Firefighters battle massive Plettenberg Bay blaze that leaves families destitute
Clutching at what little they could save as their homes went up in flames, residents of Qolweni in Plettenberg Bay watched helplessly as yet another fire tore through their community on Monday afternoon.
It was the fourth blaze to devastate the settlement in just six months, leaving families once again with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
The fire broke out shortly after lunchtime in the Bossiesgif area of the Garden Route town and spread rapidly through the tightly packed homes.
By late afternoon, thick smoke hung over the settlement as firefighters battled to contain the flames that engulfed several houses and a small shop.
The Bitou municipality confirmed the fire and said emergency services were at the scene.
“At this stage, there is no confirmed information regarding the extent of the damage or any injuries,” it said..
“Updates will be provided as soon as further details become available.
“The municipality is coordinating support measures for those impacted by [Monday’s] fire.
“Information on relief assistance and community support will be shared shortly.
“We urge residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with emergency personnel. Please avoid the affected area to allow rescue teams to operate safely and efficiently.”
The municipality said the blaze came just two days after another tragedy struck the area.
On Saturday, a fire in Qolweni destroyed a home and claimed one life.
Emergency teams found the charred remains of a resident after extinguishing that blaze, which was believed to have started in the early hours of the morning.
Neighbourhood WhatsApp groups were buzzing on Monday afternoon as residents shared videos of thick smoke rising over Bossiesgif, warning others to move to safety and calling for water and help from surrounding areas.
It was still unclear by evening how many homes had been destroyed or whether anyone had been injured.
Gift of the Givers was among the first to respond.
Teams from the humanitarian group were in Bossiesgif, distributing energy drinks to exhausted firefighters and beginning damage assessments.
“Gift of the Givers are presently on the ground at Bossies Gif, Plettenberg Bay, where a devastating fire is raging and destroying numerous homes and belongings,” the organisation said.
“At this stage, the number of homes affected is still unknown, but bystanders have described it as the biggest fire the Bossie Gif area has ever seen.
“Bitou Disaster Management has requested assistance from Gift of the Givers, and our teams are currently distributing energy drinks to firefighters while conducting damage assessments to determine the full extent of the disaster.”
The Dignity Fund Garden Route has also issued an urgent appeal for donations of food, blankets and clothing for those left destitute.
Fires in informal settlements such as Qolweni have become an all-too-common tragedy in the Garden Route region, often sparked by open flames used for cooking and heating, faulty wiring or strong winds that quickly turn small blazes into infernos.
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