Update on Somerset West Fire: Evacuations & Help Needed
Residents are currently being evacuated from farms and homes in areas of Somerset West in South Africa, and help is urgently needed – especially bakkies and horseboxes. An alarm about the #Helderberg fire being out of control has been posted on social media, with calls for bakkies needed to help with evacuation in Sir Lowry’s […]
Residents are currently being evacuated from farms and homes in areas of Somerset West in South Africa, and help is urgently needed – especially bakkies and horseboxes.
An alarm about the #Helderberg fire being out of control has been posted on social media, with calls for bakkies needed to help with evacuation in Sir Lowry’s Pass.
Wilderness Search and Rescue is asking the general public to help evacuate people in the Knorhoek Valley due to the fire in Somerset West.
Smile 90.4fm DJ, Gavin Arends also tweeted late tonight:”Horseboxes desperately needed in @Somerset_West. Non-perishables to #StrandFireStation.”
Please contact the relevant authorities if you can help.
South African Police Services (SAPS) is urging residents to please avoid Sir Lowry’s Pass and Old Sir Lowry’s Pass village roads as residents are being evacuated from the devastating fires.
According to latest updates, the fire in Somerset West is out of control and helicopters have had to be withdrawn due to high winds and turbulence near the mountains.
Earlier today fire devastated Bezweni Lodge in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Somerset West; and tonight it has been reported that some homes in Wedderwill Estate have burned. Residents have been evacuated.
There are currently multiple fires burning in the Somerset West area, and with the Cape Doctor howling today… large clouds of smoke blew over Cape Town today creating an eerie but beautiful sunset.
A temperature drop did help the team to progress earlier, according to Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association and Kleinmond is now safe.
BUT according to Jacques Weber there is now fire on De Waal Drive. See video below. All services are on the scene. The South Easter is not relenting.
To assist the firefighters tackling the Somerset West fires, please drop off water and non-perishable food at Strand Fire Department.
Predicted temperatures for the next few days are in the late 20s and early 30s with a drop in winds tomorrow, but strong gale force winds expected on Thursday, and no rain in sight.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave men and women fighting these fires tonight. Thank you.
"@steynclan: Sir Lowrys and Somerset West burning. … pic.twitter.com/9skYOscYMq" Sterkte daar!
— Simon Rademan (@simonrademan) January 3, 2017
Wildfire next to De Waal Drive Tuesday night:
https://twitter.com/JadevanBiljon/status/816373712056356864
@wo_fire something for you to be proud of! Your people are amazing in their work! -> https://t.co/rJsSVCtYqF
— Johan Brink (@johanbrink96) January 3, 2017
Massive fire in the Helderberg, Western Cape out of control. More information at https://t.co/B88tlyGdAe for more news. pic.twitter.com/8saKZFEY6q
— JG (Johan) van Zyl ✍✝️ (@JGvanZyl_ZA) January 3, 2017
A busy day for fire crews across the city, Boland and Overberg, with fires in @Somerset_West, Grabouw, Oudekraal, Du Toitskloof, Kleinmond. pic.twitter.com/0bN1P7VNmn
— VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) January 3, 2017
Scenes from outside the Huguenot tunnel. @KFMza pic.twitter.com/L2zkppSl3r
— Travis Rowe (@travisdrowe) January 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/Sula1968/status/816374579887120386
#prayforHelderberg @vwsfires @Somerset_West we are praying for all of you and thank you for your bravery!! God bless!
— Helena Bougas (@HelenaBougas) January 3, 2017
Somerset west burning! pic.twitter.com/DRCcqOZ4JE
— Amanda (@Amandavw76) January 3, 2017
@vwsfires Smoke flowing into the City Bowl, causing a very apocalyptic scene with the Sun overlooking. pic.twitter.com/8NqmdbRrzf
— Rudi Strydom (@rstrydom) January 3, 2017
This was the sky over Camps Bay earlier today caused by the fires in Somerset West. pic.twitter.com/5j3mQ2m7mi
— Mike Eloff (@LifeOfMikeZA) January 3, 2017
Smoky sunset in blouberg. Thoughts are with those experiencing the fire in somerset west. #firefighters @KFMza @liezelv @CathyLewthwaite pic.twitter.com/PW48rH3DUP
— craig lewthwaite (@craiglewgolf) January 3, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BO0MUBXBf1r/
Help the firefighters tackling the Somerset West fires by dropping off water & energy bars at Strand Fire Department #somersetwestfires pic.twitter.com/9tYxDtK0ZX
— Juliet Pascall (@JPascall) January 3, 2017