Werner Vermaak ER24 - More photos of #woodmead fire. Courtesy @emmavspgp
Showing posts with label Emergency Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emergency Services. Show all posts
Friday, 29 March 2013
25 cars destroyed in Woodmead fire
Johannesburg - A fire that destroyed around 25 cars in Woodmead on Friday was extinguished by 2pm, emergency services said.
“The fire is completely out and the exact cause of the fire is unknown at this stage,” Johannesburg emergency services spokeswoman Nana Radebe said.
“There are a lot of stories including that the fire was caused by two children playing with fireworks and the grass caught fire. At this stage it can't be confirmed and we will investigate the incident.”
She said people at the scene had alleged that children were playing with fireworks on the grass parking area and the grass caught fire and “quickly spread” to the vehicles.
ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said there were no injuries.
“Paramedics and rescue personnel are on the scene. No injuries have been reported and I can confirm that the fire is out. The cars were parked on a grass parking,” he said.
Vermaak said they first received a call about the fire at 11.45am.
Most of the cars belonged to Muslim men who had gathered at Mia's Farm for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation.
The event had been arranged by the Waterval Islamic Institute.
Police could not immediately comment.
- Sapa/IOL
“The fire is completely out and the exact cause of the fire is unknown at this stage,” Johannesburg emergency services spokeswoman Nana Radebe said.
“There are a lot of stories including that the fire was caused by two children playing with fireworks and the grass caught fire. At this stage it can't be confirmed and we will investigate the incident.”
She said people at the scene had alleged that children were playing with fireworks on the grass parking area and the grass caught fire and “quickly spread” to the vehicles.
ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said there were no injuries.
“Paramedics and rescue personnel are on the scene. No injuries have been reported and I can confirm that the fire is out. The cars were parked on a grass parking,” he said.
Vermaak said they first received a call about the fire at 11.45am.
Most of the cars belonged to Muslim men who had gathered at Mia's Farm for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation.
The event had been arranged by the Waterval Islamic Institute.
Police could not immediately comment.
- Sapa/IOL
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Video: Rescue mission Suicide Gorge (10 February 2012)
Spydamonky1 writes: After a nasty fall down a small rock face, a friend required an airlift from the top of Suicide Gorge. The chopper landed in order to conserve fuel while the medics prepared him for the lift.
Friday, 8 February 2013
70 kids stung by bees in Bapsfontein
BAPSFONTEIN - More than 70 children have been stung by bees at a primary school in Bapsfontein on the East Rand, Johannesburg.
Thirty-three of the pupils were rushed to hospital with allergic reactions.
The local municipality said it had to deploy a mobile clinic to the school to deal with the incident.
Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management's spokesperson William Ntladi said they were still treating the children at the school.
- EWN
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Kwazulu Natal disaster management team gets training from United States' 911
The KwaZulu-Natal disaster management team will get training from the United States' 911 Fund, an official said on Saturday.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube and Finance MEC Ina Cronjé, met with the 911 Fund at the South African consulate in New York to finalise the elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the capacity support to disaster management team, spokesman Ntokozo Maphisa said in a statement.
Maphisa said the MOU was finalised and would be signed by KwaZulu-Natal premier in April. The 911 Fund team would then conduct fire fighting capability assessment and provide intervention support.
The programme would also include specialised training in areas of hazardous materials and chemical emergency management. KwaZulu-Natal will be sponsored with the resources like fire trucks, fire equipment and first line response items to the value of R22 million from the fund.
The president of the 911 Fund, Dr Stephan Hittmann appointed Dube as a member of the International 911 Fund Advisory Board.
Dube said :"We are humbled by a good gesture of the fund and all the support that the province is receiving from the 911 Fund.
"We are looking forward to this long term partnership with the United States of America."
- Times Live
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube and Finance MEC Ina Cronjé, met with the 911 Fund at the South African consulate in New York to finalise the elements of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address the capacity support to disaster management team, spokesman Ntokozo Maphisa said in a statement.
Maphisa said the MOU was finalised and would be signed by KwaZulu-Natal premier in April. The 911 Fund team would then conduct fire fighting capability assessment and provide intervention support.
The programme would also include specialised training in areas of hazardous materials and chemical emergency management. KwaZulu-Natal will be sponsored with the resources like fire trucks, fire equipment and first line response items to the value of R22 million from the fund.
The president of the 911 Fund, Dr Stephan Hittmann appointed Dube as a member of the International 911 Fund Advisory Board.
Dube said :"We are humbled by a good gesture of the fund and all the support that the province is receiving from the 911 Fund.
"We are looking forward to this long term partnership with the United States of America."
- Times Live
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Rescue vehicles rush to train accident scene
Two passenger trains collided at Kalafong station in Pretoria. (@MedixGauteng via Twitter)
Cape Town - Around 17 rescue vehicles are on the scene of a train accident in Pretoria, while a helicopter has been dispatched to help the critically injured driver still trapped inside.
Two passenger trains collided at Kalafong station on Thursday morning.
Around 20 people were injured in the collision, Metrorail’s spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng told News24, with Chris Botha of Netcare 911 estimating the number at closer to 70.
"Reports from the scene are that the trains collided at around 07:20 near Church Street in Pretoria. Both trains derailed," Botha said.
Emergency personnel were working to free a trapped driver, Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Johan Pieterse told eNCA.
"At this moment we are unsure if the driver is still alive," Mofokeng told News24.
