Southern Cape fires four times bigger than Knysna blaze

Southern Cape fires four times bigger than Knysna blaze - Working On Fire

5 November 2018 5:50 PM

The fires that continue to rage in parts of the Southern Cape are four times the extent of the fires that burnt in Knysna last year.

This is according to Working On Fire's provincial communications officer, Lauren Howard.

The Knysna fire burnt approximately 22 000 hectares. The Southern Cape fires have reached 91 000 hectares, Howard says.

Additional resources and crew members have been brought in from the Free State as firefighting efforts in the Garden Route continue for the second week.

Howard says firefighters are conducting intense mop-up operations to ensure that fires don't flare up again in some areas.

About 400 people have been evacuated in different parts of the Southern Cape.

The evacuated residents are still being hosted at various locations, including town halls and a rugby field.

They will only return to their homes once authorities declare the areas safe.

Our Free State team, 100 firefighters and five management, arrived yesterday evening. We also have extra spotter planes, helicopters as well as a [water] bomber.
— Lauren Howard, Provincial communications officer at Working On Fire

We have quite a bit of rain coming in today and tomorrow, so that is helping with the fire-suppression activities.
— Lauren Howard, Provincial communications officer at Working On Fire

There are still a few fire lines that are active in Garcia's Pass as well as Jonkersberg.
— Lauren Howard, Provincial communications officer at Working On Fire