A Report as news filters in from the canals about the state of the fire… continuous tonight...
3.30 am an exhausted Marc May, one of the fire fighters, says: “The fire is being brought under control thanks to assistance from fire fighters from PE and Uitenhage – in addition to our own – who have battled for hours…”
2.30 am: The popular Big Time is miraculously still standing but all neighbouring houses are burning, smouldering or in ruins.
12: 20 am: Kouga Municipality has just announced (15 minutes ago) that about half of the fire that has been raging at the St Francis canals has been extinguished. No further immediate threat to houses. Around 100 houses have burnt down. Exact figure to be confirmed later today. Much thanks to the firefighters and volunteers who are still out there working hard to put out the blaze completely.
State of the fire – Photo taken from Santareme by Phillip Wolfsburg at midnight and sent to us:
12.09 am : Report from Peri: Big Time is unharmed from the devastation that has hit our beautiful canals and town. All homes surrounding us did not make it but our guardian angels kept us safe from harm.
11.31 pm: If there are any evacuated pets that need to be taken care of and need accommodation please contact Christelle from Happy @ Home Pet Sitting. 0835280886
11.29 pm: Report just come in says the fire is now in Shore Road on Ski Canal and burnt 3 houses there so far. Many firefighters now here …wind coul drop overnight
11.16 pm: Disaster management has requested that anyone with fire fighting experience please make their way to the old fire station and volunteer. Also if anyone has a water pump please take it to the fire station.
Everyone else just please stay home as it is not safe on the canals right now!!
11 pm : Just had a good report that The Big Time Taverna is still standing. Alison Jones spoke to Melina. It’s saving grace is that that restaurant does not have a thatched roof. It is understandable to think that it has gone however Peri, Debbie and Mark and other staff are still there dowsing the area with water. Everything else around it has gone apparently .
10: 21 pm: Update from Kouga Municpality: “Latest info puts the number of houses ablaze at about 100. Firefighters are tracking the fire and are keeping the roofs of adjacent houses as wet as possible to try and prevent the fire from spreading further.
“The big challenge is the strong wind. We also ask that people avoid the scene. There are large numbers of spectators, who are complicating efforts to fight the blaze. “
10 pm : A report has just come again to remind people that the St Francis Bay Golf Club has opened it s doors to anyone who needs a cup of tea and a safe place to stay. Also the St Francis lodge at the Links has offered free accommodation, plus Sandals has three beds.
9 pm Have been unable to get news on the ground other than houses are still burning and more houses are burning.
Those in authority are literally swamped! Every disaster management person , plus NSRI personnel are swamped with the tasks of dealing with these mammoth flames and so many houses all burning at once.
But a comment from a resident Tony Butler says: ‘More than 80 houses have burnt down. Fire out of control. Strong westerly blowing. “Looks like a war zone, A total disaster!!” he says. No word of lives lost yet, but there is no water pressure so it’s a losing battle”
No one in authority understandably, has time to provide an update or speak to the press.
There are reports of sporadic firework sounds on the canals as gas bottles explode. The sky above the canals is still crimson with flames.. The fire is jumping and flying over the canals in the strong wind and spreading to other homes.
We will provide an update as soon as possible.
In the interim the Kouga Municipality says: “Anybody who needs assistance or can offer assistance, be it accommodation or just blankets for those affected, can go to the local police station or call 042 200 1800.
“There are conflicting reports about the number of houses that are burning. No official confirmation as yet.
“No injuries have been reported but paramedics are on the scene. “
See the following photos uploaded before midnight by resident Richard Arderne:
We have accommodation for 12 people in need,contact Clive or Heather Rabie(0824403004).
We have accommodation for anybody in need,contact Clive or Heather Rabie(0824403004).
tragies
Heartbreaking!!!! Thoughts and prayers with you all!
so hartseer ons bid saam julle
Any update on shore road?
I feel so sad and so sick into the pit of my stomach. Strength to every person there. A day never to be forgotten in the history book of St Francis Bay.
The fire has left us most of us numb, but the amazing thing is that there is so much love and care for others coming out of this.. people opening up their homes to accommodate the homeless.etc
Our prairs are with you. God will be with you all!
So pleased to hear that some of our friends homes and businesses are still standing. Thinking of Peri and Melina as well as Garth and family. Despite the ruin, so pleased to see the community standing together and supporting one another. Sending love from the Gold Coast of Australia to everyone in St Francis Bay.
you are all in our prayers and thoughts…all the way from Vietnam
Thinking of everyone at St Francis Bay . . . . . feel so absolutely helpless!
Sandy Coughlan, Shaka’s Rock
Bless all those wonderful and brave firefighters and many helpers who tried so hard against the powerful wind and to all those who kept St Francis Bay in their prayers. Words cannot describe how we all feel, A great sense of loss to our beautiful canal homes. We ask God to be with those folks, and thank you that we live in a community of caring and loving people. Esme and Jim
Is that map accurate? Are there any homes damaged on Mahe Beat?
Thanks Richard Arderne for that excellent map. Very thoughtful of you
Floods, roads washed away, bridge was washed away twice and now a terrible Fire
How much more disasters must this community endure ?
The local businesses have suffered all year, they need a good and busy festive season !
Let there be light at the end of this long dark tunnel !
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in St Francis. Glen and Ren Cowling
Heartbreaking to see this great lost for so many people in our village, locals, swallows, visitors, home-owners from elsewhere in SA, it doesn’t matter. Everyone is affected by this terrible big fire. Thanks to all the firemen/fighters, we know from 2010 how hard they work and fight. For sure everyone knows here what the next question will be again: A proper firestation with all in it?
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Accommodation for 4 available at St Francis Court. Call Lesley on 0832736890.
Thank you to all the volunteers and firefighters who worked tirelessly to try and save the canals. I am so grateful to you all
Map not 100% – not all houses in Beavallon Place burnt – thankfully.
Thanx for the map! That puts the extent of the inferno in perspective. Any more updates on the map yet? We are devastated about this too…
My heart go out to all these people. Two years ago I went through the same and it is devastating, the most helpless feeling! Amasing to read the support and help offered to them.
Have the houses on Poivre Crescent been affected? Mike
Da is nie woorde om eienaars mee te troos nie en geen geld kan trugkoop wat jul verloor het nie ma gelukkig is da n toekoms ons gedagtes en gebede is met julle Teresa & Wimpie Jacobs
Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom – let your email find you!
Mag die Here elkeen vertroos wat skade gehad het. Mag elke inwoner toegevou word in liefde e hulp. Baie dankie vir almal wat onsaglik hard gewerk het om ander mense te help e ondersteun. Dankbaar dat daar geen lewensverlies was nie. Dit alleen is n wonderwerk.sterkte
Funny that in a town that is predominantly built out of thatch that no ‘fire plan” was in place.
Surely a priority would be to have adequate pre-cautionary measures in the event of fire!
I am part of the Farm Comm of which we have a volountry Medical and Fire Unit that is adequately trained and equiped. The teams are well drilled in the event of an emergency. The Fire Units equipment has either been purchased by Farm Comm or is owned by a Farm Comm member. Should a fire break out on any memebers farm, these o’s are on it. I ask now, in a town where money is not really a shortage, how could something so important be overlooked firstly by the developers and secondly by the residents? It could of been alot worse and thankfully no one was injured.
My condolences to the persons who lost their homes and pets…
Please spread the Facebook page of the fire: http://www.facebook.com/Stfrancisfireinfo where help can be offered or requested, and photos posted.
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