Awildfire that broke out on the mountain slopes above Lourensford Wine Estate has left several homes in Silverboomkloof Road gutted, two firefighters hospitalised with serious burn wounds and many animals fatally injured.
The devastating vegetation fire that broke out last Wednesday (8 June) jumped over to Stellenbosch the following day and, due to strong winds, raged on for five days down the slopes towards Somerset West before being successfully extinguished on Sunday evening.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services, confirmed the initial priority was to contain the fire.
“However, some areas were inaccessible for even the ground teams,” he said. “On Saturday (11 June) the wind picked up drastically and fanned the fire towards Erinvale, Helderberg Nature Reserve, Top Kloof and Spanish Farm. Then the priority shifted to protecting properties on the urban fringe.”
Marthie de Jager, who lives in Silverboomkloof Road, said authorities informed her that she and her family had to evacuate their home, which was in danger’s way.
“We were filled with joy when we went back to check up on our house at midnight,” she said. “The fire stopped at the edge of our garden and burnt a couple of lavenders and an electrical box.”
Penny Rodenhurst, owner of Silver Forest Boutique Hotel Spa Eatery and Wine Bar, was shocked when evacuating her premises and later received word via WhatsApp that everything, including her establishment in Silverboomkloof Road, had burnt to the ground.
“It turned out someone had exaggerated the truth, because our venue was completely perfect and unscathed. It was as if an angel was flying over and looking after our property,” she said.
A house at 44 Silverboomkloof Road, belonging to a German resident, was completed burnt down, but Patricia Hanekom, who lives next door, was very fortunate to have lost just a garden shed, two off-road-buggies and a chicken coop. They managed to save most of the chickens, except for a rooster that did not want to leave the coop.
Houses were not the only thing lost as a lot of animals in the area were also claimed by the blaze.
“Sadly the majority of the animals we found already perished, and those we found alive had to be humanely euthanised due to their severe state,” said Jaco Pieterse, acting manager at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. “At this stage we do not have a total figure yet. Those who are still alive were brought in for emergency assessment by our veterinarians, and if we are able to treat them, we will do so. Otherwise those who are severely burnt and not in a position to be saved have to be humanely euthanised.”
Carelse confirmed that on average, the Fire and Rescue Service had 24 firefighting appliances and 90 staff members in Somerset West per day; they were assisted by various other agencies.
“Firefighting efforts were hampered by unseasonably warm conditions, including strong winds on occasion,” he said. “The fire was brought under control Sunday (12 June) and was determined extinguished during a final assessment once the rainy weather that was forecast had set in, bringing much-needed relief. The incident command centre was closed on Monday morning.”
The two firefighters that were injured on duty on Saturday have both been discharged from hospital. One of them sustained an ankle injury, while the other was injured in a fall.
Lindie Strydom, communications and marketing officer at Parel Vallei High School, reached out to the newspaper to extend the following message: “Today we thank God for the pouring rain and our courageous firefighters who bravely put their lives at risk to save the lives and homes of others. From all of us at Parel Vallei High School and the whole Helderberg community, we wish you a speedy recovery and pray for God’s protection and blessing over your lives as we say ‘thank you’ for what you have done for our community.”
According to Carelse, a full damage assessment is still underway. “We are still in the process of confirming how many hectares burnt down. The cause of the fire is still unknown,” he said.
