Fire update: What are we left with?
Newspapers have been contacting me for comments. In today's post I'm going to say all the bad stuff, so we are clear where things stand. This will be my last rant about the fire.
No, we do not intend to claim damages from Stone Cradle or anyone else. We don't blame Stone Cradle for the fire, they have suffered a terrible loss. We are fixing the things that need to be repaired, and the rest will recover in time.
No, the fire department did not assist us in any way. Instead, while the fire was raging, a fire fighter lectured us on maintaining fire breaks and having an emergency water supply. He then told us if our house burns down it will be our own problem. We do maintain our firebreaks. Anyone with common sense can see that if a multi storey building is burning in a high wind the fire will jump a nine meter fire break. Fire breaks are for veld fires. While firefighters did not lend a hand or contribute a thimble full of water, we were running with buckets from our ponds and beating out fires in the veld with spades and rakes and tree branches. If we did not fight the fire our house would have burnt down while they did nothing. And if the wind turned we would have been overwhelmed and it would have burned down as well.
No, not all the neigbours helped. A drove of people rocked up with their cell phones, trespassed on our property and photographed us fighting for our lives, then pushed off to have lunch and share their action shots on social media. I hope they go blind staring at their screens.
Same goes for the reporters who bullied their way on to our property when we opened the gates still hoping that the fire department might send a truck. The one who parked her car in the road so no vehicles could get past is worth a special mention. She walked off filming. When we asked her to move her car she told us to **** off.
My faith in humanity has been shaken to the roots.
To the neighbours who did come to assist, we are eternally grateful.
Yes, I went to the doctor. He agrees that the burn injuries are superficial and though I'm feeling grotty I will be fine in a few days.
Yes, neighbours suffered loss of property (vehicles, store rooms), and to my knowledge at least one neighbour is still in hospital after smoke inhalation.
No, all the fires are not out. Although it is no longer burning on our property, several neighbours have had flare-ups that required assistance to put down. It is being handled by the community. There is apparently also still a fire burning in the Nature Reserve.
After Sunday's terrible event it is clear to me that in this country one needs to be self reliant, even in the face of disaster. We can no longer look to the municipalities to which we pay exorbitant taxes to provide the services they are meant to do. Their equipment is broken down and their personnel unprofessional and underqualified. Our only hope is to form small communities that stand together to assist one another. #stonecradlefire
