Prescribed Ecological Burn In Tsitsikamma Section Progressing Safely And On Track
The operation of a prescribed ecological burn in the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park is progressing according to plan following ...
Mopping up operations in Knysna
Mop up operations have begun after the devastating fires in Knysna. The 300-km fire line with some 1016 volunteers todate is managed by a Provincial JOC (Joint Operating Committee).
SANParks involvement thus far is through own Working on Fire teams (WoF), rangers to fight the fire and offering expertise to the town of Knysna through a representative at the JOC such as developing a GIS map indicating burnt infrastructure for the Incident Commander. This exercise will provide adequate information pertaining to the loss of infrastructure as a result of the devastating Knysna fires
So says Planning Manager for the Garden Route National Park (GRNP), Len du Plessis “we are calling for volunteers to assist in the GIS assessment from Knysna to Rheenendal. They must be in good health, have own transport and own chainsaws.”
Damage in the National Park thus far: The fire in Hoekwil on Tuesday (the 6th June 2017) was very close to Ebb & Flow North but teams were out to extinguish the fire and it never did jump over to the Park.
Park Manager for the GRNP, Paddy Gordon has confirmed that the Knysna forest did not burn down. As a precautionary measure, roads leading to Gouna and Diepwalle were closed due to the fire. Wild animals were thus not affected including special species such as the Midge (found in the Gouna River), the Knysna elephant, leopards, baboons and others were unaffected by the fire. SANParks staff have joined various animal welfare groups in Knysna to assist with stranded animals as a result of the fire (pets and wildlife found in the nearby peri urban areas).
However, the Kranshoek picnic site and the viewpoint were affected by the fire.
Our teams are monitoring high seas in Tsitsikamma very closely and the temporary restaurant (Cattle Baron) is now open.
SANParks is part of the Eastern Cape JOC monitoring the fire that started in a nearby plantation and had moved to Goesa, it was extinguished by Sunday.
Today an additional 300 WoF teams will be accommodated in Natures Valley (De Vasselot).
Media can contact: Nandi Mgwadlamba, 078 702 9663, 044 302 5633, [email protected]