A new team of firefighters – that was dispatched this morning (Monday) to the scene of a fire that has been raging in the Western Cape winelands region since Saturday evening – is making progress and it is hoped the blaze will be under control by nightfall.
This is the latest report from Banhoek Valley Fire Department incident commander Jaco Thuynsma who said that teams from Cape Nature, Working on Fire, Cape Winelands firefighters, as well as contractors, were working on the blaze.
Following the major fire in the winelands earlier this year, which caused an estimated R20 million worth of damage, wine and agricultural producers are holding their breath that the fire is contained as quickly as possible, said VinPro vitcultural consultant, Conrad Schutte.
Damage to vines could vary from total destruction to scorched leaves and potential smoke taint. Schutte said it would be difficult at this stage to accurately determine the total damage caused, even after the fire has been extinguished. “Previous fires have taught us that some vineyards that seem to be severely damaged recover remarkably, while others do not make it, even though they appear to have survived. Only time will tell.”
