GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A raging fire propelled by berg winds of up to 48km/hr left a trail of destruction in Wilderness on August 11 with four homes lost.
At a meeting held on in Wilderness on August 23 with the affected homeowners - George Municipality, Eden District Municipality, SANParks and the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA) again extended their sympathies to those who lost homes and possessions.
A total of 25 separate fire call outs were received by the George Control Centre on Tuesday, August 11 and the George Municipal Fire Services Department has subsequently laid a charge of arson under the Veld and Forest Act, specifically with regard to the Wilderness/Hoekwil Fire and investigations into the matter continue.
George Municipal Fire Services has measures in place to allow for assistance with firefighting in the Greater George area with a Memorandum of Agreement signed with Eden District (responsible for Veld Fires), the SCFPA and a working collaboration with SANParks.
This working relationship was called into action on August 11. Eden Fire Services assisted with eight different fires in the District, Knysna Fire Services, Mossel Bay Fire Services and Oudtshoorn Fire Services respectively were all occupied with fires in their own areas. All backup resources were already deployed at these various fires.
George Municipality, Eden District Municipality, the SCFPA and SANParks met for a debriefing session last week and have agreed to the following in order to improve co-operation and incident response:
• SANParks and the Eden District Municipality will explore the possibility of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).
• All authorities will revisit emergency procedures and the better integration of resources
• The FPA and other agencies will kick-start a fire awareness campaign.
• George Municipality will investigate the establishment of a satellite fire station in Kleinkrantz.
“The collective authorities have committed to a public meeting to be held with Wilderness and Hoekwil residents – the date and time will be communicated. The affected homeowners are being kept up to date and a second meeting will be called with them,” said communications officer for SANParks, Nandi Mgwadlamba.
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