Franschhoek fire continues to burn out of control: Municipality

The Cape Winelands Fire Services vehicle parked a burning veld in Franschhoek, Western Cape.

The Cape Winelands District Municipality says a fire burning above Franschhoek remains out of control.

Municipality’s Spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto says firefighters faced challenging conditions overnight, with strong winds driving the fire through the Assegaai-bos area.

She says the blaze jumped the Berg River, igniting new fires on the mountain above the river.

Otto says steep and uneven terrain, combined with dense vegetation, has limited access for ground crews, forcing teams to focus mainly on protecting properties on surrounding farms.

She says some residents have opted to leave their homes as a precaution.

Otto says, “The various partner agencies will meet this morning to discuss resource deployment and suppression strategies to be implemented. Residents are advised that water bombing and other fire suppression activities may result in heavy smoke. It is recommended that windows and doors be kept closed, particularly for individuals who are sensitive to smoky air.”