Overview
- Early on Sunday morning firefighters received a report of smoke and after a search located the fire about one kilometre into the Herperduin nature area.
- Crews escalated quickly, deploying about twenty fire engines and four 16,000-litre water wagons to encircle the roughly 100 by 150 metre blaze.
- Firefighters declared the fire under control by mid-morning and continued mop-up and monitoring through the afternoon to prevent re-ignition.
- Access was a major challenge because heavy vehicles had to travel over dry, narrow sandy tracks which slowed the response and required water wagons to shuttle supplies.
- Regional surveillance flights called 'Charlie' have repeatedly spotted early-stage fires this season and authorities warn the prolonged dry spell keeps risk high so the public should avoid cigarettes, open fires and parking on long grass.