Dozens of homes destroyed in Overstrand fire
Betty’s Bay bears the brunt of blaze, which is now under control
Hundreds of people were evacuated in the Overberg region on Friday after a fire made its way closer to residential areas. The areas affected included Hermanus, Franskraal, Betty’s Bay and Karwyderskraal.
By early Saturday morning, with the help of rain, firefighters and aerial support, most of the fire was contained. Firefighting crews are remaining in the area in case of any flare-ups.
According to the the City of Cape Town’s Theo Layne, 31 residential properties were destroyed and an estimated of 12,800 hectares of vegetation has been destroyed.
Residential areas along Clarence Drive in Betty’s Bay got the worst of it. At least two vehicles were destroyed in the fire.
Jaco Strauss collects what he can from his burnt house. Strauss said that luckily no one was staying in the home at the time of the blaze as he usually rents it out.
Father Robert Bisell stands amongst the ruins of a Catholic church that was destroyed.
Although large swaths of vegetation were burnt in Betty’s Bay, many houses were left untouched by the fire.
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Letters
Dear Editor
It's a pity that your article did not mention that the fire was started by a thoughtless New Year's flare of boat. Tony Weaver, former Cape Times journalist and environmentalist wrote eloquently about the fire, how it was started by this reckless action, did good in burning a section of veld that was ready and needed a burn, but caused untold damage in burning large swathes which have already been burnt far too often. Because of human recklessness.
The damage we humans cause through our greed or fun and failing to act responsibly is absolutely enormous. This fire is yet another metaphor for the damage we're doing to our planet through climate change and mass extinction. All to our own detriment and destroying our own future, but, worse, the future of our children and grandchildren.
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