GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The overall objectives remain the same, which is to ensure the safety of responders, community members and infrastructure. 

High priority areas for the evening include the Jonkersberg, Noll and Kransbos areas where there is an active fire spreading. 

Mopping-up operations will continue throughout the evening in all other divisions. Aerial firefighting took place today but not to the level which was anticipated because of poor visibility and strong crosswinds. We are expecting rain from midnight onwards.

JONKERSBERG - The northern flank of the Jonkersberg wildfire has the potential to move into old veld - this could pose some serious threats because old veld burn with higher flames and more intensity than usual. The Jonkersberg eastern flank is currently less than two kilometres from the Outeniqua wildfire.

Enough resources have been deployed to this area to manage the active fire lines and to continue with mopping-up operations.

NOLL (ORIGINAL DE VLUGT FIRE WHICH MERGED WITH THE OUTENIQUA FIRE) - There is an active fire line to the north-eastern part of this area, which is being attended to by ground teams throughout the evening. Aerial resources will assist ground teams tomorrow if the weather conditions are favourable.

DUBBELBERG/BUFFELSNEK/KRANSBOS - PG Bison worked here Spotter and Huey worked here. Mid-afternoon a lot of work was done by the air attack team.

Diepwalle and Kransbos evacuations took place late-afternoon. The evacuations were initially halted because the wind turned favourably for firefighting efforts, but later during the day it turned again which resulted in families being requested to evacuate. Aerial resources will assist ground teams tomorrow if the weather conditions are favourable.

WABOOMSKRAAL - Fire lines moved down the mountain - fortunately lines were controlled and nothing got out of hand. Due to the danger of arching from power lines to earth in smoke columns, firefighters needed to have the 132 KVA and 400KVA temporarily switches off to fight fires.

Highlands Lodge was saved by George and Oudtshoorn firefighters. A small uninhabited wooden structure near Highlands Lodge burnt down.  The line is still being mopped up and will be monitored throughout the night by George and Oudtshoorn firefighters.

BERGPLAAS - A few flare-ups occurred in this area and attended to.

GEORGE - A few flare-ups occurred in this area and attended to.

BEERVLEI - Quiet throughout the day – will be monitored for flare-ups.

KARATARA - Quiet throughout the day – will be monitored for flare-ups.

SEVEN PASSES - A lot of progress was made – not a lot of flare-ups occurred.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE UNTIL 06:00 tomorrow morning

· Working on Fire (450 Firefighters, 30 vehicles),

· GRDM Fire (8 Firefighters, 3 vehicles)

· George Mun Fire              (7 Firefighters, 4 vehicles)

·  Knysna Mun Fire               (6 Firefighters, 3 vehicles)

· Oudtshoorn Mun Fire (2 Firefighters, 1 vehicle)

· Cape Pine (16 Firefighters, 6 vehicles)

· Cape Nature (8 Firefighters, 4 vehicles)

· SANParks (10 Firefighters, 2 vehicles)

· PG Bison (110 Firefighters)

· West Coast DM Fire (12 Firefighters, 4 vehicles)

· Cape Winelands DM Fire (8 Firefighters, 3 vehicles)

· Enviro Volunteer Wildfire Services (3 Firefighters, 1 vehicle)

· Incident Working Group Africa (2 Firefighters, 1 vehicle)

TOTAL: 642 Firefighters, 62 vehicles

AERIAL RESOURCES - Could not be used to full capacity today due to poor visibility caused by a thick layer of smoke in many parts of the Garden Route.

· 3 x WoF Spotters              

· 3 x WoF Helicopters        

· 2 x WoF Bombers

· 1 x SAAF Helicopter

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