Teams deployed to contain Western Cape fires

Fourteen teams have been deployed to help put out fires in Western Cape.

“The fire on Cederberg been contained, the major concern is in the Franschoek area,” said Working on Fire (WoF) spokesperson Linton Rensberg.

“We are working around the clock. We have helicopters and water bombers deployed.”

He said five teams from Eastern Cape and Free State had been roped in and another five teams were on standby.

“The teams have been hard at work during the past eight weeks in the Western Cape,” he said.

They were dealing with fires in the Cederberg mountains near Clanwilliam, at Franschoek, Tulbagh and in the Uniondale area in the Eden District. They were stationed at 23 bases throughout Western Cape.

WoF had also sent 10 helicopter water bombers, eight spotter planes, eight fixed wing water bombers and 37 pilots to the Western Cape to help stop the fires.

- Sapa