Fire fighters from the Makana Fire Department extinguished a fire at the Grahamstown municipal rubbish dump late on Thursday 25 December.
Fire fighters from the Makana Fire Department extinguished a fire at the Grahamstown municipal rubbish dump late on Thursday 25 December.
A strong wind saved most city residents from the thick smoke, which in the late afternoon was blowing towards the army base.
The Makana Fire Department confirmed a team had extinguished the source of the smoke last night.
Grahamstown's fire fighters are on standby throughout the festive season, with two teams of six alternating on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Makana Municipality Fire Chief Willem Welkom said earlier this week that the festive season had gone well so far in terms of disaster management.
Apart from a bush fire near at the Mayfield electricity department and an incident at a shopping centre, there had been no incidents, he said.
Both incidents had been easily contained.
“It’s a big plus for the fire department that there have been so few incidents this festive season,” Welkom told Grocott’s Mail on Christmas Eve.”We have been conducting fire safety awareness campaigns and perhaps this is why,” he said.
Welkom said there was often an increase in shack fires during the festive season. He said he hoped the good run would continue throughout the New Year.
Cold drinks and biscuits in the fire station were the extent of celebrations planned for fire fighters on Christmas Day.
sue@grocotts.co.za
*Story updated to include dump fire – see photo.
