The Working on Fire helicopter (under contract to the Eden District Municipality) made numerous flying trips to the terrain in an attempt to douse the fire. The helicopter scooped water in its bucket from the George sewerage farm dams at Pacaltsdorp to extinguish the fire.
On Monday Barend Nelson, the acting community safety head, said the George Fire Brigade was also fighting two veld fires - one near Pacaltsdorp and one adjacent to the N2. He said it was not clear what caused the fire at the George Municipal dump area.
Eden's Disaster Management Chief Gerhard Otto said the Eskom high tension wires through the area was a concern, as a short circuit could cause an electrical outage. While a thick layer of smoke hung over the terrain members of the public continued to off-load their building rubble.
The informally employed recyclers continued to scurry about and there was even a bakkie loading up recycling matter quite unperturbed by the fire.
Nelson said the hot winds and deep layers of wood shavings further complicated their task.
During the journalists' visit to the dump, no flames were visible. Although there is a security guard at the entrance gate, people walked casually in and out of the enclosed areas going about their daily routine looking for food and recycle material at the dump.
The George Municipality's dumpsite adjacent to the old airport road had an apocalyptic look about it on Monday, with black charred areas and a thick layer of smoke hanging above it. The Working on Fire Helicopter and its water bucket could be seen dumping loads of water to douse the smouldering debris. But most people went about their usual task of off-loading their vehicles. And the informal recyclers continued scouring the terrain for recyclable matter. Photos: Pauline Lourens
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