The usual peace of Montagu in the Langeberg was temporarily shattered last week as residents and firefighters battled a blaze for eight days as it spread from Ashton to Montagu. By Saturday 15 November it was eventually brought under control.
Firefighters were, however, kept on high alert as new fires sprang up in other regions in the Boland over the weekend.
The Montagu blaze started on 6 November just above the dumpsite in Zolani, on the Ashton side of the Kogmanskloof, according to the Langeberg Municipality. It crossed the mountains towards Montagu.
“All hell broke lose on Friday,” said Mareletta Mundey, communications head of the Montagu Volunteer Fire & Rescue. “It was one of the biggest and most aggressive fires we’ve seen in this area.”
On Friday (14 November) gale-force winds chased the fire down the valley, where it jumped a firebreak and the R62, igniting trees and vegetation. Additional firefighters as well as helicopters were deployed to assist the teams of the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Cape Nature and the Langeberg Municipality.
“Our volunteers, men and women, worked with the other fire crews to keep the flames from damaging our town,” Mundey said. “The flames were right up against some of the houses and left the walls blackened when the fire came close to town after it burnt through the Zionsberg farm area.”
Some orchards were damaged and a container-style store burnt down. The fire also damaged some caravans. Firefighting continued late into the night and firefighters were grateful for the steady rain that fell for two hours from 02:00. Though the fire was no longer burning the teams continued to look for smouldering tree stumps and hot spots that may flame up again.
The CWDM extended its thanks to everyone, partners, volunteer fire organisations, contracted services, community members and the farmers and agri-workers, whose assistance and cooperation remain invaluable.
In Groendal, Franschhoek, a fire ignited in the veld above the informal settlement outside the town. The fire moves slowly due to limited fuel, as the area burns in January too. Cape Nature teams continued with active suppression on the the opposite flank.
“The help we received from the community’s was amazing. They supplied the teams with food and something to drink and things like eye drops. Those who couldn’t physically help, donated money so that we could buy more fire beaters when we didn’t have enough. About 30 volunteers from Montagu helped tame the blaze.
A fire near De Doorns, caused by lightning high up on the Matroosberg mountain, was also quelled after several days.
Crews were deployed to a new fire on the Worcester side of the Du Toit’s Kloof Pass on On Sunday (16 November) and brought it under control by the next morning.
In the early hours of Monday (17 November) two new fires were reported. Fire crews and local farmers tackled a fire fuelled by strong wind in the Slanghoek Valley, between Rawsonville and Wolseley. They were able to guide it away from infrastructure.
