Cape Town Fire/Smoke Alert Thread

So it will be SFX, gdiza and Action man doing our duty on Saturday. We need to give Adrian still a name?! How about LSM (lights and siren man)!?
 
Last night I saw some major flame coming down the mountain again above Lourensford. I would guess a 1km front burning. The fire trucks and Delta search and rescue went past us towards Lourensford at around 20:30. I also saw a hotspot flickering to the left and above Sir Lowry's pass. This morning the smoke is fairly heavy again over the entire Helderberg area.
 
SFX said:
Last night I saw some major flame coming down the mountain again above Lourensford. I would guess a 1km front burning. The fire trucks and Delta search and rescue went past us towards Lourensford at around 20:30. I also saw a hotspot flickering to the left and above Sir Lowry's pass. This morning the smoke is fairly heavy again over the entire Helderberg area.
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I hope the area that we were working out hasn't flared up again. That would be heartbreaking. :(
 
It looked like it was in the upper parts of the pine plantations on Lourensford. It was bright orange and I could see the flames from my flat in the Strand. I could not see the fire through the smoke this morning, so I don't know where it burned to.
 
Maybe that in the mountains is not over large enough km's to give a red block - I was wondering too though.

Does the cloud being pushed onto the mountains by the SE wind help or hinder you guys?
 
Well, it is normally not a good thing. The SE is predicted to blow gale force tomorrow and is usually preluded by clouds coming over the Hottentots Holland mountains. Secondly, if flare ups occur in these clouds we can't see or detect it. Thirdly it is unsafe to work high up in these clouds as visibilty is then a major problem. The only possitive thing is the fact that because it is cooler inside these clouds the spread is reduced since it is cooler there.
 
I could not believe my eyes when I read the District Mail (local paper) last night - fire fighters can only get involved in fighting a fire if the municipality in whose area the fire is, asks them to do so - even if they are standing right next to the fire!!! I have read so much on here and the other few forums about the politics and how we are being screwed by beaurocrats over choppers etc - it is mind boggling. Has this been brought to the attention of any investigative journalists by anyone? It makes really juicy election story!!
 
samisty said:
I could not believe my eyes when I read the District Mail (local paper) last night - fire fighters can only get involved in fighting a fire if the municipality in whose area the fire is, asks them to do so - even if they are standing right next to the fire!!! I have read so much on here and the other few forums about the politics and how we are being screwed by beaurocrats over choppers etc - it is mind boggling. Has this been brought to the attention of any investigative journalists by anyone? It makes really juicy election story!!
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Yeah, the politics between fire departments suck! It's really pathetic!
I reckon, when it's a huge fire, send everyone, put it out, doesn't matter whose problem it is, people suffer!
 
Yeah, I second that. We see it each time we are at a major fire. Believe when I tell you, this happens a lot. I don't want to go in detail, but some damage to certain areas could have been avoided if this was not an issue. In this blog I will utter my own oppinion and rather say the truth than try to be political correct. The fire does not care in which minicipal area it is burning, why should the people who try to put it out.
 
SFX, remember that time that we came to you, I think it was the 6th Feb, when the fire trucks were told to NOT to engage in any activities and were told to return to base.

Fred and I begged the tanker team to please at least just empty the load on the fire.
We told them that we came all the damn way from Cape Town to help (they were also from a station in CPT) and we really need it... eventually they agreed (I think they felt sorry for us) and they emptied the tanker and that really helped out.

Fred even rolled the hoses up for them.

They care... that's obvious, but they also have to follow orders.

Stupid municipality politices, but then again, that type of politics happens EVERYWHERE.
 
Yes, I remember. I have more stories like that, that will make the hair in your neck stand up straight!
 
SFX said:
Yes, I remember. I have more stories like that, that will make the hair in your neck stand up straight!
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Boet, you've been doing this for yonks so no doubt you'll have stories to share.... that's why I stay with you on the fire line, you're like "the man"

But that story was my 'good' story... seeing them disobey orders to help us - means alot to me.
 
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