Western Cape premier thanks firefighters for their bravery

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has thanked firefighters for their brave efforts and tireless work to contain the Cape Town mountain fire.

CAPE TOWN, April 20 (ANA) – Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde has thanked firefighters for their brave efforts to contain the Cape Town mountain fire.

In a press briefing on Tuesday at the Roeland fire station, Winde praised Table Mountain firefighting chief Arlene Wehr, who helped to co-ordinate and lead the response to the Table Mountain fire.

Wehr, who was one of four incident responders, served on one of the most difficult days of the fire.

She is the first woman of colour to be appointed in this operational role.

Looking at Wehr, Winde said: “Thank you so very much. Your leadership is what counts. This past year I have been talking about front-line workers and they have all been in the health environment, but these last few days the front-line workers have been in the heat and putting out this fire.”

Since the fire broke out on Sunday morning, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services have been assisted by members of the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), Working on Fire and Volunteer Wildlife Services.

Winde said his gratitude went to the City of Cape Town teams and the partnership of all firefighting teams who came together when there was a disaster.

“This is absolutely amazing to see. The kind of collaboration and effectiveness of teams that have been working together for a long time and have been training for these kinds of things. Through days and nights they have been trying to minimise damage and get this fire under control,” Winde said.

One person has been arrested and has since appeared in court for allegedly starting one of the fires on the mountain.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher