Fire crews face the flames

Aircraft ready for take-off to drop water on the fire-ravaged Boland.

Working On Fire (WOF) in the Western Cape dispatched six teams and six aerial resources in one day to assist the Cape Winelands District Municipality, the Overberg District Municipality, Cape Nature and the City Of Cape Town in fighting the Boesmanskloof fire which has spread through to three municipalities in a matter of a week.

On Saturday February 27, the Kleinmond, Walkerbay, and Helderberg teams were requested to assist as the fire continued to burn and other areas were hotspots due to hot windy weather conditions.

The Kleinmond and Walkerbay teams worked near the Berg River Dam, an area deemed a hotspot as there are flammable liquids that are used at the dam to pump water.

The team patrolled the area and extinguished smoke-filled areas and ashes that posed threats of flare-ups. The area was a serious hotspot as it surrounded luxury properties, schools, and farms.

Members of the various teams discuss strategy.

On the other side of the mountain in Lourensford, the Helderberg team worked tirelessly fighting the fire as it seemed to intensify. When the fire became bigger, aerial resources were dispatch to water bomb the flames.

On more than two occasions aerial resources were called to assist as the fire became bigger.

As the three teams demobilized after a grueling 12-hour shift, the other three teams took over for another 12-hour overnight shift.

The Lourensford area was deemed the area of concern as the wind was expected to change direction from Sunday. Working On Fire resources were on standby to assist.

Two AT-802 Bombers that were stationed in Porterville have been relocated to Stellenbosch to standby there for a speedy response time to assist when requested.