A fire that has been raging since Monday, 21 June in the Tsitsikamma area in the Eastern Cape has still not been brought under control.
Fire-fighting crews from the Eastern and Southern Cape joined forces to try and bring it under control, to no avail.
General Manager of Working on Fire (WoF), Phumza Dyantyi, said there were two fires, one in the Coldstream area and the other in Witelsbos and they have since combined into one.
Eight WoF teams, consisting of more than 100 firefighters, assisted SANParks and the Eastern Cape Umbrella Fire Protection Association to bring the fire under control. On Monday, the N2 highway had to be closed due to poor visibility.
Aerial support also assisted with the fire. On Tuesday, firefighters resumed their duties in shifts and made headway when the wind died down.
“Firefighters are busy constructing a control line that will assist in preventing fires from reaching other areas.N2 has been opened this morning and drivers are advised to be cautious and vigilant,” WoF said in a post on social media.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The N2 was reopened on Tuesday morning but drivers are advised to be cautious and extra vigilant.
The fires are reminiscent of the blaze that raged in 2017 – which left seven people dead, many homeless and a number of buildings gutted. The effects of that blaze are still felt by the communities.
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