Clean-up under way after Cape’s Cederberg blaze
Firefighters have begun mop-up operations in the Cederberg, Western Cape, after a wildfire burned approximately 53,000 hectares of natural vegetation over 12 days. CapeNature said containment lines were held from Nieuwoudtspass to Kleinjongenskraal, with additional gains at Kleinplasie and Buffelshoek. The West Coast District Municipality’s incident command is coordinating the response, supported by Cape Winelands District resources.
Crews – including 114 personnel from CapeNature and Working on Fire – focused on extinguishing hotspots with a reconnaissance flight to identify areas at risk as temperatures rise. Ecological assessments will follow to evaluate biodiversity impacts, including the endemic Clanwilliam cedar. The Cederberg is a popular nature-based tourism area, and authorities report early signs of recovery in wetlands and stream zones.
Source: IOL News
