Image: Angels in action. No words - photographer David Morris captures all that needs 2 be said.
SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS:
WARNINGS: Extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Northern Cape, West Coast District, northern parts of Cape Winelands, Central and Little Karoo.
WATCHES: -----Nil
SPECIAL WEATHER ADVISORIES: 1. Extremely hot conditions are expected in places over the Little Karoo. 2. Hot and dry weather will result in extremely uncomfortable conditions over the interior of the Western and Northern Cape.
MOSSEL BAY REAL TIME WEATHER OBSERVATION: 07h00 - Currently 8/8 misty cloud. No wind. 22 Deg/C.
WEATHER FORECAST: WESTERN CAPE
Partly cloudy along the south coast in the morning, otherwise fine and warm, but hot to very hot over the interior. It will be extremely hot in places over the eastern interior. The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh easterly to south - easterly becoming south - westerly in the afternoon. The expected UVB sunburn index: Extreme
DISASTER OBSERVATION: WESTERN CAPE
Two fire fighters were killed over the weekend. A young firefighter from the West Coast District Municipality died on Thursday when the fire truck he was driving left the road and plunged down the side of the Dasklip Pass. Nazeem Davies, 25, from Worcester, was on his way back to the Vredenburg station from the Winterhoek Mountains, near Porterville, where he and his colleagues had helped put out a fire. West Coast District Municipality spokesman Kallie Willemse said Davies and a colleague, Niklaas Nel, were on their way back to Vredenburg when their fire truck left the road and plunged down the side of the pass. - IOL
In light of the devastation of the recent blaze across the Southern Cape Peninsula, and all those who put their lives at risk to contain it, there was an outpouring of grief over the news of the accidental death of helicopter pilot, Willem Hendrik “Bees” Marais on Sunday. Marais was on duty as a freelance pilot for the Working on Fire organisation, to contain a blaze which had flared up in the Cape Point Nature Reserve. He was alone in the helicopter when he was forced to make a hard landing in the reserve. His chopper went down just before midday. Marais was a skilled pilot who also worked at the South African Air Force, South African Police Services and the South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service. Over the past week, Marais had been part of the fire-fighters who'd spent their days battling the Cape fire. A friend and ex-Air Mercy Service work colleague, Adele Walker, remembers him fondly as a "very special gentleman... a humble man, an exceptionally skilled helicopter pilot with years of experience." "He was loved & admired by many," she told eNCA.com. It's not clear yet whether the fire Marais was water-bombing on Sunday caused the crash. The Civil Aviation Authority says it's opening an investigation. - ENCA
MSBWX would like to express its condolences to the family and friends of both these brave men. They died in the line of duty to save property and lives of others. They should receive the highest recommendation for their bravery. RIP.
For real live updates on these fires follow @MSBWXB on Twitter.
- MSBWXB + SAWS
