Cape Town Fire/Smoke Alert Thread

yeap. 1x vws team and 1x working on fire team. 2nd chopper had mechanical issues. its going to be on scene shortly. i missed the chance to get dropped on scene by chopper. sitting at the staging area.
 
I can't say much for the fire (this time around) because I did minimal fire fighting.

We (my team) eventually hiked up to the fire, smacked a few flames, and then were pulled off the line (and replaced) by another team.

Why, I have no idea.

There is 2 teams up fire fighting and will be 'over nighting' - I'm personally in 2 minds about that, so I'm sorta happy I was pulled off, I didn't have any gear (jerseys etc) to stay over night, but I would've had I been given a option.

Still very bummed I missed a flight in the chopper... so keen to do that!
 
VWS is sending out more teams... YAY!

Hope today, the teams kill it completely (with help from choppers etc)

I'm not a big fan of the Karbonkelberg area ;)
 
VWS heading out to a fire on Chapman's Peak.

I'm not going.

Decided to let my space on the Landrover to a new recruit who probably hasn't had a fire yet.
 
VWS issued a 2nd call out and I went, basically arrived with the 3rd team and did mop up duties.

Chapman's Peak fire OVER... damn helicopters have all the fun ;)
 
Great work by all to get the fire out so quickly, one of the policemen I spoke to said when it started, they were very worried that it would get into the houses. Yet again there was some great flying the Titan, UTAir and the Huey from Stellenbosch in one of the strongest winds I have ever experienced.

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There was a fire in Pinehaven last night, was there from 8pm till about 2am.

I'm stuffed today!

I'm actually going to relax and chill for a few days, not goto anymore fires, I am really exhausted from all these fires lately.
 
Guys, I've got 2 PM's asking when is a good time to donate stuff.

ANYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go to the VWS base in Newlands during the day, there should be someone there, drop whatever you want to give off, we appreciate anything, water, cokes (my personal fav), chocolates, biscuits, whatever...
 
Apparently, according to a few sources there is yet another 'large' fire out in Kleinmond side of the world.

VWS is trying to find out from the 'fire boss' there and I've just received a 'possible' call out for a team to go out that way tomorrow.

I can't go (work) so I wish the team that MAY go... good luck! :)
 
at 8am, I got a sms from VWS - team will NOT be going out, fire in Kleinmond has apparently been contained, the team was stood down.
 
Fires on the Franschhoek Pass

Franschhoek - The Franschhoek Pass remained closed until further notice because of the widespread fires in the area, said Michelle Kleinhans, national co-ordinator for Working on Fire on Monday night.

She confirmed that six WoF teams from the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal had been contacted and were en route to help contain the blaze. Each team comprises of 25 firefighters.

Kleinhans said the helicopters used on Monday to carry firefighters to several areas in the Western Cape had been ordered to land. The helicopters would assist at first light if weather and visibility permitted.

The helicopters could not be used for water-bombing on Monday because of poor visibility.

Firefighting teams from CapeNature and other authorities had also called in back-up to help contain a further six huge fires in the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay areas.

No relief in sight

The head of disaster management in the region, Gerhard Otto, said that the fires had become worse rather than better.

He said: "It’s hot, it’s dry, it’s windy and there is just no relief in sight."

The worst blaze was in Knysna where firefighters were working to save homes and businesses.

The fire was burning timber, fynbos and old grass.

In Plettenberg Bay, a similar fire was also threatening properties.

A disaster centre that could mobilise all emergency resources was opened in George on Monday morning.

The teams on the ground were made up of firefighters from the Eden district municipality, South African National Parks, CapeNature, the Working on Fire Programme and other organisations.

According to the fire chief for Eden, Annelize Lamprecht, there were also fires in the Haarlem area near George, in the Rheenendal area as well as two fires in Still Bay.

The Franschhoek blaze, reportedly started by workers using an open fire to cook food, had burned about 4 800 hectares of the Jonkershoek and Hottentots Holland nature reserves over the last four days.
Click to expand...


Great pass. Now it's gone up in flames :(
 
I do believe the "Jonkershoek" station of VWS is attending these fires.

The "Newlands" station has not issued a callout yet probably because (I'm guessing) the "Jonkershoek" station is dealing with it but I'm sure a bunch of members (from Newlands) have gone though.
 
Hopefully they sort it out soon. Plenty of smoke around :sick:
 
And there was 2 fires on Signal Hill according to KFM, either they were really small or whatever, but VWS didn't get a call out (or I didn't get the callout if there was one)

I know City (as we call them) had tankers etc there on both sites.
 
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