A massive effort involving community members and multiple emergency organisations narrowly averted a disaster in St Francis Bay on Tuesday when a devastating fire swept through the resort town and destroyed at least 11 homes.
Threatening a repeat of the unprecedented blaze which razed more than 70 upmarket homes in St Francis Bay just over six years ago, Tuesday’s fire was largely contained in a four-street area near Sea Vista and a light industrial area situated between St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis.
At least 11 homes were razed and several others were partially damaged in the fire which spread extremely rapidly because of high winds.
That the blazes were contained was in large part due to the efforts of emergency personnel and community members, holidaymakers and local businesses, who rallied together after news of the fire spread around the bustling coastal town.
“This town is community-minded and whenever something happens we all pitch in to help,” Nigel Aitken, a member of the area’s disaster volunteer group, said.
Pitching in to assist emergency workers who were fighting fires and battling to prevent flare-ups, residents also went to the aid of fellow community members.
This saw hundreds of people, including curious bystanders, streaming into the four streets during the course of Tuesday.
They remained there long after the fires had all been brought under control by around 6pm.
Private vehicles brought in tanks of water while holidaymakers and residents damped down houses, suppressed smouldering fires and handed out bottled water.
Homes were evacuated during the course of the day, also with the assistance of the community, and household goods and personal belongings were removed.
Residents were seen handing out face masks to prevent smoke inhalation, while others distributed energy snacks and drinks.
Shocked and dismayed residents, including those who had lost their homes and those whose personal belongings had been removed, milled around the streets, expressing their disbelief at the destruction.
Traffic and security services, again assisted by community members who also took up duties such as marshalling pedestrians away from dangerous areas – such as burned houses with gas bottles on the property – played a significant role in the drama, helping to relieve heavy traffic congestion.
Pedestrian safety was also a major concern with speeding emergency vehicles racing between the fires.
Breaking out in hot humid conditions and pushed on by strong mid-morning winds, the fire targeted St Francis Bay’s hallmark thatch-roofed homes, and proceeded to jump sporadically between them, leaving some unscathed and others completely gutted.
While no official cause of the fire was released by Tuesday night – when firefighters were still monitoring possible high winds and fire flare-ups – a member of the St Francis Bay disaster management group told The Herald that the fire was believed to have started on a vacant piece of land situated next to St Francis Drive.
From there, it jumped downhill and quickly spread to homes in Assisi Drive, Harbour Road, Walton Road and Lovemore Crescent.
He said it had broken out at about 10.30am.
With the exception of a few people who were treated for smoke inhalation at a nearby community hall, no deaths or injuries were recorded, either to people or pets.
The fires, however, caused massive damage to some private homes, while completely destroying others.
Looking back down the street towards his destroyed holiday home, Johannesburg developer Gert van den Berg said it had been gutted in less than half an hour.
“It was very quick. All I could do was grab my laptop, which is essential for my business. Everything else has gone.
“My wife, Monica, is a bronze and clay sculptor – we lost all her things and her kiln. On Sunday we brought a large amount of clay for her, but that is now all gone,” he said.
Asked to describe his feelings about the loss, Van den Berg simply said: “Sad.
“I would not even use the word devastating, it is just simply very sad. It is not so much the house, it’s the things inside the house.
“It was the photos, the memories, the things you cannot replace.”
He said his family had owned the home for 15 years.
Speaking from one completely gutted home, a couple on holiday said the home they were assisting at was owned by people who had just left for an overseas holiday two days ago.
“This is absolutely devastating,” they said, asking not to be named.
They said they had been alerted to the fire and had rushed over to see how they could assist.
Rudi May, who is on holiday in the area, said he had been in St Francis Bay during the last big fire there and that while the latest one had been contained, it was still terrible for the home owners.
“I think that thatch is to blame, but I am told that to replace those roofs with tiles is very expensive, so I don’t know what the solution is.
“I am just glad everyone jumped in and helped and that no-one was injured,” he said.
Aitken was one of the voluntary marshals who immediately stepped in to assist with vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
“It has been quite a tough one here today. Between 12 and 15 properties have been affected. The community has played a huge role and, as you can see, they are assisting everywhere. We will be monitoring this situation through the night,” he said.
Port Elizabeth-based Godfrey Gelderblom, who served as the divisional officer in charge of operations at the fire, said no fatalities or major injuries had been reported.
“All of the fires are now under control, but after checking with the weather services, we have decided to continue to monitor the situation as there is a possibility of strong winds.
“There were fires on between 12 and 15 properties, as we also count properties with a small or a semi-dwelling on them because the fires can spread from these properties to those with large houses.”
Gelderblom said the community had played a huge role in fighting the fires and supporting firefighting and disaster management.
“They played a massive role and were helping everywhere. The only problem was the traffic congestion and the problems around inhibiting emergency vehicles and causing blockages. Otherwise they were fantastic,” he said.