A bushfire started in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve just outside the town of Stellenbosch yesterday. Today the fire still rages, and while it's true that Fynbos (the indigenous vegetation of the Cape Province) needs to burn every 12 to 15 years to ensure the long-term survival of the species, incorrectly timed or over-frequent burning can lead to the extinction of species.
Our firefighters have been out trying to keep control of the fire, but with the strong Southeaster fanning the fire who knows how long they will manage this for. I imagine that for a firefighter, fighting a fire with a raging Southeaster wind is much like riding a wild bull!
