/ 11 October 2010

Firefighters battle Thabazimbi blaze

Firefighters were battling wild fires in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, on Monday morning, a Working on Fire (WOF) official said.

Firefighters were battling wild fires in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, on Monday morning, a Working on Fire (WOF) official said.

“Wildfires have destroyed up to 60 000ha of land near Thabazimbi … Almost half the land at Marakele National Park has been destroyed in the flames. However, no loss to life has been reported,” said WOF Limpopo dispatch coordinator Alwyn Kruger.

“Hot temperatures of between 35 and 40 degrees and strong winds in the area are fuelling the fires.”

The fire line was 80km long.

There were six WOF ground crews on the scene, as well two WOF helicopters and two South African National Defence Force helicopters.

“With the assistance of aerial firefighters we hope to make some progress with containing the fire by this afternoon [Monday],” said Kruger. — Sapa