Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
15 July 2024 | 17:12 CAT

A Sappi fire truck watches over the back burn at Stirling farm in the KZN Midlands. Photo: Estelle Sinkins

Six brave firefighters have tragically lost their lives in a fierce battle against a devastating fire in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Two other courageous firefighters are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. The fire erupted in the Boston area near Mpophomeni on a property known as Stirling Farm under extremely challenging conditions.

Just after 3 pm on Sunday, uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas said three female firefighters had died, and another five firefighters had been rushed to nearby hospitals. One of them was airlifted to hospital with severe burns. All five admitted fighters were in critical condition.

Pappas corroborated the claims that poaching was rife in the area.

Pappas said one firefighter was still being treated for critical wounds in the hospital, and another was discharged from a health facility on Sunday.

Pappas said, “Unfortunately, people died in a fire they didn’t start. Poachers at the bottom of the valley are believed to have started the fire, which affected many farms in the Boston Road area of Mpophomeni. It’s common for people to try hunting animals, start fires to chase them out, and their dogs hunt them.

“That fire got away, and many people responded. Sappi responded, and so did the local farmers, together with the Lion River Fire Protection Association and the KwaZulu-Natal Fire Association. Unfortunately, some of the firefighters got stuck in the changing conditions.”

Pappas lamented the scourge of poaching in the area, saying, “The issue of poaching is huge in KZN. It’s highly organised in some cases.

“Poachers have skilled dogs that they bring to hunt. They pay a lot of money to do this, particularly around the Mpophomeni area.”

The provincial government is tirelessly working to assist affected communities and mitigate the impact of these devastating fires. Urgent action is needed, and he has called for the parts of the province affected by the fires to be declared disaster areas, stressing the immediate need for additional support and resources to manage the crisis and aid recovery efforts.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufi Yusuf Moosagie and uMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas here.