How you can help the firefighters in Cape Town

Posted by Kati Auld on 4 March 2015

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ll know about the massive veld fire that’s been ravaging Table Mountain, from Muizenberg over to Hout Bay and Noordhoek, for the last three days. Dedicated firefighters have been battling to keep it under control since it began above Boyes Drive in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Photo by Tyson Jopson.

Photo by Tyson Jopson.


There have been a number of calls for how to help their efforts. Here are a few ideas:
(if you’re in the know, please leave suggestions in the comments below)

 

1. Donate medical supplies

Since a plea for supplies began circulating on social media yesterday, many people have been donating food, sunblock, eye-drops and other helpful aid to the fire fighters. Halaal food especially is in low supply. Please mark ingredients – incapacitating a firefighter with sneaky peanuts or shellfish is possibly the least noble thing you can do. These can be dropped off at the Fish Hoek or Lakeside fire stations. Alternatively, Uber is running #UberASSIST, where they will collect and deliver your donations for free.

The Facebook page “Help support the Fire Fighters and victims” is posting regular updates with specific donation requests. It seems to be a community-created page, rather than an official one, but so far they’ve asked for medical supplies such as antiseptics and plasters, saline eye drops, lip ice, and bandages.

 

2. Donate to the Volunteer Wildfire Services

Recent updates from the Volunteer Wildfire Services indicate that they’ve got more than enough food. However, seeing as they are entirely community-funded, they’re requesting donations to help with operational costs (such as petrol for the helicopters). You can donate a once-off amount, or become a monthly sponsor, on the Volunteer Wildfire Services website.

Their next fundraising event is the VWS Trail Challenge 2015, which takes place from Deer Park on the 10th May. For those who’d like to get a bit more hands-on, their recruitment process is opening this month. You can watch the recruitment video here, or keep an eye on their social media channels for more information.

 

3. Keep an eye out for wildlife

As the fire destroys natural habitat, it’s very likely that wildlife will be displaced into urban areas. Keep an eye out for tortoises, porcupines, genets and others. If you find an injured animal, you can either bring it to the SPCA short term care facility at their Grassy Park premises, or call the Inspectorate on 021 700 4159/8. If you’re living close to the affected areas, it’s a good idea to fill up birdbaths or otherwise provide water at a safe distance for any dehydrated critter that could wander into your garden.

 

4. Stay away

This might seem obvious, but emergency vehicles are being blocked by traffic created (apparently) by onlookers. Perhaps this is not the best time to practice your timelapse photography, hmmm? Lives and property are in danger – if you’re the git who causes a delay, may the next seven generations of your family experience strong chilli-like burns on their most tender parts when thinking about photography.

 

 

Keep up to date

Twitter: Updates are being posted under #MuizenbergFire and #CapeTownFire. You can also keep up to date via the @CityofCTAlerts and @vwsfires accounts.
 

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