The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) fire services responded to 28 fires in 24 hours over the weekend of 6 and 7 April. This was according to Heinrich Louw, incident commander for the Cape Winelands District.
Photo 1: Firefighters from the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM)’s fire services fill up their hoses to continue fighting fires in Papegaaiberg on the evening of 6 April. They worked in teams throughout the night to contain the fire, which was one of 28 fires in the Cape Winelands District within 24 hours, according to Heinrich Louw, incident commander for the Cape Winelands District. PHOTO: Emma Hamman
The fires occurred after the CWDM issued a level-9 warning on 6 April about damaging winds in the area. The CWDM’s fire services responded and “engaged in a relentless battle against multiple fires across various locations since [the fires broke out]”, according to a Facebook post by the municipality.
Fires in Papegaaiberg and Mitchell’s Pass have been successfully contained by firefighting teams working throughout the night on Saturday 6 April, said Louw. According to Louw, fires on Simonsberg and Keerweder were still burning out of control by Sunday afternoon.
Rain throughout Sunday evening aided in controlling the fires and fires around Stellenbosch have been contained by Monday morning, according to the CWDM’s Facebook account.
A fire on Papegaaiberg mountain was one of 28 fires in the Cape Winelands District within 24 hours, according to Heinrich Louw, incident commander for the Cape Winelands District. PHOTO: Emma Hamman
Fires surrounding Stellenbosch
“[On Sunday morning we had] four different mountain fires. There [was] one in Blaauwklippen, as well as one in Keerweder – just in front of the Huguenot tunnel. We also then [had] one on the Paarlberg and then the one in Pniel,” said Louw on Sunday morning.
On Sunday morning, Ruan Opperman, a Stellenbosch fire and rescue team member, told SMF News that they had been extinguishing fires throughout the night. They also assisted with the Blaauwklippen fire.
Photo 3: Multiple fire trucks transported water to different fire scenes in and around Stellenbosch over the weekend of 6 and 7 April. The fires were linked to level-9 weather warnings sent out by the Cape Winelands District Municipality on 6 April. PHOTO: Emma Hamman
Roads such as the N1 from the Huguenot Tunnel, the Elsenberg Road, and the Helshoogte Pass, were closed due to uncontained fires since 09:40 on Sunday, according to the CWDM’s communications. All roads have been reopened by Monday 7:30, with only Clarence drive on the R44 still closed.