Stellenbosch sports science institute evacuated

2015-03-11 11:34

A view of the Jonkershoek fire.

(Ernst Gouws, Twitter)

Cape Town - The Stellenbosch University Sport Performance Institute has been evacuated as fires from the Jonkershoek blaze are threatening the campus.

- Are you there? Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos.

The campus, situated in the Coetzenburg area, is undergoing a process of evacuation amid fears of a ‘runaway fire’, according to tweets.

“We’ve been placed on high alert and are currently evacuating,” a receptionist at the institute confirmed.

Cape Nature spokesperson Justin Lawrence has requested people steer clear of the area.

The university has also moved farm animals and farmworkers from the area, and has cancelled all sporting activities, EWN reported.

Craig van Reenen, assistant chief at the Stellenbosch Fire Department, is currently battling the fire on the front line, and was not in a position to comment just yet.

He did, though, say that they are currently fighting the fire on six fronts, and confirmed that no properties have been damaged as yet.

Helderberg basin

The blaze is also spreading closer to the Helderberg basin, which is over the Helderberg mountain range to the south, Cape Nature's Justin Lawrence continued.

“Some farms are under threat, but no properties have been damaged,” he told News24.

200 firefighters have been deployed to the area, while helicopters have resumed water-bombing efforts.

About 2900 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed as of Wednesday morning.

Lawrence said the goal for the day is to perform a ‘back burn’, a process that involves starting a second, controlled fire in an effort to join the two blazes and change the line of the first, raging fire.

#JonkershoekFire Please note: @StellenboschUni Sports Science building is being evacuated due to potential of run away fire- @MFM926.

— Nicola Joe Bruns (@nicolajoee) March 11, 2015

Evacuation of the sport science building in progress. #JonkershoekFire

— Michael Falk (@michaelfalk26) March 11, 2015

#JonkershoekFire fire 1km from the Coetzenburg Sport Science building. So scary to see our faculty being evacuated pic.twitter.com/xVG5UgJQUi

— Hayley Monk (@HayleyMonk) March 11, 2015

#JonkershoekFire team in Abdul's kloof pic.twitter.com/CCpUe11P7y

— Johnny Vergeer (@johnnyvergeer) March 11, 2015

Strong winds in the Jonkershoek Valley continue to fuel the flames. #JonkershoekFire @vwsfires #CapeFire pic.twitter.com/PrjT6MCn4Y

— Chantelle Kerr (@chantskerr) March 11, 2015

#JonkershoekFire [WATCH] water-bombing efforts underway at #Jonkershoek AG pic.twitter.com/jDOYBHcwxB

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 11, 2015

Here's an update on the #JonkershoekFire and info on how you can support the fire fighting effort. http://t.co/Wahe5mvWf9

— Full Stride (@FullStrideSA) March 11, 2015

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