A firefighter was rushed to the hospital on Friday after collapsing in the extreme heat while battling a fierce, wind-whipped fire in Dunoon, Cape Town.
The blaze, which broke out at about 10.25am, was raging through Site 5, driven by strong southeasterly winds.
“The fire is being fought with numerous resources on scene, coordinated by an IMT Type 4,” said Metro Fire spokesman Jermaine Carelse.
An IMT Type 4, or Incident Management Team Type 4, is a team set up to manage large-scale or complex incidents that need multiple units working together.
Helicopters were also roped in to help tackle the fire from the air.
“Helicopters have also been brought in to waterbomb the flames, fanned by strong southeasterly winds,” Carelse said.
He said policing resources were called in after firefighters came under assault from members of the community.
The firefighter who collapsed was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment for heat exhaustion.
It is about 23°C in Cape Town on Friday.
Further details were not immediately available.
“This is still an active scene,” Carelse said.
“Information will be shared as it becomes available and once verified.”
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