Cape Town Fire/Smoke Alert Thread

Well, got to go. I am off homewards, and to go look if there is anything I can do. Chat tomorrow.
 
Irish Cream said:
could not see much today as the fog was so thick
how is it looking now?
Click to expand...

Hi Irish_Cream,

Firstly, a disclaimer. I am not speaking in an official capacity in any way, and what is said represents my opinion only.

I spent the whole of yesterday (from 9:00 AM to 5:AM this morning) at Vergelegen. Hopefully, the last of those fires should be out by now. We were wrestling one flare up, late last night, but when I looked this morning it seemed to have died down.

However, the fires are raging high in the mountains above Vergelegen, and as yet, show now signs of abating. I believe that the fires are heading towards Worcester, but can't provide any confirmation.

I don't think the fires are going to be extinguished in a hurry; they are high up and difficult for any fire fighters to get to. In point of fact the only practical way to get to some of them would be abseiling out of helicopters, and then with loads of protective mountain gear.

Off to get some sleep.
 
You can get to the fire from the back on Grabouw's side of the mountain. There is a nature reserve there with gravel roads leading into the area. (Hottentots Holland Reserve) You can also take the gravel service road for the communications tower ontop of the mountain. The last section is very steep however. I know people who mountain bike there. The fire that side was generating a lot of smoke still this morning.
 
From today's Argus - http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4862788

'Action man' volunteer faces the flames

February 26, 2009 Edition 1

ESTHER LEWIS

Staff Reporter

Huge flames billowed into the sky, incinerating everything in their path. Hot ash rained down as pine cones exploded, while burning logs rolled downhill.

It is a scene most people would dread to face, but by yesterday a group of volunteer firefighters had spent more than 600 hours in these conditions fighting a fire that had raged through the Helderberg region for seven days.

One of these volunteers was Federico Zanolin, 26, from Gardens. While his parents are Italian, he was born in Cape Town, and described himself as an "action man". So it was not surprising that he chose to volunteer his time fighting fire.

Zanolin joined the Volunteer Wildfire Service (VWS), which was established nine years ago, in June last year. Two days ago, the 150-member team - which undergoes rigorous training before being allowed on a job - completed 20 000 hours in the field.

At 7.30 yesterday morning Zanolin was back for more. After three days of fighting the fires, he joined a group of 12 members, ranging from students to retirees to directors of companies.

Together they created paths by sweeping away dead leaves, and chopping away any vegetation which could possibly fuel fresh fires.

As Zanolin and a partner armed with yellow double water canisters on their backs blasted small flare up fires close to the vineyards, sweat pouring from their faces, the ground hot, Zanolin said: "This is the side nobody sees." But he added while the mop-up was less exciting, he was happy to do it.

By late last night, Zanolin and most of his group who had opted to stay overnight were back up in the mountains above Somerset West again, fighting fires that had flared up during the night.

This morning Cape Town Fire Management said the fires had been put out "for now", but cautioned that hot spots remained and could flare up. Should this happen Zanolin will be back to face the flames again.
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I see AFIS does not show any red blocks for the area anymore. Seems things have finally died down now.
 
Fred is one of my good Friends.

He will be with me this weekend at the Community Chest Carnival – Maynardville if any of you want to meet mr action man :)

SFX, I see you coming to the Community Chest Carnival – Maynardville on Saturday.

VWS will be there from Friday 18h00 – 23h30 and then Saturday 12h30 – 21h30.
 
Oh SFX, I bought reflective material the other day, and I've sent in the PPE top you gave me, as well as my main battle jacket to be 'changed'

I'm adding silver reflective material to all the pockets... I glow now ;)

The PPE top you gave me, I'm hadding a yellow RM with a orange stripe above and below the yellow.
 
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