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 MuncipalityDone By: Mitchum George
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