Congregation evacuated due to fire
Residents are urged to be cautious as we enter the fire season
The Fire Protection Association (FPA) in Muldersdrift responded to a fire in Steynsvlei. The fire started in an open field and the flames were swept up to the nearby Bergvallei Church.
Spokesperson for the Muldersdrift FPA, Shenan Cochrane said church members were alerted about the fire and evacuated the premises. She said the boundary was watered down to keep the fire from spreading further.
Cochrane urged property owners to prepare adequate fire breaks – clearing a strip of land of any flammable material – especially if their properties are surrounded by long and thick grass. Fire breaks are also intended to allow access for firefighting vehicles.
The association also responded to a fire that started in an informal settlement and spread to a neighbouring property on Larsens Road. High winds spread the fire and fanned the flames, which made it extremely hazardous.
The FPA managed to get the fire under control and luckily no one was hurt. Residents and community members are urged to practice caution and care, and never leave open flames unattended, especially now that the fire season has started. Veld fires can be particularly destructive when left unchecked.