The line between Cor Delfos and Saulsville has been closed due to the accident
- News24
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
‘Worst fire in 30 years’
Flames jump across the entrance to Pearl Valley Golf Estate near Wemmershoek Road. Photo: Jason Boud - CAPE ARGUS
Western Cape - Homes have been gutted and residents of two farms were evacuated on Monday night in the Franschhoek blaze that has been described as the worst to hit the area in at least 30 years.
Working on Fire’s Linton Rensburg said helicopters and water bombers had been out since first light on Tuesday morning.
“Five teams – comprising 25 crew members each – also arrived from the Eastern Cape and the Free State on Tuesday morning and were deployed. Another five teams are now on standby in other provinces, too.”
Reinforcements from Port Elizabeth’s fire department were due to arrive this afternoon.
In Franschhoek, residents, firefighters and volunteers battled a blaze throughout the night to keep flames away from homes.
About 6 200 hectares of veld have been burnt.
At Wemmershoek Dam, residents fought fires in their backyards until the early hours of Tuesday morning to save their houses.
“It was an amazing sight – the whole community just got together and helped.
“It was worrying, because all through the night trees came crashing down around us and some of the roads were blocked,” said Wemmershoek Dam resident Eugene Williams.
“Many of us haven’t slept a wink, and you’ll see people standing side by side with the firemen up the hill. I’ve lived here for 30 years.
“We get fires from time to time, but I have never experienced anything like this.”
The residents of two Franschhoek farms, Durr and Edenvale, were evacuated on Monday night, and two buildings were gutted.
On D’Le Arc Orleans, sprinklers were running around the clock to save fields of lucerne as flames were bearing down on the farm.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said there have been no reports of death or serious injury relating to the Franschhoek fires.
Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said the Huguenot Tunnel at Du Toit’s Kloof was still open on Tuesday morning, but warned of reduced visibility because of thick smoke on the road network between Franschhoek and Paarl.
At Val de Vie wine, polo and residential estate near Paarl, firefighters were working on the northern perimeter fence to keep flames from the property.
Marketing director Ryk Neethling said: “The fire jumped the R301 at around 1am this morning. But we cleared a piece of land a few weeks ago – to prevent the land from being able to be set alight – and that saved us. The wind was exceptionally strong, the flames around four storeys high, so if we had not cleared that land, we could have been in trouble.
“But the fire is under control and we are not under threat.”
With fires raging across the province and a spate of fires in the City of Cape Town over the past 24 hours, resources were thinly stretched, said Royston Harris, station commander for the Cape Winelands fire department.
Harris said the situation had reached code red status and the heat and windy conditions that spurred the fires on since Sunday were expected to continue today.
“We are expecting winds of 40 knots and temperatures around 37°C. This makes our job increasingly difficult,” said Harris.
The Cape Town fire department has been fighting fires in Atlantis, Mitchells Plain, Eerste River, Mfuleni and Gugulethu since yesterday.
In the Cederberg near Clanwilliam, a fire has been burning since last week. About 25 000ha have burnt outside Clanwilliam since a lightning strike sparked the blaze.
Liesl Brink, spokeswoman for CapeNature, whose volunteers are assisting fire departments across the province, said fires had also been reported around Tulbagh, Eden Valley and Uniondale.
“In addition to the ground resources, Working on Fire Western Cape has also deployed 10 helicopter water bombers, eight spotter planes and eight fixed-wing water bombers and 37 pilots to the Western Cape to assist with suppressing these veld fires,” said Shane Christian, Working on Fire’s general manager.
“Aerial firefighting resources have become a critical component of integrated fire management and they play a leading role in quickly suppressing fires in an initial aerial attack which consists of water bombing fires.”
Harris said firefighters would be dispatched to the upper reaches of the Wemmershoek mountains to battle the flames where they were most intense.
He said Paarl was not in immediate danger, but with an unfavourable wind direction, the flames are still moving in the direction of the N1. On the other side of the Huguenot tunnel, the fire is reportedly making its way down Du Toit’s Kloof.
Meanwhile, Sapa reported on Tuesday morning that the fire on the Cederberg mountain has been contained.
Cape Argus
Friday, 25 January 2013
Fire raging in Durban CBD
Nokulunga Sikhweza - Building on fire smith street Durban
Sandile Cetyw Nduli - Salmon Groove in Smith Street DBN on fire
Thato Bali - Salmon Chambers on Smith Street in Durban on FIRE!!!
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Dank verskuldig aan Suid Kaap Nooddienste
Brandslaners moes hierdie feestyd 33 veldbrande hanteer. Foto: Nickey le Roux
MOSSELBAAI NUUS - Mosselbaai en omstreke is die verskillende vertakkinge van die Mosselbaai nooddienste groot dank verskuldig vir hul onbaatsugtige diens oor die afgelope feestyd.
Hierdie mense het tyd saam met hul gesinne en families opgeoffer om seker te maak dat die strande, woonbuurte, woonwaparke en paaie vir Jan en alleman veilig was sodat daar ongestoord vakansie gehou kon word.
Brandweer
Benewens die nooddienste, was daar ook mense wat betrokke was by basiese dienslewering wat omgesien het na water-, elektrisiteits- en riooldienste. Skoonmaakspanne het reeds om 03:00 op Nuwejaarsoggend begin om strande waar daar groot vieringe was, soos op Hartenbos en De Bakke, betyds skoon te kry vir die dagbesoekers die volgende oggend.
Brandweerpersoneel het daagliks die strande besoek om seker te maak dat alles daar vlot verloop en om 'n ogie oor die lewensreddingsdienste te hou.
