Mop-up operations are underway following Highlands fire

Mop-up operations are underway following the Overberg fire that burnt for 4 days in Kleinmond

More than 5 400 hectares of fynbos and pine plantations were burned, one building was destroyed and preliminary agricultural damages include 10ha of commercial fynbos.

The Western Cape’s Local Government, Environmental affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, says they are probing the cause of the fire and will do an estimate of the total damages and costs accrued during the operation.

‘’We were extremely fortunate this time that no human life was lost, which is always the number one priority during these operations, and monitoring will continue for the next few weeks as some areas of dense alien vegetation will continue to smolder.’’

Bredell said the number one cause of wildfires are human and has urged residents to be responsible and careful when dealing with fires.

“It would be sad to know that all the resources, time, money and risk to personnel, as well as the destruction of thousands of hectares of land could have been prevented through different human behaviour,” he said.

The public can call 112 toll-free on any cell phone and request a free connection to the local fire services to report any possible veld fires. 

 

PICTURE: Overstrand Muncipality

Done By: Mitchum George