Cape Town
The fire in Masiphumelele broke out on Tuesday afternoon and was contained in the evening.
JP Smith, MMC of Community Safety in Cape Town, said about 40 firefighters were sent to the fire straight after it was reported at 15:15.
He also said strong winds made firefighting difficult.
“I want to thank all the Safety and Security staff who played a meaningful role in containing the fire. It truly is a team effort from Fire, LE, MPD, Traffic and finally DRM” said Smith.
No casualties were reported as a result of the fire.
The Animal Welfare Society of SA, said many pets and community animals are in urgent need of help, care, and comfort, as a result of the fire.
The organisation urges residents to donate blankets, silbecor burn wound ointment, bottled water, dog and cat food.
Drop Off points are the Forest Drive Veterinary Clinic (Pinelands), Gummi Bears (Plumstead), Pelican (Hout Bay) and Tears Animal Rescue.
Franschoek
The fire in Franschoek continues to burn, five days later.
The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) Fire Services, said a sudden flare-up occurred in the area, on Tuesday, at the Three Streams farm, driven by very strong winds of between 50 and 80 km/h.
There are currently three active fire lines high up in inaccessible areas, above the Berg River Dam.
A fourth line is in the mountains above Franschhoek, between the Cape Winelands and the Overberg District municipal areas.
The Incident Management Team (IMT) is concerned that firefighters and ground crews will continue to face extremely challenging conditions due to predicted hot weather combined with strong winds.
These conditions increase the likelihood of further flare-ups, spot fires, and risks such as dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Important details: Animal Welfare Society of SA
Bank: Nedbank
Account Number: 114 822 258 8
Branch Code: 198765
Reference: Fire Relief
👉 Online donations:
awscape.org.za/donation-form