Cape fire 'out of control'
2008-12-08 21:56
Johannesburg - A fire in Gordon's Bay in Cape Town is "out of control", the Disaster Risk Management Centre said on Monday.
"It's gale force winds. Firefighters are out there. It's very awkward conditions," said the centre manager Greg Pillay about the Gordon's Bay fire, which he said was "out of control".
About 80 people were evacuated from the area. Two homes were partially damaged and one home completely gutted.
Pillay said on Monday night he did not know if the fire would spread even further at this stage.
He said nine other fires were currently raging in Cape Town, the second most serious being in Silwerstroomstrand near Atlantis/Mamre, but that all these fires were under control.
About 120 firefighters were being assisted by staff of Nature Conservation, Bulk Water Services and Working on Fire to fight the fires across the Cape.
Volunteers of the Disaster Risk Management Centre were assisting with firefighting and public safety-related matters.
On Monday the SA Weather Service issued a high fire danger rating for the rest of the week.
Dry and windy weather conditions were hindering the combatting of fires and also contributed to runaway fires.
People needed to exercise caution to reduce fire risk during the current weather conditions.
The Disaster Risk Management Centre said anyone with a life-threatening emergency related to the fires should phone 107 on a Telkom line or 021-480-7700 from a cellphone.
- SAPA