Two Huey helicopters with a capacity to drop 1 200L of water and foam, and a spotter plane have taken off from Stellenbosch this morning, November 30, to assist with the multiple fires in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Firefighters have been battling a fire in Beachview since yesterday, where two houses have also started to burn. This is in addition to the fire in the Baywest area that has been continuously flaring up since Monday.
Last night just before midnight, Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, Retief Odendaal, said that at that moment, the fire at Beachview didn’t seem to pose a significant risk to any property after it started flaring up again just 30 minutes prior to his update. However, the first frail residents of the New Rest Informal Settlement has been moved to the Seaview Community Hall.
Meanwhile, re-fuelling of the aircrafts have taken place in George at 08:00 this morning and they are expected to arrive in the Bay at 09:00.
Gift of the Givers founder, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, said that acting Head of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Fire Department, Wayne Hendricks, had requested air support around midnight to waterbomb the fire.
“The challenges were multiple: the wind was too strong and is expected to increase in speed today, there were fires in twelve different areas, fire trucks couldn’t access many areas, they were running out of water, the water source is too far from the fire for the trucks to refill timeously, and the firefighters are exhausted.
“At 04:30, Wayne confirmed that the helicopters as well as additional firefighters were urgent requirements. In addition to funding air support, Gift of the Givers is in discussion with WC Disaster Management to release additional firefighters to bring relief and support the current exhausted team. We will fund the flights, accommodation and meals,” Sooliman said.
Gift of the Givers were on site yesterday providing support to firefighters, disaster management and SAPS, and it was a collaborative effort to evacuate residents of the Beachview area.
“Gift of the Givers also provided firefighters with hot meals, energy drinks, energy bars, biscuits and Eyegene. The residents that were evacuated received blankets, mattresses, hot meals and bottled water. Cerebos generously donated 12 000 5L bottled water to us. We are sending in our water tankers to support the fire trucks and they can refill from the closest of the 45 boreholes we have provided to the city. Gift of the Givers will provide any additional support required where possible and invites corporate participation to fund this mammoth intervention,” he added.
At 08:00 this morning, the mayor provided another update: The 12 fires have been brought under control. However, he warned that the situation can quickly change as wind conditions change. Strong winds are expected later in the day that may cause the fires to flare up again.
