Plaston road nursery owner thanks community for aid following outbreak of fire

Parts of the Montebello Nursery were recently damaged in a fire. The owner said he was overwhelmed with the support he received from the community, extinguishing the flames.

Chelsea Pieterse

August 21, 2023

The fire could be seen from the road. > Photo: Maralize Mentz

When the owner of Montebello Nursery received a call that it was on fire last Monday afternoon, August 7, he thought at first this must be a cruel joke.

However, despite the fire causing about R80 000 in damage to some of the property and plants, the owner, Frikkie Roux, said it was not the damage that really mattered to him, but the overwhelming support from the community that he received on the day of the fire.

Roux, who has run and owned the nursery on the Plaston road for the past 18 years, has thanked everyone who helped put the fire out, including the Mbombela Fire and Rescue Department’s White River unit and an off-duty police officer, whom he would like to find and thank personally.

Frikkie Roux, the owner of Montebello Nursery, near the burned plants > Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

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“I got a call at about 16:30 on Monday August 7 from the owner of the business next to mine. He said the nursery was on fire, and I thought he was joking.”

His neighbour assured Roux it was no joke, and when he arrived at the nursery, he said he was shocked to see a portion of the property in flames.

Roux said he was unsure what had started the fire, but a lot of his flower plants and some macadamia and avo trees had burnt up, including a wooden and corrugated iron structure housing some of the plants, and a small building with some equipment that was being used by his son, a homeopath herbalist.

“What moved me the most were all the people who had gathered at the nursery. I couldn’t believe there were so many, all wanting to help where they could.

An area of the burnt-out nursery shortly after the fire was extinguished. >; Photo: Maralize Mentz

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“There were some really young ones trying to get water to put the fire out. Some of them were saying, ‘Oom, you are too old, let us help you!'” Roux said with
a laugh.

“The White River Fire Department arrived quickly, and if it weren’t for them, I am sure the fire would have spread a lot further.

Frikkie Roux, the owner of Montebello Nursery, near the rubble of burnt equipment and plants. > Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

“There was also an off-duty police officer who had seen the fire and stopped to help. I didn’t manage to get his name, but he took charge as soon as he got to the property. He said he had taken a course in firefighting and was throwing water on to the fire where he could before the department arrived.

“I would like to know who he is and thank him properly. I also want to thank every person who gathered to help me. I appreciate it so very much,” he said.