Fires continue to rage in Mpumalanga forests

Fires in forests in Kaapsehoop, which is renowned for its legendary wild horses, are still out of control and people have been urged not to visit the area.

Kaapsehoop is situated about 25km from Mbombela in Mpumalanga.

Firefighters worked throughout the night and managed to contain fires around Barberton and Bushbuckridge last night, but are still battling to extinguish fires in the Kaapsehoop area.

The Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa), landowners, forestry companies, Mbombela Fire and Rescue and Working on Fire are battling the blazes.

According to Lefpa manager André Scheepers, additional resources were drawn in from Warburton this morning to assist, before the wind picks up and weather conditions change.

“[In] the Kaapsehoop area, fires are still out of control. All escarpment aerial resources and two 802 Air Tractors from Warburton were called in to assist,” he says.

Scheepers warned the public to avoid the area.

In an article published by Lowvelder yesterday, Scheepers urged Mbombela residents, especially those on farms, to not make open fires.

Yesterday, Leading Edge Aviation posted on its Facebook page that the quick reaction force (QRF) was deployed through Lefpa to contain a wildfire threatening several homes and a macadamia farm on the outskirts of Nelspruit.

“The swift response from the QRF helped contain the blaze in time,” it said.