Two dwellings and hundreds of hectares of grazing in the Roodekrans Game Reserve in the heart of the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy went up in smoke on the weekend of 30 and 31 August 2008. Large areas in Hills and Dales and parts of Vlakfontein were also in flames. The northern part of Roodekrans and properties in Hennops River were burnt black earlier that winter. These were some of the worst fires in the RNC in decades.

Community in the Country

What was memorable, though, is the way this community rallied in a crisis. Young and old, black and white, men and women and even visitors appeared from everywhere to take on the blaze. The equipment varied from green karee branches, beaters, wet sacks, buckets and back-packs to tractors and firegreens yanked over the rough veld by 4x4s.

As the SMSs and radio warnings went out everyone pulled on fire-fighting gear – overalls, sturdy shoes, long sleeves (the heat can be vicious), and grabbed matches for back-burning, pliers for cutting fences, water bottles for that searing thirst, radios, cell phones and first-aid equipment.

“To single out anyone would be unfair but I would like to mention one little hero who was with us during some very hectic firestorms,” said Dave Muller of Hills and Dales afterwards. “Barry and Caroline Kruger’s son, Gareth - nine years old - was a real hero. He got caught up with us in a few nasty situations, and he braved them all, never once complaining or showing any fear. I’m sure he was terrified when he got cut off from Barry but when we got back to him he was smiling and ready to go into the next fire front. I only realised later that we had a little guy with a big heart whose bravery far exceeded his nine years, so we treated him as an adult. There was no time to pamper him and he coped better than many adults.

“He unfortunately also learnt new words to describe fires and dangerous situations, but I’m sure he won’t use these until he is at least 18! Well done, Gareth - we are very proud of you, big man!”

Residents rallied when the first smoke was spotted in Roodekrans on Saturday afternoon and the last fighters stumbled back home in exhaustion after midnight on Sunday morning. At dawn on Sunday it had started again, reaching full fury during the day, driven by a vicious north-westerly gale. Worn-out teams got home after dark on Sunday, counting the cost, running into thousands of rands, for damaged vehicles, pumps, tyres, clutches and lost equipment.

Wake of the Fire

The damage to the environment cannot be calculated – dead birds, animals, tortoises and snakes, hectares of grazing destroyed and large karee trees burnt to cinders. One of the main reasons for this devastation is lack of fire-breaks. Every year some residents make firebreaks, others don’t.

Watching a house burn down is an unforgettable experience. “And when you hear gas bottles exploding and see fireballs rocketing into the air it is quite terrifying,” said Adrian Hampson of Roodekrans. “These flying pieces of steel can be deadly. There was nothing we could do to save this house in the Roodekrans Game Reserve.”

“Thank you to all who gave their time, husbands, wives, children, staff and equipment to help fight this fire that just wouldn’t die,” says Dave Muller, “and our gratitude to Vlakfontein and Laezonia residents who came to help. It is truly an honour to be associated with this wonderful group of people who rally in a time of crisis.”

As Martin, Howard William’s son, remarked wryly afterwards: “And I only came to have Sunday lunch with my folks!” My four year-old granddaughter wasn’t too polite either when I came back from the fire, sweaty, dirty and reeking of smoke and hugged her. “Oooh, Ouma, you stink!” she said.

Helen Duigan writes about the community of Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy.  A monthly newsletter is sent to residents, and more.  Read more countryliving experiences at www.veldtalk.co.za

Editors note:

Living in the country comes with some serious responsbilities.  Not least of these, is fire management.  The National Veld and Forest Fire Act (No. 101 of 1998) aims to prevents and combat veld, forest and mountain fires.  It makes provision for the establishment of Fire Protection Association through which wider areas can collectively manage fire, develop a fire management strategy and exempt members from damage claims.  To understand your legal obligations, read the Act.