FS fires: Farmers add up costs
2008-09-01 21:32
Bloemfontein - The Free State commercial farming body, Free State Agriculture, has started calculating the damage caused by runaway veld fires in the eastern parts of the province over the past three days.
Free State Agriculture chief executive officer Henk Vermeulen said the farming body, with officials from the Department of Agriculture, would start visiting farms ravaged by fires on Tuesday.
"We will start making assessments on the immediate needs such as animal feed, food parcels and rebuilding labourers' houses."
Vermeulen said further needs which could be addressed through state machinery would also be looked at.
Runaway veld fires destroyed an estimated 7 000 hectares of farmland in the Bethlehem-Warden area over the weekend.
Fires were also reported in other parts such as Vrede, Harrismith, Lindley, and Arlington.
It was reported that farmers had lost sheep, cattle and other live stock in the fires.
Vermeulen said satellite images on Monday afternoon indicated that most of the fires that were reported in the Free State were under control.
"There are some areas where there might be a flare-up but the huge fires are under control.
"Fires reported in the Welkom area seemed under control."
Vermeulen said the farming body would soon announce a bank account for donations to help farmers in need.
People who could help with animal feed may contact Free State Agriculture at 051 - 444 4609.
- SAPA