Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi at the Johannesburg Country Club where a fire broke out on Tuesday. (Alfonso Nqunjana/News24)
- Hot, dry conditions exacerbated multiple fires at the weekend, the South African Weather Services has said.
- The service released warnings indicating there was a risk of fires in the country’s interiors.
- Many of the fires were spread due to dry and windy conditions.
A number of fires that raged during the weekend were exacerbated by severe weather conditions, the South African Weather Services (SAWS) has said.
A “crown fire” – which burns from the canopy of trees – raged on the grounds of Groenpunt Prison in Deneysville, Free State, on Saturday.
Crown fires have the potential to be very dangerous wildfires for firefighters to deal with, as the fire tends to burn one treetop and then moves and spreads to successive treetops, the SAWS said.
Extremely dry weather conditions and lack of rainfall around the Deneysville area resulted in the fire, with major damage to trees planted around the prison grounds.
“During the morning of Saturday, 7 September, wardens woke up to a dry, hot and windy day over the extreme north-eastern areas of the Free State. Considering that we are exiting from a dry winter, characterised by above-normal temperatures across the central and eastern provinces, the fire danger index indicated conditions conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires,” the SAWS said.
READ | 19 vehicles damaged, destroyed after fire breaks out at Bethlehem Airshow
The Department of Correctional Services was asked for comment on the incident and has yet to respond. Its response will be added once it is received.
Meanwhile, low humidity, strong winds and warm temperatures around the central interior prompted the SAWS to issue a fire danger forecast of “very dangerous” to “extremely dangerous” conditions expected for Gauteng, the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo, as well as the extreme northwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend.
The weather forecast also suggested strong winds for the central and surrounding areas of the Free State.
Incidentally, 19 cars caught fire at the Bethlehem Airshow. News24 previously reported that Free State police were investigating the incident.
Police said the fire started outside the area where the Bethlehem Airshow was taking place, but spread rapidly due to strong winds.
Another fire destroyed more than 100 shacks in the Mahlangu informal settlement in Olievenhoutbosch, Tshwane.
At least 13 vehicles were destroyed in a fire in the parking area of an airshow in Bethlehem. (@deanwingrin/X)
The Johannesburg Country Club caught fire on Tuesday. Smoke clouds now cover parts of Auckland Park. (Alfonso Nqunjana/News24)
News24
Acting Tshwane Department of Emergency Services spokesperson Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni said responders were called to a fire that was burning through multiple shacks on Panorama Road on Sunday morning.
“Firefighters saved numerous shacks from being destroyed by the fire, which was extinguished at about 09:17. About 150 shacks burned down, and about 230 people were affected by the fire. One patient was treated on-site for minor burn injuries,” said Mnguni.
A second fire in Pretoria was reported on Sunday, at the Department of Correctional Services head office on Dr WF Nkomo Street.
“Upon arrival, firefighters found that the fire was burning on the sixth floor and they immediately began with exterior firefighting operations by positioning two ladders tactically to quickly extinguish the fire before it could spread to the higher floors,” said Mnguni.
“Only five offices were damaged by the fire and firefighters successfully saved the building from being destroyed. No injuries were reported.”