Firefighting crews battling Wolseley & Franschhoek fires; Montagu, De Doorns fires extinguished

Crews are tending to active firefronts across several areas of the Cape Winelands District.
 
Fires in the Montagu and Ashton areas, De Doorns, and along the N1 at Du Toitskloof Pass have now been extinguished, while monitoring in these areas will continue.
 
Two new fires were reported in the early hours of this morning on the Wolseley side of Slanghoek Valley and Groendal, in Franschhoek.
 
Cape Winelands mayor, Elna von Schlicht: "The first occurred on the Wolseley side of the Slanghoek valley between Rawsonville and Wolseley. Fire teams, assisted by local farmers, were able to steer the fire, driven by strong winds, away from infrastructure and back in the veld."
 
Von Schlicht said that with first light, teams proceeded with the planned management of this fire.

"The second fire ignited in the veld above the informal settlement outside Groendal in Franschhoek. Fire crews responded promptly, and the fire is currently moving slowly. The area beyond the fireline last burned in January and provides little fuel, increasing the likelihood the fire will burn itself out."