NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS - Dry veld, long grass and strong winds leave the Karoo susceptible to fires at this time of year.

The Sneeuberg region to the North of Nieu-Bethesda fell prey to some damaging fires last week. Was it not for the strong sense of community in the area, the damage caused by the fires would have been far worse. Regardless of whose farm the fires were on, farmers joined ranks and arrived to help with bakkies laden with staff and equipment.

Fighting fires in the Sneeuberg is tough. Steep mountain slopes and rocky ridges make it extremely difficult to get water and equipment to where the fires are burning. People fought late into the night and early morning, and radios were abuzz with farmers from further afield offering their help. Fires plagued Sneeukuil, Grootklip, Zuurplaats and Groenvlei last week - raging for nearly three days.

As Yvonne McClaggan from Grootklip said, " The farmers, their staff and their wives (who feed the masses), are the heroes here. That's the Karoo for you!"

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