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Firefighters have been killed by runaway fires in Boston near Mpophomeni in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. .
(The Post News)- On Sunday, a raging veld fire in Boston near Mpophomeni in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Midlands claimed the lives of six firefighters.
The firefighters were reported to have been surrounded by the fire, which had flames that rose to a height of two meters.
Reports of a veld fire injuring several firefighters prompted the deployment of Midlands Emergency Services (EMS) to the scene.
According to the spokesperson for Midlands EMS, Ronald Robertson, the paramedics arrived at a horrific scene where several individuals were still on fire and three had passed away.
He stated that the Midlands EMS and rescue paramedics tried to stabilise several patients while they were still on the scene.
Robertson further described the type of medical assistance they gave to the patients on scene by mentioning that one firefighter was taken by air to the hospital, while three were put on a ventilator.
He added that two patients in critical condition needed immediate access to advanced life support.
Moreover, more manpower was needed to stop the fire and give medical assistance to the patients on the scene.
Robertson said that they decided to request more backup, which included the use of an aeromedical helicopter from Netcare 911 equipped with additional equipment to help on the scene.
A firefighting aircraft was also dispatched to put out the blazing fires.
Robertson later confirmed that the death toll from this incident had risen to six, as three more firefighters died in the hospital.
He said that the firefighters were in a “very critical condition” when they arrived on the scene, and they all suffered from burn wounds that led to their deaths.
There are still two more patients in critical condition.
The mayor of uMngeni, Chris Pappas, claimed that the fires were started by poachers.
He said that, according to an eyewitness, the fires were lit by poachers near the bottom of the valley to try and lure animals out to poach them.
The fire then broke out.
He added that despite little wind, it has been hot and dry, and there is a serious fire alert.
Pappas explained that the area has had some terrible fires; for instance, several fires broke out over the weekend and destroyed farms, homes, plantations, and wilderness areas.
He urged locals to exercise caution as the windy and dry weather continues.
The KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Thulasizwe Buthelezi, conveyed his “heartfelt condolences” to the families of the deceased and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery.
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