Fire in Karatara being monitored

KNYSNA NEWS - Smoke is being seen in the skies around Karatara near Sedgefield today, 1 November. It is thought that a possible lightning strike started a fire in the area yesterday.

According to spokesperson for SANParks Nandi Mgwadlamba SANParks rangers are currently monitoring the situation along with various stakeholders.

"MTO Forestry, Cape Pine and others are assessing the area. A fixed wing plane will go out at about 11:00 to confirm the extent of the fire and how far it has spread," she said.

Mgwadlamba said SANParks suspects the fire started in the mountainous area near Karatara as a result of a lightning strike.

"We should have more information to share after 11:00," she said.

Smoke can be seen coming from the Karatara area today where a possible lightning strike started a fire yesterday, 31 October.

This is the second fire in as many days in the Karatara/Sedgefield area.

Belinda Hobson, manager at Sedgefield Tourism said that a fire started Monday afternoon, 30 October at about 13:00 between the Karawater bridge and Elandskraal.

The fire that was by the Karawater bridge and Elandskraal.

"Fortunately, due to the quick response of the Sedgefield fire department, Eden district fire department, the Elandskraal Fire Management Unit (FMU), volunteers and a PG Bison team, and the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA) the fire was contained and under control in about two hours," said Hobson.

The fire on Monday, 30 October.

She said the various organisations were monitoring the area and creating fire breaks until late and the Sedgefield fire department sent a truck the next day to ensure no more flare ups had occurred and all was safe.