Two helicopters, two reconnaissance aircraft, and two close air support vehicles have landed in Potchefstroom to battle the persistent bushfires in northwest South Africa. This reinforcement arrives as firefighters struggle against a high fire danger index and a surge of veld fires across the province. The air support, dispatched from KZN and Mbombela, will station in Potchefstroom to cover the North West Province and parts of the Northern Cape, according to Eric Stoch, chairman of the North West Umbrella Fire Protection Association (NWUFPA). Presently, a forest fire rages in Pilanesberg National Park, prompting an air support team to join the efforts. Over the weekend, a large wildfire erupted along the R53 near an army camp. Firefighters battled from morning till late evening, rescuing cattle and goats trapped by the blaze. Dr. Kobus Roux, chairman of the Potchefstroom Fire Protection Association, noted that a muddy waterhole provided crucial refuge for the livestock as the fire passed.
Original Source: Network News
Date: 2023-08-22 06:37:00
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