Daarbenewens is vyf brande by huise geblus en brande by vyf informele huise is ook hanteer. Daar was twee brande wat as konstruksie brande geklassifiseer word, terwyl hulle behoorlik moes bontstaan om 33 veldbrande in die omgewing te blus. Boonop het hulle ook een voertuig wat aan die brand geslaan het, te hulp gesnel.
Weinig Mosselbaaiers besef dat dit ook 'n funksie van die brandweer is om slange by huise en sakepersele te verwyder, en nege slange is hierdie feesseisoen gevang en gepas verwyder. Hul swaar werkslas is boonop bemoeilik deur agt gevalle van vals alarms waarheen hulle uitgeroep is.
Brandweerpersoneel het ook die toneel van 26 motorvoertuigongelukke besoek waar hul gespesialiseerde kennis en toerusting lewens gered het. Daar was ook 11 gevalle van spesiale dienste.
Verkeersdienste
Die personeel van Gemeenskapsveiligheid, oftewel die verkeersdienste, het hul hande volg gehad met padveiligheid en hul vermoë en vernuf is behoorlik beproef. Personeel was was ook gemoeid met ander aktiwiteite soos die hantering van begrafnisstoetdienste, sportbyeenkomste en klagtes van die publiek.
Verkeerspersoneel het die afgelope sovervakansie 2 294 voertuie vir padwaardigheid ondersoek en 18 voertuie van die pad gehaal. Daar is 47 keer op hul knoppie gedruk om verkeersongelukke by te woon, terwyl hulle 629 klagtes bygewoon en bemiddel het. Hulle moes 76 keer begeleidings doen, terwyl 58 ander spesiale funksies gelewer is.
Gemeenskapsveiligheidsbeamptes het 294 uur puntdiens by agt verskillende punte gedoen om verkeersvloei aan te help. Hierdie diens het veral op Louis Fourieweg handig te pas gekom met die ellelange rye wat daagliks daar trotseer moes word.
Drankmisbruik het nie agterweë gebly nie en daar is agt persone gearresteer wat onder die invloed van alkohol bestuur het. Hierbenewens is twee padveiligheidsprojekte geloods en 71 wetstoepassingsaksies van stapel gestuur.
Tegniese Dienste
Personeel van die direktoraat Tegniese Dienste was veral besig en moes 118 keer na probleme met watertoevoer, 155 rioolklagte en 200 gevalle van probleme met elektrisiteitstoevoer hanteer.
Lewensredders Wynand Joubert (van George), Jessica van der Merwe (Mosselbaai) en Gerhard Blom (Bay View in Hartenbos) het op Klein-Brakrivier strand, 'n Blouvlag strand, diens gedoen. Foto: Elaine van der Toorn
ARTIKEL: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER-JOERNALIS
Friday, 4 January 2013
Cable theft stops emergency services in Eastern Cape
Cable theft has interrupted emergency services in Queenstown, the Eastern Cape health department said on Friday.
"We have been flooded with complaints from the public, who could not reach our emergency services. We would like to indicate that this was caused by cable theft..." said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.
He said last night Telkom cables were stolen in Queenstown, resulting in a total shutdown of emergency services in the area.
In December 600m of cable was stolen, which also resulted in a communication breakdown between the public and the emergency services.
"The public would call and the phone would ring with no one picking it up."
Kupelo said the cables were used to connect the public when calling both the 10177 line and the 082112 line for emergency services.
The main affected units were Queenstown Emergency Services and Komani Psychiatric Hospital.
He said for emergency services the public should use 083-378-0631 and not the normal emergency numbers.
- Times Live
"We have been flooded with complaints from the public, who could not reach our emergency services. We would like to indicate that this was caused by cable theft..." said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.
He said last night Telkom cables were stolen in Queenstown, resulting in a total shutdown of emergency services in the area.
In December 600m of cable was stolen, which also resulted in a communication breakdown between the public and the emergency services.
"The public would call and the phone would ring with no one picking it up."
Kupelo said the cables were used to connect the public when calling both the 10177 line and the 082112 line for emergency services.
The main affected units were Queenstown Emergency Services and Komani Psychiatric Hospital.
He said for emergency services the public should use 083-378-0631 and not the normal emergency numbers.
- Times Live
Monday, 12 November 2012
"Braai fire" not the cause of St Francis Bay blaze
Management of the Royal Wharf in St Francis Bay where Sunday night's devastating fires started, have rejected suggestions that the blaze was a result of a "braai fire."
Ten of the 20 units at Royal Wharf were destroyed in the fire that eventually laid waste to 68 homes on the canals, six apartments and a business premises.
Just four time-share units were left standing. The cause of the blaze will be the subject of a police forensic investigation.
Shell-shocked home owners milled around burnt out structures that were once luxury homes or holiday homes on Monday while curious onlookers continued to flock to St Francis Bay.
Stacey Gill of Port Elizabeth says they've had a holiday house in St Francis Bay for the past 15 years or so which has now been completely destroyed.
"We heard last night (Sunday night) at about six-ish and we rushed out here from PE and our house was still fine. Our neighbours house wasn't even burnt yet but within the space of 5-10 minutes that house had gone up in flames. Our neighbours house went up in flames and we had to evacuate, the police said it was too dangerous you need to go."
Meanwhile, as homeowners and insurances assessors count that cost that is expected to run into hundreds of millions of rands, a sense of optimism remains that St Francis will rise from the ashes.
