GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - According to Deon Stoffels, the Chief Fire Officer of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), a total of 82 fires, including several wildfires, have affected the region, resulting in the burning of 23 848 hectares of land.
In comparison, the previous year (July 2021 to June 2022) experienced three more wildfires, but the damage was slightly lower, with around 14 500 hectares burned.
Stoffels emphasises the importance of addressing this concerning trend and prioritising fire management and prevention strategies to protect communities.
The areas most impacted by the wildfires in the past year were the Rooiberg Mountains in Van Wyksdorp, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn, and Molenrivier (N9 South) in the George area.
The primary cause of these wildfires was lightning strikes, which are typically more prevalent during the months of January and February.
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