With various areas of the Western Cape being ravaged by continuous wildfires over the past two weeks, Provincial Government has approached the National Disaster Management Centre for a Provincial Disaster Classification.
“A provincial disaster classification will empower the Premier and the Minster of Finance to move funding as and when we need it to sustain our firefighting efforts,” said Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Bredell said the current hot and windy weather conditions, combined with several wildfires burning in the Cape Winelands and Overberg districts, necessitates a large and coordinated firefighting effort, and the provincial government needs to be able to respond to a fast-changing situation.
“We have the necessary resources available to address the wildfires, but the disaster declaration will give us the ability to coordinate optimally. We are doing everything to protect lives and property,” Minister Bredell said.
Minister Bredell asked the public to please report any sighting of a fire as quickly as possible to the closest authorities. “Experience over many years has taught us that the faster the initial response, the better our chances are of successfully controlling a fire before it spirals out of control.”
Currently wildfires continue in Kluitjieskraal, Wolseley; Brandvlei, Rawsonville and Fairy Glen Worcester. Extreme heat and very windy conditions are currently hampering fire fighting attempts.
The following numbers can be contacted to report any fire sightings:
City of Cape Town: 107 or 021 480 7700 from a cell phone
Overberg: 028 425 1690
West Coast: 022 433 8700
Garden Route: 044 805 5071
Central Karoo: 023 414 2603
Cape Winelands: 021 887 4446
