“Our main priority is to save the lives of the people in the surrounding communities and towns,” says General Manager of Working on Fire (WoF), Martin Bolton. The recent fires that broke out in the Sabie, Graskop and Hazyview area already caused damage to 2,500 ha of land.

According to Bolton, the Lowveld Escarpment Fire Protection Association (LEFPA), dispatched six WoF teams which is a total of 100 firefighters. “WoF are committed to safety. It is our priority to contain this fire before it spreads any further. We currently have three teams on the fire line from Injaka, Salique and Barberton WoF bases. The other three teams from Nelspruit, Graskop and Wilgeboom bases are currently at the staging area as they battled this fire throughout yesterday and all through the night.”

WoF’s secret to success is the exceptional teamwork between its ground teams and the aerial support. Bolton said Kishugu Aviation dispatched one Spotter aircraft, two 802 Air Tractor (AT) bombers and one Huey to assist the WoF ground teams on the fireline.

One of the Sabie residents quoted that there were massive fires alongside the Graskop, Hazyview and White River roads this morning for as far as 20 km at a time.

“Between yesterday and today, our firefighters were on the fireline of nine fires in the area. We urge all residents and road users to please put safety first. Avoid the R536 between Sabie and Hazyview as the raging forest fires have still not been contained. We are doing everything in our power to save lives and the environment,”  Bolton concluded.