That was the sentiment expressed by Beth Mortimer, of the St Francis Chronicle, a tabloid and online newspaper for the area.
She says its been a trying time for St Francis following earlier floods and the the collapse of the Sand River Bridge.
"If you had to go and just look at the sight of the houses it is depressing but people are not letting that overtake them, which to outsiders (may be) very surprising but not if you know St Francis. They actually are determined to overcome this and try and make some good out of the mess and try and restore the town to what it was in the past."
Mortimer says the cameraderie amongst the locals has been amazing.
"St Francis Bay is actually a very unique town in the sense that whenever disaster strikes everybody stands together and they help one another, you know they go out of their way to help one another. They are just marvellous that way the people who live in St Francis Bay," she said.
- AlgoaFM
Ten of the 20 units at Royal Wharf were destroyed in the fire that eventually laid waste to 68 homes on the canals, six apartments and a business premises.
Just four time-share units were left standing. The cause of the blaze will be the subject of a police forensic investigation.
Shell-shocked home owners milled around burnt out structures that were once luxury homes or holiday homes on Monday while curious onlookers continued to flock to St Francis Bay.
Stacey Gill of Port Elizabeth says they've had a holiday house in St Francis Bay for the past 15 years or so which has now been completely destroyed.
"We heard last night (Sunday night) at about six-ish and we rushed out here from PE and our house was still fine. Our neighbours house wasn't even burnt yet but within the space of 5-10 minutes that house had gone up in flames. Our neighbours house went up in flames and we had to evacuate, the police said it was too dangerous you need to go."
Meanwhile, as homeowners and insurances assessors count that cost that is expected to run into hundreds of millions of rands, a sense of optimism remains that St Francis will rise from the ashes.
That was the sentiment expressed by Beth Mortimer, of the St Francis Chronicle, a tabloid and online newspaper for the area.
She says its been a trying time for St Francis following earlier floods and the the collapse of the Sand River Bridge.
"If you had to go and just look at the sight of the houses it is depressing but people are not letting that overtake them, which to outsiders (may be) very surprising but not if you know St Francis. They actually are determined to overcome this and try and make some good out of the mess and try and restore the town to what it was in the past."
Mortimer says the cameraderie amongst the locals has been amazing.
"St Francis Bay is actually a very unique town in the sense that whenever disaster strikes everybody stands together and they help one another, you know they go out of their way to help one another. They are just marvellous that way the people who live in St Francis Bay," she said.
- AlgoaFM
St Francis Bay reels after runaway fire
Cape Town - A South African surfing legend is one of many who lost their life’s possessions in the blaze which ripped through St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape.
Sunday night’s blaze, thought to have been started by a braai fire, destroyed more than 100 houses in the holiday town, 100km south of Port Elizabeth.
Resident Nevil Hulett said his house was upwind of the blaze, but he had leapt to the aid of fellow residents.
One of them was Graham Hynes, 83, regarded by many as the grandfather of South African surfing.
Hulett explained: “It was around 6.30-7pm, dusk, and I was trying to hose his house down, but unfortunately I have a broken arm, so I could not get to the cap of the thatched roof, which one had to do to allow the water to run down the roof.
“My shirt was burning through, gas bottles were exploding next door... it was impossible.”
He said at some point the water pressure had also dropped - possibly due to the firefighters having connected their powerful hoses to the water system - which immediately weakened pressure to residents’ hoses.
“He had about 10 minutes to get what he could out of his house before it went up,” Hulett said of Hynes.
Hynes said he was watching TV when he smelled smoke.
“I could see the smoke over the water,” said Hynes, who has lived along the canal in the area since 2004.
Looking up the road, he could see a holiday resort was on fire and he heard people screaming.
“The wind was knocking around and the sparks started to land on the roofs,” said Hynes.
He climbed up onto his roof, which had caught alight, with a hosepipe and tried to extinguish the flames.
“I had the firemen shouting at me to get down,” Hynes said.
Photographs of his late wife, a medal awarded to him by former president Nelson Mandela, documents and a recipe for a Durban curry were among the prized possessions that Hynes lost in the fire.
He said he had a headache caused by inhaling smoke and that he had received several offers to stay with people in the area.
The community put out a call for help and the response had ben “great”, according to Marc May, the station commander of the St Francis Bay National Sea Rescue Institute.
“To say the whole world and its family came to put that out is an understatement,” he said.
He said people came from as far as Knysna and Port Elizabeth, 200km and 100km from St Francis Bay respectively.
“We’re just trying to get people’s lives back on track today [Monday],” said May.
“Some people have lost holiday homes, but some people have lost everything.”
He believed about half of the homes that were burnt down to belonged to residents.
“The fire was running across the roofs, we had to force people out of their homes with the TVs still on,” said May.
As of this morning, there were no plans to set up a refuge for people who had lost their homes as they had already been “absorbed” into the community by neighbours offering them places to stay.
Mop-up operations continued this morning, the Kouga municipality said.
“Firefighters were sent home to sleep at about 4am after having extinguished the fire at the St Francis canals,” said spokeswoman Laura-Leigh Randall.
“Firefighters from the Cacadu district municipality are still at the scene monitoring the situation.”
“Before midnight [Sunday] night, the fire was half extinguished and not an immediate threat to other houses.
“The flames were fanned by a strong westerly wind. Ten fire engines had been brought in and more were called from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities, Randall said.
“The cause of the fire is not known, but the fire started at about 5.30pm at Royal Wharf developments, which is mainly townhouses,” she said.
