A pilot of a helicopter was killed on Tuesday while helping to fight a fire outbreak in South Africa’s Riversdale town.
Local media reports that the Working on Fire (WoF) helicopter crashed near the blaze the pilot was fighting.
WoF spokesperson Linton Rensburg is quoted by News24 to have “confirmed that the helicopter went down near the fire at approximately 09:45 on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, while conducting firefighting operations.”
Officials are now investigating the circumstances leading to the helicopter crash. The pilot according to local media was flying a Huey near Vermaaklikheid in the Riversdale area along the Garden Route.
The Western Cape government has reacted to the sad incident expressing condolences to the family and friends of the pilot.
A minister of state Anton Bredell, said “The family, friends and the community of firefighters are in our thoughts at this time.”
Western Cape Fire Update#VermaaklikheidFire #HessequaFire
As the #HeatWave continues in the Western Cape, a number of firefighters & pilots continue to battle a blaze in Vermaaklikheid. A WOF spotter plane & chopper was deployed at first light this morning.
? @GardenRoute_DM pic.twitter.com/GcJ6XxBTU0
— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) October 23, 2018
So far, seven homes have been destroyed, by the fire according to officials who say a heatwave is moving through the area along strong winds.
KZN Fire Update: The Harding Team has been called out to suppress a fire at the Merensky Plantation.#BeFireSafe#SavingLives#ProtectingTheEnvironment pic.twitter.com/yNHva4QVO7
— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) October 23, 2018
Source: Africafeeds.com
