Two helicopters, two spotter planes and two aerial support vehicles arrived in Potchefstroom yesterday (Monday, 21 August) to help in the fight against ongoing wildfires in the North West province.

There has been numerous veldfires across the entire North West province in the past 24 hours. The extra resources come as a great relief after a testing time for firefighters across the province with the fire danger index currently in the red zone.

The aerial vehicles were dispatched from KwaZulu-Natal as well as Nelspruit in Mpumalanga.

Eric Stoch, the chairperson of the North West Umbrella Fire Protection
Association (NWUFPA) confirmed the helicopters and spotter planes will be based in Potchefstroom.

“We will dispatch from here to be able to assist the entire North West Province as well as the northern parts of the Northern Cape,” added Stoch.

There is currently a wildfire at Pilanesburg National Park. The NWUFPA have activated an Aerial Support Team consisting of a Chopper, Spotter, Aerial Support vehicle, and crew, in
collaboration with an Incident Command team. The team will depart from Potchefstroom at first light today (Tuesday, 22 August) and will work closely with the Incident Command team.