Fire – prompt reaction prevents disaster

YOU MAY remember last Thursday. It was warm for a winter’s day but there was a north-westerly wind which freshened things as it gusted up to about 60km/h. Then someone at a smallholding over towards Stilwater lit and let a fire runaway.

It advanced on a wide front fanned by the wind, and it was only the prompt reaction of Fire Prevention Association (FPA) members that prevented the fire from becoming a complete disaster. It wiped out hundreds of hectares of valuable winter grazing, but the FPA members and their staffs prevented the fire from demolishing a homestead and from leaping the old Babanango road. Had it done so, it probably would not have been stoppable until the Vryheid/Melmoth road. Had it leapt that…

Regarding the fire at the homestead, which is a few kilometres from Vryheid, perhaps less than five, the municipality’s fire engines were summoned to assist in this particular fire prevention, the first call going in at 12:57pm. When no engine was forthcoming, a second call went in at 1:24pm. The fire engine arrived at 3:10pm when the threat was all over.

Fire Prevention Officer Stephen Hibbert thanked the FPA members who had responded so quickly and effectively to contain this fire. He implored people to be careful, reminding landowners that all fires were at this time prohibited.

If you see a fire in the area, please contact the FPA, day or night, at 034 982 1882.