Too early to declare Cape a disaster area

By Mikhaila Crowie
8 February 2009

Premier of the Western Cape, Lynne Brown, has said it is way too early to declare regions in the Western Cape a disaster area.

Local fire-fighters have been working around the clock to extinguish blazes around the Cape.

The Mother City has had 90 fire calls from early Friday morning until late afternoon. Hot weather in excess of 40 degrees Celsius and windy conditions have made the situation ripe for wildfires.

In just one day 19 infernos were reported in the Cape Town area alone.

From Stellenbosch to the Overberg, emergency services were stretched thin trying to battle the fires.