A fire, indeed. And I should know, because I was there, watching the horseriding and watching the helicopters picking up water from the dam up the road and dumping it all over the fire in question.
There seem to have been more fires than usual in this fire season, but I’m not sure if that’s actually the case or if because some people are suggesting that might the case, we’re all now more aware and the numbers are being blown out of all proportion. The News Phenomenon, as it’s apparently known.
It has been very dry, but dryness alone isn’t enough to start a fire. So what is the actual cause of all these blazes? I wasn’t sure, so I turned to a social media comments section for incisive opinion and accurate information. As you do.
And here’s what I found:
The helicopter was passing by in paarl than the chopper turn around ,the helicopter was like high in the sky than i whats it the hole time
Quite reasonably, I almost gave up at this point, but my readers need answers, and so I persevered.
And here’s what I found:
As far as responsibility for this Hout Bay fire goes, the jury was split. Very split.
There were many suggestions:
Arson.
Arsen.
Schoolkids.
Self-inflicted.
Various political parties: MK, DA, EFF, ANC all got honourable mentions.
Donald Trump.
Terrorism.
“The Fire Lily industry.” – Fire lilies in this case are flowers that bloom after veldfires (and only after veldfires). But there is no Fire Lily industry. Yet. Still, I love the thought that has gone into this one.
There were a few calls for the death penalty to be introduced for arson. Which seems a bit harsh.
And there were lots of people praying for a swift resolution to the fires, but no-one actually blaming god for them happening in the first place.
But this a social media comments section, so anything goes.
Because then there were the loonies:
“Manufactured fires used as a weapon to poison the population.”
Zionists.
Electric cars.
And then there was the Queen Loony, Lorna Cayton, who gave us these gems:
Nexrad HAARP
DEWS!
But then during the COVID years, Lorna Cayton told us that wearing a mask was a Pagan ritual, and the use of forehead thermometers was a means of shooting an infra-red beam into your pineal gland.
So maybe it wasn’t Nexrad HAARP or the DEWS! after all.
Who knew?
Some people appear lucky to have avoided this particular incident. “Doglady Minky” said:
So so sad for all the lives affected, animals and humans
i almost moved into a beautiful thatched house in that area and my biggest concern was the safety of my animals
And it’s not like we’re out of the fire season yet: as one commenter remarked:
More.fires..shame.man..now homes being damaged very badly.
Will this 2026 Fire Season running all the way into April this Year X 4 ? ? ? ?
XXXXX
11 : 11 Love 11 : 11
Which I think asks the important question we’re all introspectively asking: Will this 2026 Fire Season running all the way into April this Year X 4 ? ? ? ?
I guess that we can only wait and see.