More support arrives in Potchefstroom as veld fires intensify across North West

Two helicopters, two spotter planes and two aerial support vehicles arrived in Potchefstroom yesterday to help in the fight against ongoing wildfires in the North West.

There has been numerous veld fires across the entire province in the past 24 hours. The extra resources come as a great relief after a testing time for firefighters across the province with the fire danger index currently in the red zone.

The aerial vehicles were dispatched from KZN as well as Mbombela in Mpumalanga.

Eric Stoch, the chairperson of the North West Umbrella Fire Protection Association (NWUFPA), confirmed the helicopters and spotter planes will be based in Potchefstroom.

“We will dispatch from here to be able to assist the entire North West province as well as the northern parts of the Northern Cape,” added Stoch.

There is currently a wildfire at Pilanesberg National Park. The NWUFPA have activated an aerial support team consisting of a chopper, spotter, aerial support vehicle, and crew, in collaboration with an incident command team.

The team departed from Potchefstroom at first light this morning and will work closely with the incident command team.

Firefighters save livestock

On Saturday a large-scale wildfire broke out in the middle of the army camp along the R53 (Ventersdorp road), and firefighters had to fight the fire from 10:00 until late that evening.

Dr Kobus Roux, the chairperson of the Potchefstroom Fire Protection Association, explained to Potchefstroom Herald that the firefighters helped saved a lot of cattle and goats that were running away from the fire.

“There are about 150 cattle grazing in this part of the army grounds. Some of the men climbed through the wire to try to save the animals, while the fire spread. Fortunately, there was a muddy water hole to which the animals ran.

“They and some of the firefighters were in this hole when the fire passed them. If it wasn’t for this hole, there would be a lot more damage. It is only because of grace that there was no loss of life. No livestock were hurt either,” he said.