/ 24 September 2007

Mpumalanga fires fizzle out

Five veld fires that were raging in Mpumalanga had been put out by Monday morning, Working on Fire said.

”The five fires have been contained,” said provincial coordinator Jacques Benade.

He said firefighters were, however, still battling to contain a fire west of Nelspruit.

Benade said the weather had improved since the start of the fires on Saturday. It is now overcast in Mpumalanga, there is moisture. We are fortunate that temperatures are lower than yesterday [Sunday].

”We are expecting a cold front to come in.”

On Sunday, firefighters were battling five fires in Sabie, Belfast, Nelspruit, Piet Retief and to the south of Piet Retief.

Benade said the damage to the province was not yet known. He said about 6 000 hectares of land had been burned. – Sapa