R43 Padgebruikers Kla: Padmakers Moet Spoed V...
Gansbaai Courant het heelwat klagtes van padgebruikers ontvang dat die R43-pad tussen Stanford en Gansbaai onveilig is.
Die afgelope paar dae het inwoners van Gansbaai, Stanford en Baardskeerdersbos bekommerd na naderende vlamme en rookwolke op die horison gekyk. Veral by Baardskeerdersbos kon sake lelik verloop het. Overstrand Brandweer, waarby Gansbaai Brandweer ingesluit is, was deurentyd besig om te keer waar hulle kon keer - baie dankie aan die brandweermanne en -vroue wat soms hul eie lewens in gevaar stel ten tye van veldbrande. Helena Swart het namens die bestuur van Baardskeerdersbos Huiseienaarsvereniging (BBHEV) die volgende ingestuur: “Die bestuur wil graag hiermee almal bedank wat betrokke was by die beheer van die brand wat onverwags op die grense van die dorp uitgebreek en eiendom in gevaar gestel het: die FPA - ODM, Overstrand Munisipaliteit Brandweerdienste en Strandveld Landbouvereniginglede, wat met bakkies en watersleepwaentjies opgedaag het. Die BBHEV bestuur en lede, asook ander inwoners, klein en groot, het almal soos een man saamgestaan om die gevaar te trotseer om eiendomme te beskerm. Baie dankie aan almal, ons waardeer julle hulp, dit is weer eens bewys dat die B’Bossers almal saamstaan in tye van nood.”
Hardus Botha
Press release (shortened): Editor:
Lester Smith, Chief Fire & Rescue and Disaster Management Overstrand Municipality
The Stanford fire started on Friday the 8th of January 2016. The cause is under investigation. The fire are extremely difficult to contain due to the fuel load, weather conditions and limited vehicle access to the fire through the thick bush. Overstrand Fire Department and Overberg District Municipality responded to the fire and was assisted by ground teams from Working on Fire, Cape Nature and Volunteer Wildfire Services. With a strong South Easterly behind the fire it managed to spread over the R43, which had to be closed to traffic for brief periods. Firefighting efforts were concentrated on the flanks of the fire to ensure it did not spread towards Gansbaai or Stanford while the fire advanced towards the ocean. Aerial resources were deployed on multiple occasions to protect houses, farms and infrastructure in the area. By the 5th day of the fire it entered the Walker Bay Nature Reserve where firefighters are currently working to contain the fire in more favourable conditions. The Overstrand community has once again proved to be highly supportive and generous. Thank you to all those individuals and companies who have kept the firefighting teams fed and hydrated and provided needed resources to the Fire department. A special thank you to the goFPA, the landowners who made their resources available and the Stanford community for refreshments for the Stanford fire and other fires in the area. Firefighters continued day and night up to date. On Monday 11 January 2016 while fighting the Stanford fire other fires was also reported and managed. Kol Gansbaai was reported at 11h03 where 3 different places was set alight, our fire fighters manage to bring this fire under control within an hour. At 12h26 a fire was reported in Kleinmond but was also brought under control quickly. At 13h59 a fire was reported at Baardskeerdersbos where assistance was called in from Overberg Districts Municipality as well as aerial support was requested, no property was damaged. At 15h55 a fire was reported at Swartdam Weg Hermanus, fire was under control within an hour. A fire was reported at 21h54 in Hawston and was also brought under control within an hour.
