Recovery: Aftermath of fire that claimed three lives

“The fire burned for three days. Animals were caught in it and three men were killed.”

Hennie Visser, Tweedsmuur Nature Reserve manager, spoke to the News after nearly 6 000 hectares of the reserve had burnt down over the course of three days.

On 11 November evidence of the fire could be seen across Krugersdorp, lighting up the sky with blood-red smoke. Almost 150 residents around the area jumped in to help, but sadly, two farm workers and a foreman were caught in the fire and burnt to death.

Read the initial article here.

“The wind picked up and carried the fire over hills and up hedges. It was terrible,” Hennie recalled.

No homes were damaged, but the lives that have been lost leaves the farming community in mourning. But loosing animals is another traumatising experience.

“I had to put down three wildebeest and lost one giraffe in the fire,” he said.

According to the veterinary doctor who helps Hennie with the animals, it is very difficult to help an animal that has been burned.

“They burn their feet, so when recovering they can’t stand on their own,” she said.

All the small game, such as tortoises and hedgehogs, had died and Hennie, who has been managing the farm for 22 years, said he never has seen such a powerful fire.

When the sun started to set, the fire grew. Hennie called the Muldersdrift Fire Protection Association and a Working on Fire team to help extinguish the fire.

“We started a fire ahead of the bigger fire, allowing both to meet and burn out,” he explained.

The farm, which has been used in films such as There’s a Zulu On My Stoep and Jock of the Bushveld, is expected to regain its former glory in no less than four years. Hennie plans on letting nature retake the farm and wants the flora to grow back naturally.

“We have to make do with what we have and let nature rebuild itself,” he said.

Also read:

• 6 000 hectares destroyed in devastating fire

• [VIDEO] Elderly, blind man dies in house fire