Fire in Somerset West under control

By Yamkela Xhaso
04 March

Fire fighters have managed to put the fire burning in the Somerset West area under control.

The fire has been burning since last month and threatened two of South Africa’s most prestigious wine estates.

The damage is estimated to be in the region of R20m. City of Cape Town Chief of fire services Ian Schnetler said fires outside the City side were under control and fire fighters were doing damping down operations.

There was a section on the other side of the mountain that was still burning in the Overberg region. Smoke from that area was coming down to Velderburg area. But fires in the Velegeren and Lourensford area near the Horseshoe Bend in the N2 have been contained.

Staff there are doing clamping down operations.