All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate, and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
Most of the houses in the area were holiday homes. The exact number of houses burnt down was not available.
“No final figures on the damage yet... We will be doing the damage assessment today [Monday],” she added.
Two residents interviewed by the Cape Argus on Monday explained the extent of the fire, which ravaged houses on St Francis Bay’s picturesque canals.
Estate agent Richard Arderne said: “It began as a small fire but turned into a nightmare for homeowners in the fire’s path.
“Fortunately, the fire burned in a due easterly direction, which meant it ran out of land when it hit the ocean.
“It’s a tragedy for many - but, mercifully, most of St Francis Bay remained untouched.”
He said that around 450 houses stood on around 500 erven on the canals - of which he estimated that around 60 to 70 had been badly burned.
Petrea Donnelly, a guest house owner, agreed: “What happened is tragic. And while we feel for the homeowners... we are still set for a bumper summer season, because the fire was restricted to a particular area.”
- Cape Argus
Sunday night’s blaze, thought to have been started by a braai fire, destroyed more than 100 houses in the holiday town, 100km south of Port Elizabeth.
Resident Nevil Hulett said his house was upwind of the blaze, but he had leapt to the aid of fellow residents.
One of them was Graham Hynes, 83, regarded by many as the grandfather of South African surfing.
Hulett explained: “It was around 6.30-7pm, dusk, and I was trying to hose his house down, but unfortunately I have a broken arm, so I could not get to the cap of the thatched roof, which one had to do to allow the water to run down the roof.
“My shirt was burning through, gas bottles were exploding next door... it was impossible.”
He said at some point the water pressure had also dropped - possibly due to the firefighters having connected their powerful hoses to the water system - which immediately weakened pressure to residents’ hoses.
“He had about 10 minutes to get what he could out of his house before it went up,” Hulett said of Hynes.
Hynes said he was watching TV when he smelled smoke.
“I could see the smoke over the water,” said Hynes, who has lived along the canal in the area since 2004.
Looking up the road, he could see a holiday resort was on fire and he heard people screaming.
“The wind was knocking around and the sparks started to land on the roofs,” said Hynes.
He climbed up onto his roof, which had caught alight, with a hosepipe and tried to extinguish the flames.
“I had the firemen shouting at me to get down,” Hynes said.
Photographs of his late wife, a medal awarded to him by former president Nelson Mandela, documents and a recipe for a Durban curry were among the prized possessions that Hynes lost in the fire.
He said he had a headache caused by inhaling smoke and that he had received several offers to stay with people in the area.
The community put out a call for help and the response had ben “great”, according to Marc May, the station commander of the St Francis Bay National Sea Rescue Institute.
“To say the whole world and its family came to put that out is an understatement,” he said.
He said people came from as far as Knysna and Port Elizabeth, 200km and 100km from St Francis Bay respectively.
“We’re just trying to get people’s lives back on track today [Monday],” said May.
“Some people have lost holiday homes, but some people have lost everything.”
He believed about half of the homes that were burnt down to belonged to residents.
“The fire was running across the roofs, we had to force people out of their homes with the TVs still on,” said May.
As of this morning, there were no plans to set up a refuge for people who had lost their homes as they had already been “absorbed” into the community by neighbours offering them places to stay.
Mop-up operations continued this morning, the Kouga municipality said.
“Firefighters were sent home to sleep at about 4am after having extinguished the fire at the St Francis canals,” said spokeswoman Laura-Leigh Randall.
“Firefighters from the Cacadu district municipality are still at the scene monitoring the situation.”
“Before midnight [Sunday] night, the fire was half extinguished and not an immediate threat to other houses.
“The flames were fanned by a strong westerly wind. Ten fire engines had been brought in and more were called from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities, Randall said.
“The cause of the fire is not known, but the fire started at about 5.30pm at Royal Wharf developments, which is mainly townhouses,” she said.
All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate, and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
Most of the houses in the area were holiday homes. The exact number of houses burnt down was not available.
“No final figures on the damage yet... We will be doing the damage assessment today [Monday],” she added.
Two residents interviewed by the Cape Argus on Monday explained the extent of the fire, which ravaged houses on St Francis Bay’s picturesque canals.
Estate agent Richard Arderne said: “It began as a small fire but turned into a nightmare for homeowners in the fire’s path.
“Fortunately, the fire burned in a due easterly direction, which meant it ran out of land when it hit the ocean.
“It’s a tragedy for many - but, mercifully, most of St Francis Bay remained untouched.”
He said that around 450 houses stood on around 500 erven on the canals - of which he estimated that around 60 to 70 had been badly burned.
Petrea Donnelly, a guest house owner, agreed: “What happened is tragic. And while we feel for the homeowners... we are still set for a bumper summer season, because the fire was restricted to a particular area.”
- Cape Argus
76 St Francis Bay homes razed
Forensic experts from Port Elizabeth have made their way to St Francis Bay, where a raging inferno gutted 76 houses.
The runaway fire is believed to have started in the Royal Wharf area of the coastal town at about 5.30pm yesterday afternoon.
It took firefighter hours to extinguish the flames, which razed between five and 10 homes at a time.
All residents were safely evacuated.
People on the scene today say the area looks like it has been demolished by a bomb, with houses reduced to mere shells.
Shocked home owners have been examining their properties and are trying to salvage what they can from the ruins.
The forensic team will try to determine what caused the fire.
Laura-Leigh Randall, who is with the Kouga Municipality, says officials will be monitoring the area closely to ensure that there are no flare-ups.
