Pringle Bay Fire Leaves Property Destroyed. Extremely High Fire Danger Today.

While parts of South Africa are expecting flooding today, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Warning of “extremely high fire danger conditions expected in the Cape Metropole, Cape Winelands, West Coast District of WC” today, Wednesday 22 February 2017.

The Western Cape faced multiple fires on Monday afternoon (20/02/17), with one property destroyed and several others damaged at Pringle Bay.

Photographer JUSTIN SULLIVAN joined Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) and Vulcan crews at a fire in Simonsberg East, where they spent the night on the mountain controlling the line.

Justin said: “Vulcan, who developed a specialist crew concept in the Western Cape, arrived shortly after 6pm and received their brief to create scratch lines and protect a single property in the gully. They were joined by a VWS crew just minutes later and began the long 12 hour shift.

“It’s been a year since I spent an entire fire with VWS crews – once again, I was blown away by the leadership of Peter Hagen and the dedication of the team.

“Crews were faced with challenging terrain, posing dangers of rolling logs, ash pits and fire whirls. All together another incredible effort by crews, their management and support teams.”

There were several fires Tuesday in the Boland, and late last night crews were still fighting the Kylemore Fire.

Good luck and thank you to all crews who may be called out today.

All Photos © Justin Sullivan. Republished here with kind permission of SullivanPhotography. 

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