Overberg fire burns on

2006-02-02 07:59

Johannesburg - A fire on an 80km front was still raging in some Western Cape areas on Thursday morning - although a blaze that caused havoc in Die Kelders, Gansbaai, had been put out.

Overberg fire chief Reinard Geldenhuys said no houses or property were in danger by 07:15.

"Some fires have been put out but we still have a fireline of about 80km to battle."

Police in Gansbaai, where people were evacuated and houses threatened in De Kelders on Wednesday afternoon, said the flames around the town was extinguished during the night.

The road between Hermanus and Gansbaai had been reopened.

Geldenhuys confirmed that some fires had been put out.

Much depends on wind, temperatures

"But around Elim, Napier and Stanford we are still battling."

Skeleton fire teams had been monitoring the situation during the night.

"The wind has calmed down, and we are using this opportunity to get a clearer picture of what is going for what on the ground," Geldenhuys said.

"New teams, from as far Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape, were deployed in the morning. We also have three SA Air Force helicopters assisting us," Geldenhuys said.

Work On Fire spokesperson Val Charlton said much depended on the wind and temperatures. "That will determine how soon we manage to bring this to an end."

On Wednesday, a lodge and four chalets burned down on the 1700ha Grootbos private nature reserve outside Gansbaai.

Grootbos owner Michael Lutzeyer said shortly after 17:00 that he had managed to reach one of two lodges on the property, and it was undamaged.

Grootbos and a section of De Kelders, a residential area on the coast just north of Gansbaai, were evacuated earlier in the day as the flames approached.

The fire which started near Elim burnt on a 40km front on Wednesday afternoon. It was driven by gale force winds.

- SAPA