A VELD fire, fuelled by strong winds, is raging in the Upper Cathcart, Hogsback and Thomas River area.
Greater Stutterheim Fire Protection Association general manager Pieter Rossouw confirmed a few minutes ago that while the wind had died down slightly and the fire had been contained slightly in some areas, the general picture was bleak.
The Amahlati municipality, forestry representatives and Fire Protection Associations (FPAs) from the area were working together “with great team spirit” to battle the blaze.
He said efforts to use helicopters to drop water bombs onto the fire were being hampered by the smoke.
The N6 is clear with the wind blowing the smoke away from the route.
Some farm sheds have been destroyed and while some homes had been at risk, no further damage had been reported.
It was not clear at present whether any livestock had died in the blaze.
The fire was quite a distance from the Hogsback village at present and no evacuations had taken place.