Cape Town - Firefighters have managed to contain a raging wildfire that began inside the Goukamma Nature Reserve near Knysna this weekend - with the help of a rescue boat and its crew.
It took the combined efforts of the local fire department, Working on Fire volunteers, CapeNature rangers and a National Sea Rescue Institute vessel to eventually douse the flames.
Institute Wilderness duty coxswain Garth Dominy said on Tuesday morning they were called out to the reserve in Sedgefield at around 2pm on Monday to assist as the blaze seemed to be spreading uncontrollably towards Knysna.
The fire was tearing through the wet reeds between Lake Pleasant and the N2 highway, he said. With firefighting helicopters still four hours away, authorities brainstormed a novel plan to block the spreading flames.
“We towed our rescue craft, Spirit of Rotary 100, to the scene and Cape Nature supplied a water pump and hoses,” said Dominy. They launched the vessel on to Lake Pleasant and guided it through the reeds towards the flank of the raging blaze.
Carrying out the plan devised by commanders from the fire department, institute volunteers constructed a firebreak, ultimately guiding the blaze to an area that fire trucks and firemen could easily access.
“By fighting the fire from the water, we were able to prevent the fire from crossing a strategic point,” said Dominy, adding: “It is not normal procedure…”
By Tuesday morning it was reported that the fire had been completely extinguished.
Cape Argus