CAPE TOWN - The Overstrand fire that raged for nearly three days and charred more than 4 000 hectares of vegetation was finally contained on Tuesday, with an urgent report now expected on its cause.
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy on Tuesday commended the approximately 300 firefighters who risked their lives as the fire moved towards Arabella Country Estate on Monday night.
“As a matter of course, the Fire Protection Association in the area is expected to compile a fire report regarding the facts pertaining to the source/origins of the fire.
“In the interest of public accountability, the director-general of the department has asked the acting chief executive of SANParks to undertake an assessment of the Kleinmond fire.
“The services of SANParks have been enlisted since they have internal capabilities to undertake an assessment of this nature. The scope of the assessment will include the origins and causes of the fire, whether fire breaks and other preventive measures were in place, and any other factor that may have exacerbated the fire,” Creecy said.
Once the assessment had been received and processed by the department, the findings and recommendations would be made public.
The department’s Working on Fire staff were still on the ground on Tuesday, and aerial resources continued to assist with suppression efforts.
Working on Fire had deployed 169 firefighters and management staff, including pilots and helicopter support staff, five fire trucks, and two transport buses.
A total of 116 additional fire fighters from local municipalities were deployed.
“Since the summer fire season officially began in the Western Cape on December 1, 2021, including Kleinmond, the team has assisted in fighting and suppressing 22 fires across the province.
“The fire in the Kleinmond area of the Overberg has been fuelled by high temperatures and gale-force winds.
“The wildland fire is also believed to have burned more intensely in areas rife with alien invasive vegetation. However, fynbos, which is destroyed during a wildfire, is dependent on fire to germinate and thrive.”
Cape Times