She says it was incredible to witness the local community coming together to help distressed residents.
"One of the great characteristics of the St Francis Bay community is that they always come together in an amazing way when disaster strikes. Last night was no exception. People really rallied around; they were offering accommodation and food to those affected. So, a big thumbs up to everyone from St Francis."
Meanwhile, thousands of messages of support have been posted on Facebook and Twitter for the residents.
- East Coast Radion News
St Francis Bay fire damaged 76 homes
A huge blaze fanned by strong winds destroyed more than 100 homes in the Eastern Cape resort town of St Francis Bay.
Eastern Cape -
A fire destroyed or damaged 76 houses in St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape, the Kouga municipality said on Monday morning.
“(The) number of houses razed or damaged by last night's (Sunday's) fire has been put at 76,” spokeswoman Laura-Leigh Randall said.
“Mop-up operations are underway. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage but the SAPS forensic unit will be investigating.”
Earlier the Kouga municipality estimated over 100 houses were damaged.
Randall said Eastern Cape local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane was expected to arrive in St Francis Bay at 11am and then a briefing would take place in Humansdorp.
The fire started around 5.30pm on Sunday at the Royal Wharf developments.
Before midnight on Sunday night, the fire was half extinguished and not an immediate threat to other houses. Firefighters were sent home to sleep around 4am after the fire was extinguished.
The flames were fanned by a strong westerly wind. Ten fire engines had been brought in and more were called from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities, Randall said.
Firefighters from the Cacadu district municipality were at the scene monitoring the situation and checking for flare-ups, Randall said earlier.
Damage assessment was done on Monday. “(We are) busy finalising the report,” she said.
All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate, and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
The Democratic Alliance in the province on Monday offered support to the victims of the fire.
“The DA Eastern Cape extends its deepest sympathies for the loss of property and livelihoods in the devastating fire,” provincial leader Athol Trollip said.
“The DA is relieved that the community was spared any loss of life. We stand in solidarity with all those who experienced loss in the midst of this tragedy.”
- Sapa/IOL
No fire station in St Francis Bay
Port Elizabeth - With no fire station in St Francis
Bay, it was up to volunteers to initially try and put out the flames
that destroyed homes and property in the coastal resort.
Many people sought refuge at the local golf club, reported Eyewitness News.
Mayor Booi Koerat of the Kouga district municipality said: “We have had fires before but never anything like this,” reported Beeld.
Homeowner Roché van Loggerenberg said no home in the village was valued under R3m.
Another homeowner, Deon van Rensburg, said his holiday home had burned down.
“My aunt could get the dogs out but by then the smoke was coming through the roof,” he said.
Residents told of hearing gas bottles exploding in the houses during the fire.
About 100 houses were destroyed in the fire and a firefighter was the only person injured.
Many people sought refuge at the local golf club, reported Eyewitness News.
Mayor Booi Koerat of the Kouga district municipality said: “We have had fires before but never anything like this,” reported Beeld.
Homeowner Roché van Loggerenberg said no home in the village was valued under R3m.
Another homeowner, Deon van Rensburg, said his holiday home had burned down.
“My aunt could get the dogs out but by then the smoke was coming through the roof,” he said.
Residents told of hearing gas bottles exploding in the houses during the fire.
About 100 houses were destroyed in the fire and a firefighter was the only person injured.
UPDATE: Numerous house's burning at St Francis Canals in the Eastern Cape Province ( 11 November 2012) Part 2
St Francis Bay: Fires brought under control in the early hours of the morning. Fire fighters damping down hotspots to prevent fire flare ups.
No deaths or injuries were reported. (This is a miracle!! If this happened in the holiday season who knows what might have happened. )
Exact total of houses destroyed will be released later this morning after assessment of the area. Expected total to be more than 100 houses.
Eastern Cape firefighters make progress
Johannesburg - The fire that burnt down more than 100 houses in St Francis Bay was now under control, the Kouga Municipality said on Monday.
“The fire now has been half extinguished, no more immediate threat to other houses. We don't have any final figure yet, but it would be more than 100 houses burnt down,” said municipal spokesperson Laura-Leigh Randall in an SMS update sent just before midnight.
For hours, firefighters battled with raging flames which were fanned by a strong westerly wind.
Ten fire engines had been brought to fight the flames and more had been called in from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities to help, Randall said.
“The cause of the fire is not known but the fire started at about 5.30pm at Royal Wharf developments which is mainly townhouses,” she said.
All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
Most of the houses in the area are holiday homes.
- Sapa/IOL
Video: St Francis Bay on Fire
Published on Nov 11, 2012 by Nevil Hulett
View from Big Time Taverina
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
VERY approximate path of the fire, pic c/o Richard Arderne St Francis Bay
St Francis Bay St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
St Francis Fire, the morning after, from the water - pictures Richard Arderne
Photos: St Francis inferno via The Herald - Click HERE
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
Fire aftermath - St Francis Connect
Ruined ghost town on the canals - St Francis Chronicle Click HERE for latest news and images.
Aerial photos of St Francis fire - source: Jacques Bellingan
Photos: 2012 St Francis Bay Blaze Aftermath - Algoa FM Click HERE to view.
TO BE UPDATE...........
No deaths or injuries were reported. (This is a miracle!! If this happened in the holiday season who knows what might have happened. )
Exact total of houses destroyed will be released later this morning after assessment of the area. Expected total to be more than 100 houses.
