Helderberg vineyards on fire!

February 23, 2009

Well it seems like the whole world is on fire at the moment - this from News24 :

Somerset West - Emergency services are battling to get the fires raging in four areas in the Helderberg region under control, fire services said on Monday.

Four wine farms in the area - Erinvale, Lourensford, Vergelegen and Knorhoek - are under threat from the fires, according to Die Burger.

The vineyards on the wine farms were burning but Cheri-lee Koopman, senior communications officer for the regional fire control centre, said that the farms were not evacuated as the properties were not threatened.

“The people living on the farms are all still on the property,” Koopman told News24 on Monday.

Emergency services are standing by in case the people on the farms come into any danger, Koopman said.

Early on Monday morning helicopters were unable to fly due to the thick smoke clouds, but Koopman said that choppers have been dispatched to assist the firefighters on the ground.

In addition to the helicopters, 120 personnel, volunteer firefighters and seasonal reservists were on the ground trying to put out the fires, Koopman said.

“The cause of the fires cannot be established until the fires have been put out,” Koopman said. She added that no foul play was suspected.

That is very bad news for the wine estates involved - if Vergelegen were to burn down it would be a national disaster. Comparatively - it would be like French first growth Mouton Rothschild burning down.

It’s not even worth thinking about it.

I can tell you that it is blazing hot here in Cape Town and the air is full of smoke - so lets spare a thought for those brave enough to fight the fires - they have a tough job on their hands.

Posted in Estates, The Wine Oracle, Wine News