Slowbee Posted January 9, 2017 Posted January 9, 2017 Just heard on radio that working on fire teams have back on their way to Lourensford.
Slowbee Posted January 9, 2017 Posted January 9, 2017 Valley is up in flames again. Smoke all over the HH mountains.Valley is ok. Just came from there. Its the smoke blowing from the top BUT, there are also flareups at the base closer to the farm. Its the plantations that start to get under threat. The wind is NOT helping.
Kranswurm Posted January 9, 2017 Posted January 9, 2017 Some humour from Volunteer Wildfire Services update yesterday Thank you again for all your support over the last few days.Until the next fire, we leave you with some post-fire humour firefighter Ian H:There was a Vandrover from Stellies. Full of people with fire in their bellies. They would rakehoe and beat. Through the smoke and the heat. Then climb back in the beast with their smellies.
dev null Posted January 9, 2017 Author Posted January 9, 2017 Yes, unfortunately the SE is gonna get real strong tonight, and will glow (oops, freudian slip, meant blow) through tomorrow.
Slowbee Posted January 9, 2017 Posted January 9, 2017 Yes, unfortunately the SE is gonna get real strong tonight, and will glow (oops, freudian slip, meant blow) through tomorrow. . Just want the damn thing to go out!
Slowbee Posted January 9, 2017 Posted January 9, 2017 OK, just got back from Lourensford. Things are looking ok. The fire is still high up the mountain - but if this wind spreads it towards the pine plantations, then its a whole nother ball game. But the guy said to me they were making the fire breaks bigger. But further down from the mtns, that is the problem at the moment. Several vehicles came onto the farm while I was there. There are more crews arriving in the morning again. The NHW donation has been asked to donate again. The main wine tasting area and such is far form being damaged by the fire, but it is the vines and orchards behind all that which is the problem. And sheesh, spectator value of note. There are sooooooo many cars wanting to watch. I will post some pics in the morning.
lerouc Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 The smoke was quite bad this morning. Hows things now slowbee?
GLuvsMtb Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170110/42656a4cfe3c18e4ce2cef945e19c110.jpgMy view this morning of the HH mountainshttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170110/091af77c4104e078f4117beed39ab050.jpgAnd Helderberg
Slowbee Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 it is mainly indigenous vegetation that is burning and with no wind to disperse the smoke we are getting the full effect of the smoke. the hope now lies in no wind today.
Slowbee Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 terrible photo - but shows the flare up. Without the scale of the mountains it difficult to tell just how huge that fire area is and how big those flames are. I was standing in radloff cricket ground when I took that. The worry is/was the "glow" bottom left and the fire line left. The wind was faning in that directing and towards un burnt material. Even more crews are being called and from the radio it sounds like we have gone from 120 people back up to 350. They are talking about bringing in more resources to make it 400 to 450 people to try get it out before the winds predicted for Thursday arrive.
lerouc Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 Apparently big fire in wellington area. Lady from my work is standing by to evacuate their farm. Neighbors already gone.
dev null Posted January 10, 2017 Author Posted January 10, 2017 And there I thought I had my swimming pool clean from the soot and dust. Well, back to square one. Also, the story float about that the fires were started by arsonists. Witnesses has come forward, but still no guilty parties found, and I won't hold my breath.
PhilipV Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 The choppers have started working from early today. Let's hope they make headway before the wind picks up. This morning before sunrise while trying to soothe our baby I saw the massive fireline again. It's huge. Slowbee's photo gives a great idea. But remember that the line runs down almost the full height of the Hottentots Holland mountain range.
Slowbee Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 this is not looking good for the western cape. This website is great. http://southernafrica.afis.co.za/ (look at Madagascar just for interest)
lerouc Posted January 10, 2017 Posted January 10, 2017 From facebook: 07h00: Fire Update from Fire Dept: Fire spread to Stellenbosch due to wind.Still several hotspots/areas burning on Lourensford Farm. Two choppers deployed. Dont know if this is the truth. Edit: I see it was taken from districtmails page.
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