Publications
Partners
Hot and dry weather conditions across much of South Africa created the conditions for runaway fires yesterday. The Government funded Working on Fire (WoF) programme attended 55 fires yesterday. More than a 1,000 WoF fire fighters, together with 13 spotter aircraft, 19 fixed wing bombers and 8 helicopter bombers managed to bring 30 of these fires under control by nightfall. Five civilian fatalities, including a 1 month old baby, were reported from the Harrismith fire in the Free State.
All the 24 Working on Fire Teams in Mpumalanga were deployed at various fires in the province yesterday. Two Working on Fire teams were deployed at the Harrismith and two teams at the Ficksburg fires. 1 spotter aircraft, 1 chopper and 7 teams were deployed at 6 fires in the Eastern Cape. Five (5) teams, 1 spotter aircraft and 1 helicopter were deployed at 7 fires in Limpopo. Fifteen teams, 1 spotter aircraft and 1 bomber were deployed at 18 fires in KwaZulu Natal yesterday. 5 teams were deployed at 5 fires in Gauteng yesterday.
The Working on Fire ground and aerial resources resumed their fire fighting activities at first light this morning with a spotter aircraft, 2 helicopters and 3 ground teams deployed at the Harrismith fire.
Six Working on Fire Teams and 1 spotter aircraft were deployed at first light at the Kruger National Park fires and 26 teams have been placed on standby in KwaZulu Natal.
The MD of Working on Fire, Mr. Trevor Abrahams reported that "South Africa is currently experiencing the worst winter fire season in seven years with the Working on Fire programme having had to attend over 2,000 fires since June this year".
