The provided text vividly describes a devastating wildfire in KZN Midlands, its aftermath, and the heroic efforts of first responders and firefighters.The provided text vividly describes a devastating wildfire in KZN Midlands, its aftermath, and the heroic efforts of first responders and firefighters. Scene of Destruction: * Flames licked at the blue sky, filling the air with smoke. * Paramedics and ambulances rushed to save lives. * Farmers watched anxiously as the fire spread from Stirling Farm to nearby areas. Heartbreaking Losses: * Firefighters and paramedics expressed grief and loss at the deaths of three colleagues. * The firefighters’ bravery was evident despite their tragic loss. * The fire destroyed acres of grassland and endangered species habitat. Courage and Resilience: * Firefighters continued to fight the fire and prevent its spread, despite their grief. * They collaborated with farmers and staff to create firebreaks. * Fire-fighting planes dropped countless litres of water on the flames. Emergency Services: * Paramedics from various organizations provided medical assistance to injured patients. * SAPS search and rescue teams, police officers, and municipal firefighters joined the effort. * The Umgungundlovu and uMngeni Municipality fire brigades arrived at the scene. Aftermath: * Farm owners expressed gratitude for the protection of homes and equipment. * Concerns remained for the loss of grassland and endangered species habitat. * The tinder-dry vegetation served as a stark reminder of the potential for further fires.
On our way to Stirling Farm, just off the R617 Boston Road, we passed two state-of-the-art medical cars and five ambulances. We knew the paramedics were doing their best to save lives.
We had heard about the victims and went straight to the scene. In the distance we saw flames licking the otherwise blue sky of the KZN Midlands. Within minutes our nostrils were filled with the acrid smell of smoke.
SAPS Search and Rescue had warned us not to get too close, so we walked over to a group of farmers who were standing there. They watched anxiously and told us how the fire started on the boundary of Stirling Farm and then quickly spread to other nearby farms.
READ ALSO | Death toll of Mpophomeni firefighters rises to six
When I spoke to some of the firefighters and paramedics, it was heartbreaking to see the pain in their eyes and the undeniable sense of loss they all felt. Xulu was shocked too.
She said: “I wondered what it was like for the firefighters who were fighting the fire and were injured.
“It was clear on the faces of every firefighter I saw that they were terrified. Apart from losing their colleagues, they had never experienced a fire like this before. However, they were brave enough to prevent it from spreading. That they were able to continue working despite this tragedy was a tribute to the courage of our first responders.”
As I stood in a safe place and watched the cattle and donkeys grazing nearby, I felt anger at the sheer destruction that had been caused and the fact that families were grieving for their loved ones.
Through the lens of my camera I saw a Sappi fire truck on a hill in the distance. A few minutes later I watched in amazement as a group of firefighters walked along the road, putting back barriers to create natural barriers to prevent the fire from spreading and destroying the homes of the owners and their staff.
READ ALSO | Death toll from KZN wildfires rises to seven
Their bravery was exceptional considering three of their colleagues had died fighting the fire which devastated acres of grassland in the Midlands.
Despite having to deal with what must have been devastating news, they continued to work with the farmers and their staff to try to contain the fire and protect the vast Sappi plantations nearby. The heat from the backburns was intense and we were about 100 metres away.
How much hotter would it have been in the middle of the flames? How terrifying it must have been. Above our heads, fire-fighting planes flew to throw countless litres of water on the flames.
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Bushfires continue to rage in Boston, near Mpophomeni in KZN, as emergency services report multiple injuries and deaths. #KZNbushfires photo.twitter.com/mewa0BOJxz
— The Witness (@WitnessKZN) July 14, 2024
I’ve lost count of how many times the pilots emptied their water tanks on this part of the KZN Midlands.
Paramedics from Midlands EMS, ER24 and the KZN Emergency Rescue Service passed us in both directions, some rushing to take injured patients to hospital, while others helped those working on the front lines.
The SAPS search and rescue teams, other police officers, members of the Umgungundlovu Municipality and uMngeni Municipality fire brigade all went to the epicentre of the tragedy, followed shortly by the hearse, which arrived as a sign that the three deceased women would be picked up shortly.
READ ALSO | Four firefighters killed while battling out-of-control fires in KZN
Meanwhile, farm owners were grateful that the fires had not destroyed homes or equipment. The blackened fields showed how close disaster was.
But there was also anger and pain. Farmers had lost hundreds of hectares of grassland and at Stirling Farm in particular there was real concern for the endangered dwarf chameleons and blue butterflies that call the place home.
It was hard not to share that concern as I watched helplessly as a panicked bushbuck desperately tried to find a safe place to hide. Beneath my feet the dry tinder vegetation crackled, a reminder that it was extremely dry and it would take very little to start a new fire.
Shivering in the cool air, I sent a prayer to the heavens that the ‘Mountain Winds’ of last Sunday would have disappeared by Monday. If that had been the case, the devastation of the Karkloof would undoubtedly have been repeated.
