affected and traffic officials ordered drivers to slow down and turn on their hazard lights as they drove through the thick smoke.
Boma said they'd had to rope in traffic officials from other parts of the province to bolster the local team, as fire fighters battled with two-metre-high flames.
The fire was finally extinguished at 4pm on Sunday 15 September.
Meanwhile, another fire forced families to flee their homes in Somerset Heights on Sunday morning. Snaking quickly from the veld south of the army base, it raged close to Spencer Chapman Drive.
Boma said families in 12 houses under threat from the blaze were ordered to evacuate their homes. They were advised to take their valuables and flee.
The Pote family, whose house is set into the surrounding bush, were the first forced to evacuate. Belinda Pote said they had begun by taking their four dogs and two African Grey parrots to a safe place.
Pote said their boundary fence had been completely razed and her garden destroyed. She said the plants hanging outside their windows had died.
Manager of Parks and Recreation at Makana Municipality, Kevin Bates, was among the first to arrive. He worked with fire department and volunteer fire fighters and this week praised them for courageously preventing what he said could easily have become a tragedy.
Bates said the indigenous bushes to the east of the houses had helped contain the fires.
He said, "The fire was travelling fast and was getting a bit out of control, but when it reached the indigenous bush it died down because these are lush evergreen plants that contain substances resistant to fire."
Bates said he had already met with householders who had experienced the worst of the fire. He said his department would make an effort to clean up the area near their boundaries. Where possible, he would bring in indigenous trees to replace the alien vegetation.
He said he would do this on the understanding that they would help water and maintain the plants.
The Pote family were fulsome in their praise of the heroes who had contained the fire. In particular, Mark Pote named volunteer Edward Everton, the first to arrive with his private water tank truck, neighbour Jetta du Preez who called for help and a fireman he only knew as Officer Skeyi.
Speaking about the earlier fires, Bates said this week that veld on the west and east of the N2 was prone to wild fires. He explained that the depth of the valley, together with its mature vegetation, an extended dry period and strong north-westerly prevailing winds had created conditions conducive to runaway fires.
He said, "The municipal land has been cleared of alien invasive plants by the Albany Working for Water Project. This is an ongoing project to reinstate the natural veld on municipal commonage."
Bates said 95% of the fire had swept through private land and had encroached on municipal land only in the last stages of the blaze.
