Fire rips through hundreds of acres of land in Ermelo
Aerial resources, a spotter, AT802 bomber plane and two helicopters where requested from Umpiluzi Fire Protection Association (Warburton) to assist.
Acres of charred land, smoke bellowing up into the sky, the whirring sound of helicopter blades and various landowners, farm owners and the Msukaligwa Fire Service rushing to suppress the next fire flare-up.
These were the scenes on 24 July when a veld fire started near Mooiplaats.
Fire services received the call at about 12.31pm and dispatched their firefighters to combat the blaze, a fight that would last until 4.35pm before it could be extinguished.
Not without taking it’s toll and leaving in its wake a path of destruction.
Damage include fences (poles and wire), ± 1538ha grazing as well as an unknown amount of hale bales.
Aerial resources, a spotter, AT802 bomber plane and two helicopters where requested from Umpiluzi Fire Protection Association (Warburton) to assist.
According to Mr Mandla Zwane, spokesman for the Msukaligwa Municipality, adequate fire breaks were not made in the area where the fire originated.
“Due to the high wind speed the fire was carried over the N2 (Ermelo Mkhondo Road) and the fire breaks made by some landowners had proven to be ineffective.”
He also said, unfortunately, co-operation with certain landowners hamper successful investigation by the fire service.
“The municipality is however, pleased with the roles played by the landowners/farm owners during this trying time.
“Thank you to everyone who ensured that the fire was contained and extinguished, damage was minimized and everyone’s efforts are highly appreciated, working together we can do more.”
