No mass evacuation in Knysna

At least 8000 people have been evacuated since a fire, fanned by strong winds, started tearing through the area on Wednesday morning.

Knysna has a population of around 77 000 people.

The department's James-Brent Styan says the only areas that have been evacuated are Brenton, Belvedere, Welbedacht, Nania, Eastford, Green Pastures and Knysna Heights.

"Evacuees are being taken to the Loerie Park area in town. There is shelter in that area. Further arrangements will be made when and if needed," says Styan.

"Go George Buses have been called in to provide mass transport to citizens in the town and fifteen buses are already on site."

Styan says the fire in Knysna is the largest and most destructive in a built-up area in the Western Cape in recent memory, with thousands of people displaced. 

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"It comes on the back of the worst storm seen in the Western Cape in at least thirty years," says Styan.

Styan says additional fire-fighting resources have been deployed to the Knysna area to assist teams on the ground.

These include eight fire trucks from the City of Cape Town, two from the Overberg district and 12 additional Working on Fire teams. Conditions include strong wind and lots of smoke which makes helicopter use not possible at present," says Styan.