Firefighters continue to battle intense wildfires in the Cape Winelands, with extreme heat and strong winds worsening conditions in and around Franschhoek. The blaze, which started on the mountain slopes, has spread rapidly and crossed the Berg River overnight, moving onto the Stellenbosch side of the mountain.
Deputy Director of Communications for the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Jo-Anne Otto, described the situation as dangerous and complex due to the area’s rugged terrain and dense vegetation.
“It’s very alarming when people say the fire is going towards Stellenbosch. It’s not, it’s still very far from Stellenbosch. However, it is on the Stellenbosch side of the Berg River,” Otto said.
She explained that after crossing the river, the fire entered an area where a plantation had recently been cleared, leaving dried stumps and uneven ground. This made it difficult for firefighters to access the area overnight, forcing crews to contain the blaze only where it was safe to do so.
“This morning, fire crews reported that they were able to access different parts of the fire,” Otto said. “It is being driven by very strong winds, with a southeasterly picking up significantly this morning.”
Otto added that the fire is burning into an area that has previously been affected by fires, leaving limited vegetation for it to feed on. This offers some cautious optimism that the fire may burn itself out on that side.
However, the blaze remains out of control on the other side of the mountain, where it continues to burn along steep cliffs. Otto also confirmed a spot fire in a nearby pine plantation close to the road, which caused heavy smoke and concern among residents.
“That fire in the plantation has now been brought under control,” she said, adding that the situation remains volatile and residents should stay alert as conditions can change rapidly.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: Screenshot
