Update on veld fires in NMBM – NMBM

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is currently responding
to various fire incidents. On Tuesday, 29 November 2022, the City was called
out to a vegetation fire in Beachview where two houses also incidentally
started to burn.

This comes as the City continues to battle with a fire in
the Bay West area which started on Monday and is not under control yet. These
serious fire outbreaks are in addition to numerous small fires that fire
fighters are attending to.

NMBM Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr
Lawrence Troon said at this stage the fire fighters were coping despite the
challenges of limited human resources.

“Our vegetation has dried out because of the drought, and we
had wind on Monday and today and that is basically what is causing these fires.
We are working around the clock to get more manpower, we have vehicles, but we
are trying to get additional staff. We are calling for calmness and cooperation
during this time as we try our best to put the fires out. We will keep
residents updated; residents can report fires to our control centre on 041 585
1555.”

“No fatalities have been reported so far, however we called
for an ambulance to assist with those that have been affected by the smoke
inhalation,” said MMC Troon.

Issued by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
Communications office.