Thabazimbi battles relentless flames
Thabazimbi - In a fiery ordeal lasting several days, Thabazimbi bore witness to a series of wildfires that swept across approximately 5000 hectares of land, resulting in tragic losses. The relentless flames underscore the unpredictable nature of fires and the immense challenges faced by firefighters and local communities.
The saga began early on Wednesday, 4 October 2023, near the Thaba Nkwe area. Responding swiftly by 08:30, Thabazimbi Fire and Rescue (TFR) and local farmers had the blaze under control by midday.
However, the reprieve was short-lived as, by 14:30, the fire reignited in the nearby mountains. Marakele Park’s Working on Fire (WoF) team backburns to thwart the advancing flames.
By Thursday morning, the fire had descended closer to the mountain’s base. Responding promptly, TFR executed backburns near Maroela Guesthouse and other accessible areas. Yet, as evening approached, another fire ignited at the mountain’s foot near Kwaggasvlakte. This was accompanied by a separate outbreak near extension 37, which TFR swiftly subdued.
Friday saw the wind’s treacherous whims fan the flames once more. While TFR was battling the Kwaggasvlakte blaze, a new inferno erupted in Sentrum. The situation intensified as a subsequent fire ignited near Thaba Nkwe, prompting TFR to split their resources between two major fire scenes. The battle against the Sentrum blaze raged on until the early hours of Saturday.
The human cost of these fires was tragically highlighted with the loss of two lives in the Sentrum fire, while another farmer sustained severe burns. The enormity of the crisis saw thousands of litres of water poured into firefighting efforts across Thaba Nkwe, Kwaggasvlakte, and Sentrum.
In the aftermath, TFR director, Kobus Malan, expressed his heartfelt condolences, “We pray for the farmer’s swift recovery and our thoughts go out to the families of those who lost their lives. TFR would like to thank all who helped to combat the fires and everyone who has donated to TFR’s cause”.
Photo: The fire near Sentrum cost two lives.