Garden Route under fire Knysna

No-one could have foreseen the destruction unleashed along the Garden Route from Wednesday the 7^th June 2017.

Wednesday reports had come in of a fire in Knysna, and that it had spread through to Kranshoek. By night fall Knysna had succumbed to flames and the fire in Plett had swept its way over Robberg, ravaging many houses down to Solar Beach. An estimated ten thousand locals and visitors found themselves displaced, after watching their farms, homes and lodges burn to the ground.

Locals from Knysna to Plett were left in shock after many had lost their homes, pets and livelihoods.

Fortunately rain intervened at around 11am on Thursday and by Friday the fire seemed under control. However, everyone was on high alert, as more gale force winds were forecast for Saturday and sadly four lives had been lost. Come Saturday morning, the Airport Road was once again ablaze and evacuations were set in place.

Brackenridge and the surrounding suburbs were on high alert as firemen battled flare-ups in Jakkalskraal and Roodefontein – whilst the fire raged on in Kransbos.

Simultaneously residents of White Location in Knysna had to be unexpectedly evacuated. The gale force winds pushed the raging fires in all directions, as it engulfed the nearby areas.

Buffelsbaai was completely surrounded by fires, which trapped people on the beach. Emergency vehicles were eventually able to get to them and take them through to safety.

Reports started coming in from the surrounding areas of fires in Sedgefield, Wilderness and even from George and Mosselbay. It became more extreme when the reports from St Francis Bay, Jefferys bay and even Port Elizabeth came in – it truly felt like the fire would engulf us all.

Amidst all the chaos the fire claimed the lives of two volunteer fire fighters, a 63-year-old man near Concordia, a 3 year old in Welbedacht, a mother and daughter and the family of three in Elandskraal. The Thornhill fire, near Humansdorp claimed the lives of an elderly couple, bringing the confirmed number of fatalities to eleven.

The fire is being monitored by dousing air crafts and over a 1000 fire fighters.

A big thank you goes out to every person who played their part in assisting the victims and all who risked their lives fighting the fires. Beyond everything that has taken place over this past week, people pulled together and overcame the unthinkable. The amount of love pouring in from across the country and globe for the Garden Route and the influx of assistance is greatly appreciated. We salute you!!!

Latest Update

All fires in Knysna are contained and manageable. As of Monday morning, it was reported that the fires from Pezula to Noetzie and Hornlee have been contained.

Sedgefield is completely under control and Concordia has been contained.  The water bombing and evacuation warnings have subsided, the N2 has been reopened and people have started to pick up the pieces.

Property damage needs to be reported at the Knysna Municipality in Clyde Street, or alternatively to the Relief Management Team.

If anyone is aware of any families or individuals that have not been able to collect donations of food, hygiene packs, medication, first aid or assistance with their pets, please WhatsApp, Wenessa Nunes on 0823020288. Your information will be forwarded to the Gift of the Givers CEO, Dr Sooliman. Please provide your current location, amount of individuals /pets, specialised needs like meds and contact details if possible.

The current status in Knysna on Monday, June 12, was outlined by Nadia Ferreira, principal communications officer, Eden and Central Karoo districts, Western Cape Government Health.

Knysna Hospital remains closed and no services are rendered from the hospital. One primary health care facility is closed – Keurhoek Clinic in Rheenendal. All other primary health care facilities are open, although staff is limited.

The Loerie Park Grounds is currently a mobile hospital site for emergencies. Patients will be stabilised here or transferred to George Hospital if they require further medical care.

There is a doctor stationed at the Sedgefield Clinic, attending to emergency cases for the Sedgefield and Karatara areas.

Two doctors are attending to emergencies at Knysna community day centre (CDC). The facility will render other services as normal. The same concept applies at both Knysna CDC and Sedgefield Clinic. Emergencies will be stabilised and transferred to George Hospital.

Supplies needed most at present are matresses, sleeping bags, blankets, small home appliances and toiletries, among others.

Authorities are reinforcing their appeal to residents to reduce their water consumption, where the situation remains dire in the fire-ravaged areas. Water would be restored later on Monday.

The drone footage, uploaded to YouTube by TimesLIVE, shows the blackened landscape along the Garden Route’s coastline, starting in Plettenberg Bay, then moving on to Knysna.