Smoke fills the sky as parts of Montgomery Vlei and Albert’s Farm are set alight
MONTGOMERY PARK – A fire that is believed to have been started deliberately has EMS and a local security company working tirelessly to put it out.
City of Johannesburg EMS as well as a local private security company are working hard to put out veldt fires at the Montgomery Vlei and Albert’s Farm.
It is believed the fires, which apparently caused chaos with the traffic, were deliberately started. The fires are said to have affected a nearby old age home as the residents have inhaled large amounts of smoke.
Clive Maher of SCP Security explained that they are battling with several fires. “The fires normally start in Albert’s farm and then whoever is lighting them moves over to the Montgomery Vlei,” he said. He added that they are finding themselves having to tackle two to three fires at one time.
“EMS is having the majority of the success in putting the fires out as well as local community who are helping where they can,” said Maher. He mentioned that it was his opinion that the person(s) who started the fires lives in the community.
Ward 88 Councillor David Hensman also believed this was a deliberate act but said they had no hard evidence as yet to prove it.
He also said that one of the dangers associated with these fires, is that when combined with the wind, they reduce visibility on main roads and damage power line infrastructure. They also impact bird and insect life.
