TZANEEN: Multiple fires engulf almost 150 hectares of land
Six devastating fires were reported in the area over the past weekend and in total, almost 150 ha of land was burnt.
This according to the Letaba Fire Protection Association (LFPA). The fires includes the Long Valley fire in Mamathola, Muckle Glen fire in Mamathola, Vrystaat in Modjadjiskloof, Grenshoek fire in Magoebaskloof, Randfontein fire in Haenertsburg and the Ashmoldale fire in the Wolkberg.
The Vrystaat fire in Modjadjiskloof was first reported to the Letaba Fire Protection Association’s dispatch centre on Friday.
Although it started Friday afternoon at Vrystaat near Modjadjiskloof, it got up again on Saturday. It is speculated that ‘patch farmers’ may have started the fire. Approximately ten hectares (ha) of bluegum coppice and veld trash burnt.
Neighbouring landowners and timber companies were quick on the scene to help combat the fire, but the wind and fuel load was too much to really do anything.
On Saturday the fire spread to a municipal property and from there on towards Pfunanane side. Approximately seven hectares of bush, grassland and mango orchards burnt down. The Haenertsburg fire started at 14:00 on Saturday at the Horseshoe on the R71 between Haenertsburg and Moria.
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According to Trevor Phillips, who was very quick on the scene, it may have been caused by a passing motorist on the tar road and quickly spread from there.
About 11.5 hectares of Pine, 14 ha Eucalyptus and 70 ha grassland burnt down. There was 15 fire fighting units including the fire brigade.
They managed to save four houses. The narrow roads and extreme weather conditions made it very difficult to fight the fire. If it wasn’t for proper pre-season fire breaks and the back burn they did, it would have been a lot worse.
Additionally, there were two fires in New Agatha on Saturday. Within three hours, SAFCOL lost 35 ha of pine. The fire started at 10:00 on Saturday morning and was contained at 13:00. SAFCOL had their own ground teams attending to the fire and it included two fire trucks and two skid units. The second fire was contained at 14:00. A fire truck with ten people attended to that fire. The Letaba FPA would once again encourage landowners to join the Association as we offer aerial fire fighting support in Veld and forest fires.
