POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Municipality says it is working to bring a fire at the Weltevreden landfill site under control, after smoke from the blaze began affecting nearby communities.

Fire first detected last week

The fire was first spotted on Friday, July 17.

While the cause hasn’t yet been established, the municipality says landfill fires are fairly common during winter due to the dry conditions.

Underground smouldering the main challenge

Water tankers, TLBs and the Municipal Fire and Disaster Management Unit have since been sent to the site to help contain and put out the flames.

Although visible progress has been made, underground smouldering remains a challenge, continuing to produce smoke even where the flames themselves have been extinguished.

An excavator will be brought in to dig up and douse the remaining hotspots more effectively.

Residents urged to limit smoke exposure

The municipality has apologised for the inconvenience and says it’s doing everything it can to bring the situation under control safely.

Residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, are advised to limit their exposure to the smoke while firefighting work continues.

Further updates will be shared as the situation develops.