Firefighters battle three major wildfires cross Cape Winelands

Firefighters are currently battling three significant wildfires in the Cape Winelands areas of Wemmershoek, Paardeberg, and Kwaggaskloof.

Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) spokesperson, Jo-Anne Otto, confirmed that in the Wemmershoek-Drakenstein area, a large mountain fire broke out above a berry farm on Wemmershoek Road.

READ: Firefighters Battle Three Major Wildfires Across Cape Winelands

"The fire line is very wide and is being fuelled by strong winds. Fire vehicles and ground teams from the CWDM and CapeNature have been deployed," Otto stated. "Initially, the Provincial Disaster Management Centre’s Black Hawk was deployed; however, it has since been redeployed to the fire at Kwaggaskloof."

A second fire is being attended to in the vicinity of the Kwaggaskloof Dam, located outside Worcester in the direction of Villiersdorp.

Otto noted that emergency resources are focused on safeguarding assets in the area: "Fire vehicles and ground teams have responded and are being assisted by the PDMC Black Hawk helicopter. There are a number of properties situated at the Kwaggaskloof Dam."

Landowners are also on high alert regarding a third fire burning north of Paarl in the Paardeberg region. According to Otto, resources are being actively deployed to that site to assist with property protection.