Eastern Cape firefighters make progress
Johannesburg - The fire that burnt down more than 100 houses in St Francis Bay was now under control, the Kouga Municipality said on Monday.
“The fire now has been half extinguished, no more immediate threat to other houses. We don't have any final figure yet, but it would be more than 100 houses burnt down,” said municipal spokesperson Laura-Leigh Randall in an SMS update sent just before midnight.
For hours, firefighters battled with raging flames which were fanned by a strong westerly wind.
Ten fire engines had been brought to fight the flames and more had been called in from the Nelson Mandela Bay and Koukamma municipalities to help, Randall said.
“The cause of the fire is not known but the fire started at about 5.30pm at Royal Wharf developments which is mainly townhouses,” she said.
All residents in the area had been asked to evacuate and a temporary joint operations centre had been set up at the local police station.
Most of the houses in the area are holiday homes.
- Sapa/IOL
Video: St Francis Bay on Fire
Published on Nov 11, 2012 by Nevil Hulett
View from Big Time Taverina
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
VERY approximate path of the fire, pic c/o Richard Arderne St Francis Bay
St Francis Bay St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
St Francis Fire, the morning after, from the water - pictures Richard Arderne
Photos: St Francis inferno via The Herald - Click HERE
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
Fire aftermath - St Francis Connect
Ruined ghost town on the canals - St Francis Chronicle Click HERE for latest news and images.
Aerial photos of St Francis fire - source: Jacques Bellingan
Photos: 2012 St Francis Bay Blaze Aftermath - Algoa FM Click HERE to view.
TO BE UPDATE...........
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Numerous house's burning at St Francis Canals in the Eastern Cape Province ( 11 November 2012) PART 1
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay via Twitter:
Numerous house's burning at St Francis Canals, winds at 80km/h.
UPDATE 1:
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
@AlgoaFMNews fires continue at the canals with numerous house now destroyed.
UPDATE 2:
“Houses are burning all the way to the sea on the canals a fireman told St Francis Chronicle this evening.
More information an images available at: http://stfrancischronicle.com/2012/11/11/canals-are-burning/
UPDATE 3:
Fires are still burning out of control. From reports received by the SAWDOS it would appear that the situation is deteriorating further.
Request for Assistance: If you are able to assist in any way with accommodation, blankets, water, pet care, food, refreshments etc. in the St Francis Bay area please call 042 200 1800 or contact the local police station. People are left homeless tonight without personal belongings. Come on people let's help those who lost everything but also assist those who are currently fighting the fires.
Nic Holmes
StFrancisBay: An urgent appeal from NSRI: "We need help!!” Anyone wanting to assist go to the old Fire Station or call Marc on 082 9567981
UPDATE 4:
Gathering area/shelter for people effected by the fire in St Francis Bay - GO TO ST FRANCIS GOLF COURSE
Residents from Royal Wharf & the sea towards the easterly side are asked to evacuate. Assistance on the way from the PE - Kouga Municipality
St Francis Bay @stfrancisbay
Fires #stfrancisbay ...not a good night here
UPDATE 5:
Coastal Water Rescue @ECCWR : Port Elizabeth,Humansdorp and Jeffrey's Bay fire depts have been called to assist.
Algoa FM @AlgoaFM : Pics are up online of the fires raging in St Francis Bay -
http://www.algoafm.co.za/galleryphotos.aspx?id=212
UPDATE 6:
Video: St Francis bay fire
Published on Nov 11, 2012 by Dawierushmer
Fire in St Francis bay, video recorded at about 6pm on 11/11/12, over 10 houses on fire at that time.
UPDATE 7:
S.A. WX & DISASTERS
Shocking Photos: Fires St Francis 2012 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151123094722337.427281.717607336&type=3 …
Cape Town - The Nelson Mandela Bay fire brigade on Sunday called up off-duty firefighters to help bring a fire, which has already destroyed up to 50 houses in St Francis Bay, under control.
A spokesperson said two vehicles had already been dispatched and they were just waiting to see how many firefighters responded before more are sent.
The fire, which is being fanned by strong winds, was jumping from house to house along the canals to the sea, the NSRI said.
It apparently started at Royal Wharf, where some people were having a braai, a fireman told the St Francis Chronicle.
The paper's editor told eNCA that firefighters were "overwhelmed" by the sheer extent of the fire.
Most of the houses on the canals have thatch roofs, making it even more difficult to contain the flames.
The NSRI sent out an SOS for assistance.
"We need help!!
"Anyone able and willing who can assist, please pop down to the old fire station and offer your services or call Marc May on 082 956 7981."
- News24
UPDATE 8:
Coastal Water Rescue @ECCWR
Off duty firefighters from PE have been dispatched to St Francis. 2 trucks on route already. Be safe! @DurbanFire
St Francis Bay Burns
Scores of homes have been destroyed by a raging fire in the canals at St Francis Bay.
St Francis Links CEO Jeff Clause told Algoa FM news that the fire started in a home in the Royal Warf section of the canals at around 5pm.
He said that within 5 minutes, five homes were ‘gone’ and that the flames had jumped from one canal to another.
Clause said that shortly after 8-30pm, the canals were one big glow as a strong south westerly wind fanned the flames towards the sea, destroying everything in their path.
Clause said his personnel from the golf course were trying to assist the local fire department but that there was very little anyone could do. He said one of the current dangers was gas bottles exploding as holiday homes in the canals were engulfed by the flames. Clause said at least 25 homes had been destroyed by the fire and that he had never seen anything like this before.
