The R44 provincial road is currently closed as authorities are struggling to contain a wildfire burning near Kleinmond in the Overberg, Western Cape. Wine estate and hotel Arabella is under threat.
The blaze started on the mountain on Saturday, January 8 and the cause is unknown. ‘It is the battle for the R44 this morning,’ Overberg District Municipality said on Monday. ‘It is currently burning, down from the mountain, direction Arabella. All efforts are being made to re-open the R44 for traffic.’
‘Our crew had a long rough night facing huge flame heights, runaway firelines, structural protection and property defense stood down at 6:10am this morning,’ Overberg Wildfire Volunteers said on January 9.
Several firefighters are on scene around the clock. No evacuations have been ordered as of yet.
‘We are encouraging residents to protect themselves and their neighbours by observing basic fire prevention strategies, such as keeping a watch over open flames, keeping a bucket of sand at hand as a first defence should a candle fall over and mounting a candle in a can with sand to enhance safety,’ the City of Cape Town said according to Cape Town Etc.
The region is prone to fires in the dry months, and suffered extensive damage after a wildfire in 2019.
Pictures: Overberg Wildfire Volunteers
