Cape Winelands fire outside Franschhoek

[Gordon_R]

Original report on Tuesday:

Cape Winelands firefighters attend to fire just outside Franschhoek

The fire, which started in the Overberg a few days ago, spread into the Cape Winelands area late on Tuesday afternoon.

ewn.co.za

Cape Winelands firefighters are on Wednesday attending have attended to a fire in the valleys at the back of Banhoek and Berg River Dam outside Franschhoek, in the Western Cape.

The fire, which started in the Overberg a few days ago, spread into the Cape Winelands area late on Tuesday afternoon. At this stage, it is difficult to establish the full extent of the fire, there has been no loss of life, livelihood or infrastructure.

 

[Gordon_R]

Smoke plume from CT suburbs yesterday afternoon:

 

[Gordon_R]

Update from yesterday:

UPDATE | Fire services fighting blaze in Franschhoek | News24

The Cape Winelands District Municipality has said its Fire Services and teams from CapeNature were fighting a blaze in the Banhoek area and Berg River Dam, Franschhoek.

www.news24.com

 

[rambo919]

Hope it's not arson season again.....

 

[Strange]

I stay in the Banhoek valley, it's basically snowing ash at the moment. My Xiaomi Air Purifier reported an AQI of 250 this morning (apparently bad).

 

[Gordon_R]

I stay in the Banhoek valley, it's basically snowing ash at the moment. My Xiaomi Air Purifier reported an AQI of 250 this morning (apparently bad).

AQI seems to be an arbitrary scale from 0 to 500. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_quality_index

The SE wind is rather strong today, so the fire is unlikely to be contained anytime soon.

 

[Strange]

Seems all the smoke is trapped in the Banhoek valley. The sky is clear towards Franschhoek.

 

[Gordon_R]

Seems all the smoke is trapped in the Banhoek valley. The sky is clear towards Franschhoek.

The fire perimeter has spread to at least 15km in diameter, and there are multiple burning fronts. The overall smoke plume is in excess of 100km long on the satellite view, though there are swirling patterns close to the mountains. The wind continues to howl...

 

[Agent_Smith]

Meh, so much for going for a run in the mountains above Franschhoek this weekend...

 

[vigras rojara]

Meh, so much for going for a run in the mountains above Franschhoek this weekend...

You'll be fine, just wear your mask...

 

[Strange]

Banhoek valley is clear today, Jonkershoek on the other hand...

 

[AchmatK]

View from the helderberg. Reports that it could potentially cross into lourensford.

 

[Pegasus]

I stay in the Banhoek valley, it's basically snowing ash at the moment. My Xiaomi Air Purifier reported an AQI of 250 this morning (apparently bad).

Rich bugger

 

[Strange]

Fire jumped back to our side.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

I stay in the Banhoek valley, it's basically snowing ash at the moment. My Xiaomi Air Purifier reported an AQI of 250 this morning (apparently bad).

I get similar and higher readings when I braai with @mbayshark and @abudabi

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

I hope it doesn't come down Lourensford farms as we have a few international movies shooting up there

 

[AchmatK]

Local neighbourhood watch group.

 

[Gordon_R]

1. The SAEON Dwarsberg mountain weather station is currently offline. The last recorded temperature reading was 52C! I can only assume it was overrun by the fire. This peak is at the head of the Jonkershoek Valley.

2. This afternoon's satellite image shows a large smoke plume, with active fire lines being pushed westward by the strong South-Easterly wind:



3. Yesterday's image was more benign, but shows the large burn-scar west of Theewaterskloof Dam:



Edit: Snap, beaten by @signates

Edit: @Strange that image is way too big for the forum!

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Confirm
Smoke direction has changed since yesterday

Im in Somerset West and from here it looks like it is over Gordons Bay

 

[Strange]

Helshoogte.