6 000 hectares destroyed in devastating fire
A fire swooped over a 15 000 hectare game farm in Hekpoort last night.
Residents as far as Kenmare and Tarlton could see how a fire consumed a farm in the Hekpoort area, turning the clouds above it a glowing red.
A devastating fire, thought to have started yesterday (11 November) afternoon at 2pm, spread through a 15 000 hectare game farm. No injuries were reported and no buildings were burnt down. But, the owner of the farm, Hennie Visser, said he lost quite a few of his animals and 5 000 to 6 000 hectares of his farm.
This morning (12 November), the fire was still smoldering and a light smell of smoke hanged over Krugersdorp.
But this was not the only fire that heated Krugersdorp last night. The fire department was needed at various other fires and could only assist with a bakkie at the game farm fire.
The News has learned of a house fire and a factory fire, as well as a fire close to Ceder Lodge and another in the kloof in Kenmare.
The night brought along strong winds and few drops of rain which just encouraged the fire and a few residents were nearly caught in it.
Frank Wessels, manager of Rhino Park and Nature Reserve in Muldersdrift, recalled that the surrounding community, the Sector 10 Community Policing Forum and Mogale City’s fire department all jumped in and tried to control the fire that soon got very much out of hand.
The fire, though some thought started because of the hot temperatures, is suspected to have been arson.
According to Frank, the fire could not be merely extinguished, but it has to be fought against by lighting fires ahead of the fire’s original path. By doing this, both fires meet each other in the middle and burn out.
If you have any information regarding these fires, please contact the News at 011 955 1130.
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