Cape Winelands Fire Services have their hands full trying to contain fires raging in the Breede Valley and Witzenberg areas.

• Firefighters are still battling to contain a fire that broke out in Wolseley, in the Boland, on Monday. 
• On Saturday morning, the fire line began moving in the direction of the Steenbok Nature Reserve. 
• The Cape Winelands District Municipality said there were large areas where active fires had been contained, although flare-ups were likely.

Two houses and three cottages were destroyed in Worcester despite immense efforts by firefighters in the Cape Winelands to contain a fire raging in the Breede Valley and Witzenberg areas.

This is while efforts are still being made to contain the fire that has been burning in Wolseley since Monday afternoon. 

Cape Winelands District Municipality spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto said there were two active fire lines. 

“The first was the one that spread into the Bain’s Kloof area. This fire, driven by a stiff breeze and ample fuel, spread quickly in the latter hours of Friday,” she said.

“Fire teams concentrated efforts on the protection of property. During the night, the fire line jumped the road, which required attention to prevent it from spreading into the lush growth along the river.” 

On Saturday morning, the fire began moving in the direction of the Steenbok Nature Reserve. 

READ | Wolseley fire: Residents evacuated, home and one car destroyed, as blaze rages into fifth day

“The teams report that there have been no structural losses. Activities will continue with active firefighting and structure protection.”

The second fire line is situated on the Gouda/Saron side of the mountain, Otto said.

“This fire, which was burning high in the inaccessible areas of the mountain with a jagged and broken fire line, was moving slowly,” she added. 

During the night, the fire burnt into an area where fire teams and equipment will be able to reach it.

In Fairy Glenn, Worcester, the fire which started on Friday afternoon in the Brandwacht area continues to burn out of control in two areas.

She said:

Two of these were houses and three were cottages.

“The fire line split into two sections. The left flank is burning into cliffs and teams are making good progress, while the right-hand flank is a little more troublesome as there is a higher and more dense fuel load.” 

Otto said there were still some smouldering spots on flat ground, but they have been mostly contained. 

“In the areas of both these fires, there are large areas where active fires have been contained. The ground is still very hot, which, combined with the hot weather, makes flare-ups likely. Fire crews will be doing the all-important monitoring and mopping-up in these areas.” 

The Western Cape government recently increased its wildfire-fighting budget from R16 million to R19 million.

Fire season in the Western Cape traditionally runs from November to May, when the province experiences hot, dry and windy conditions.