While many of us were happily celebrating the start of a brand new year, a fire that is believed to have been started by a flare shot into the mountainside on New Year's Eve in Betty's Bay, gained momentum. A terrifying wall of fire, the height of double-storey houses raced at breakneck speed toward Pringle Bay and Rooi Els. Firemen and volunteers risked their lives and worked tirelessly around the clock in their attempts to contain the inferno but, in the early hours of the 2nd of January, the fire got the upper-hand. Most of Pringle Bay was evacuated and residents watched in horror as flames razed vegetation and homes. Sadly, a well known and much-loved community member lost her life due to smoke inhalation which resulted in a heart attack, and others were injured. Countless animals got scorched to death in their tracks trying to escape… currently, the estimated burn area is approximately 8,000 hectares.

The community of Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els are making an urgent call for assistance from other Overberg Communities for the volunteer firefighters who so generously donate their time to fighting fires in the Overberg.

Bank Details for Monetary Donations

• SARS Registration Number: 9101/138/16/3
• Pringle Bay Ratepayers Association
• Nedbank Kleinmond
• Branch Code: 131505
• Savings Account
• 2315001714
• Reference: Fire

Essential Items

Although contained, the fire continues to burn and fire-fighters need the following essential items that can be dropped off at Crassula Hall, Crassula Avenue, Betty’s Bay:

• Energy Drinks
• Coke (cans and small plastic bottles only - please no glass or 2L bottles)
• Energy bars
• Chocolate bars

Vehicle Donations and Repairs of Existing Vehicles

On top of the volunteer firefighters ‘wish-list’ is the generous donation of at least two vehicles that can handle the Overberg’s mountainous terrain to be used by volunteers who will kit them out at their own cost. The more transport available means that more volunteers get faster access to burn areas.

Added to this wish-list is an appeal for spare-parts or mechanical labour to repair two personal vehicles that are used by volunteers to travel up and down the mountain to assist with the fire-fighting. Herewith the specific requirements:

• Model: Nissan Navara 2007 2.5D
• Problem: clutch slipping, turbo noise, loss of power and rear leaf spring worn.   
• Model: Land Rover Freelander 1 HSE 2L Turbo diesel 2005
• Problem: Thrust bearing problem. Spent  R12500 on it but the same problem still persists.

No donation is considered too small and your help will go a long way toward recovering from this disaster and to help volunteers effectively fight future fires.

The community of Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els wish you and your loved ones a blessed 2019.

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