HESSEQUA NEWS - An air force Oryx helicopter, a Huey helicopter from Ugie as well as two fixed wing bombers from Nelspruit were set to arrive in Vermaaklikheid at first light today, 24 October, to fight the blaze that has seen seven properties razed to the ground.
By last night the fire in Vermaaklikheid was out of control and air support was called in for today. Late yesterday a lone helicopter pilot was doing his utmost to protect homes in the line of fire, as the other chopper crashed at about 09:45 yesterday morning claiming the life of firefighting ace, Nico Heyns.
By this morning no reports of loss of property during the night were received. Reinard Geldenhuys, fire chief of the Overberg District Municipality, who is the coordinator of the firefighting effort, is expected to give an update regarding the fire and the way forward at about 11:00 today.
Fresh ground teams are being deployed and Geldenhuys will have a clearer picture by then as temperature and wind speed and direction obviously impact their methodology.
Read more on sister newspaper, South Cape Forum
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