CAPE TOWN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Western Cape Province on Thursday said over 10 million South African rands (about 660,000 U.S. dollars) have been spent on 14 major wildfires and dozens of smaller fires in the province during this summer, occurring on the fire season.
The most prominent fire affected 5,372 hectares of land and most of the major wildfires happened last week throughout the province, provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said in a statement.
Twenty-four aerial units, ranging from spotter planes to large helicopters, provided support to extinguish the fires, he said, adding that aerial resources, although expensive, often prevent small fires from growing into runaway wildfires which could ultimately result in serious damage to property and loss of life.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and responsible with open fires as hot summer weather is expected over the next few months.
Unlike other South African provinces which mainly receive rainfall in summer, Western Cape, with a Mediterranean climate, has dry summers and wet winters.
The statement came after the province's Cape Winelands District Municipality, next to the legislative capital Cape Town, brought two major mountain fires under control, which "stretched resources to their limits," according to municipal spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto.
She said two ground teams will stay on the line for the next 12 hours to continue mopping up operations. The municipal fire services responded to 75 fires from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25, including seven notable for either their potential for damage to livelihood, property and large fire line, according to her.
Cape Winelands Chief Fire Officer Wayne Josias reminded the public that everyone has responsibility to prevent fires and the area is "entering the hottest part of our summer months."
While there have been many wildfires in the summer, provincial president of the South African National Civic Organization Bongikhaya Qhama believed that local communities especially the poor are mainly affected by shack fires, instead of wildfires.
He welcomed efforts of the local government to reduce fire damages, but also called on faster response to fires in township and rural areas where poor people live. ■