The NSRI at St Francis Bay has been ferrying people to safety all evening and is being inundated with calls for assistance.
The on-duty officer told AlgoaFM News that there were no casualties to his knowledge.
He said it was impossible to say how many homes, many of them with thatch roofs, had been destroyed but that it could be ‘anywhere between 50 and 100.
- Algoa FM
UPDATE: 9
St Francis Bay
Latest info puts the number of houses ablaze at about 100. Still strong wind. We also ask that people avoid the scene. - Kouga Municipality
Kouga Municipity says latest info puts 1OO homes ablaze in St Francis Bay
Inferno!
ST. FRANCISBAAI. – Gewelddadige vlamme wat deur stormsterk suidwestewinde aangeblaas word, het gisteraand reeds nagenoeg 50* huise langs die kanale op dié dorp verwoes.
Teen druktyd het die brandweer, polisie, NSRI en vrywilligers nog gespook om paniekbevange inwoners in Shoreweg uit hul huise te kry.
Die breekwal by Marina Glades is ook deur die verwoestende vlamme bedreig.
Die nooddienste het hul hande vol gehad met inwoners wat nie hul grasdakhuise, ’n kenmerkende eienskap van huise in die vakansiedorp, wil verlaat nie of by versperde paaie wil injaag om hul eiendom te beskerm.
‘Ons het al voorheen brande gehad, maar nog nooit so iets nie,” het Booi Koerat, burgemeester van die Kouga-distriksmunisipaliteit, aan Raahil Sain gesê. “Die sterk wind maak dat die vlamme net aanhou versprei.
“Miljoene rande se eiendom is reeds verlore. Die brandweer kan niks doen nie, dit brand en brand net.”
- Volksblad
* Kouga Municipity says latest info puts 1OO homes ablaze in St Francis Bay.
S.A. WX & DISASTERS
Request to spectators in the fire zone. Please move out of the area. You do not help but rather hinder.
UPDATE: 10
Video: St Francis Canals burning
Published on Nov 11, 2012 by Darklingza
The loud bang was one of many exploding gas cylinders.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151131428484327
UPDATE 11:
Hardy Maritz @hardymaritz
@BruceRelates FYI. @kirstydt: RT @MinePotgieter: #StFrancis Nerine Botha is the vet on stand by for any animal emergencies 083 376 1806
Further updates tomorrow morning. I need to get shut eye now. My brain needs urgent rest. Good night all and keep safe. My thoughts go out to all those effected by this terrible inferno in St Francis Bay!!
Updates to follow tomorrow morning ......
Monday, 5 November 2012
Fire destroys factory in Waltloo
A fire destroyed a wood laminating factory in Waltloo on Sunday, Tshwane emergency services said.
"We have the fire under control but it will burn throughout the night because of all the wood in the factory," spokesman Johan Pieterse said.
"When we got here around 5.00pm, part of the roof had already caved in but now it has collapsed completely, making access very difficult."
Pieterse said the flames could be seen all across Pretoria and the fire had great spectator value.
No one was injured and the cause of the fire was still unknown.
-Sapa
"We have the fire under control but it will burn throughout the night because of all the wood in the factory," spokesman Johan Pieterse said.
"When we got here around 5.00pm, part of the roof had already caved in but now it has collapsed completely, making access very difficult."
Pieterse said the flames could be seen all across Pretoria and the fire had great spectator value.
No one was injured and the cause of the fire was still unknown.
-Sapa
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Fire leaves 16 people homeless and claims life of an adult male
KHAYELITSHA: A devastating fire that occurred at 22:18 on Friday, 26 October 2012 destroying 1 shack at 456 DT Section, Site C, Nyandeni Crescent, in Khayelitsha. The fire resulted in the displacement of 4 people and claimed the life of an adult male. The identity of the deceased has not been released.
FRANKDALE: At 22:12 on Friday, 26 October 2012 a fire occurred in the informal settlement situated adjacent to the Frankdale Tip Site, off Frankdale Road. The fire gutted 3 shacks leaving 4 people displaced.
PHILLIPI: During the early hours of this morning at approximately 03:21 on Saturday, 27 October 2012 a fire destroyed 3 shacks leaving 8 people homeless at 19589 Gqogqra Crescent, Phillipi.
The City’s disaster response teams will be assisting the victims with food parcels; baby packs; blankets; clothing and fire kits.
The cause of the fires is undetermined and authorities will probe an investigation.
Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
End
Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Fuel factory on fire in Pretoria
Pretoria - A fuel factory in Klerksoord, Pretoria North, was on fire on Wednesday afternoon, Tshwane emergency services said.
"There are a few factories on a large piece of ground. There is a larger factory that makes biofuel and it looks like their burner caught fire and it spread from there," said spokesperson Johan Pieterse.
He said no injuries had been reported since the fire started at 14:30.
"Everywhere the fuel fell there was fire," he said.
Two of the smaller factories on the premises had been totally destroyed and another partially destroyed, Pieterse said.
"There is plenty of damage. The fire is still burning at the biofuel factory."
- SAPA/News24
"There are a few factories on a large piece of ground. There is a larger factory that makes biofuel and it looks like their burner caught fire and it spread from there," said spokesperson Johan Pieterse.
He said no injuries had been reported since the fire started at 14:30.
"Everywhere the fuel fell there was fire," he said.
Two of the smaller factories on the premises had been totally destroyed and another partially destroyed, Pieterse said.
"There is plenty of damage. The fire is still burning at the biofuel factory."
- SAPA/News24
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