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Zuma praises Cape firefighters

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President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday praised Cape Town fire-fighters for their bravery in combating fires that broke out in the Cape Peninsula over the weekend.

“We praise the bravery and professionalism of all our fire-fighters who are attending to this raging fire to save lives and stop the damage to property and our prestigious natural environment, putting their own lives at risk in the process,” Zuma said in a statement.

Cape Town Disaster Risk Management said on Tuesday the fire-fighters were battling three areas, on the Hout Bay side of Chapman’s Peak, Tokai Forest, and Noordhoek.

Spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said rescue crews worked overnight. A helicopter was water bombing the Hout Bay fire on Tuesday.

“The fire is high up on the mountain and ground crews are dealing with sporadic flare ups. Two choppers in the Hout Bay area by Military Road are water bombing the area to protect the property.”

The Hout Bay Civic Association on Tuesday thanked the fire-fighters, who had been working around the clock, for their courage and bravery.

The fire started on Sunday, was contained, but flared up again just after 2am on Monday in Muizenberg above Boyes Drive.

It was fanned by strong winds and spread to Ou Kaapse Weg, Chapman’s Peak, Hout Bay, and Tokai.

One city fire-fighter had been admitted to hospital with burn wounds while 52 frail-care residents from the Noordhoek retirement village were treated for smoke inhalation.

Five homes had been destroyed along Silvermine Road in Noordhoek.

There was damage to parts of Tintswalo Lodge at the foot of Chapman’s Peak.

The Western Cape environmental affairs department said an extra 250 fire-fighters were called in from across the Western Cape. SAPA


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