On Sun, Sep 17, 2023 at 02:50:04PM -0400, pdml-request@pdml.net wrote: >Message: 2 >Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2023 07:28:51 +0200 >From: Alan C <cole@lantic.net> >Subject: OT: Fire in Phalaborwa >To: Pentax Discus Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> >Message-ID: <7696a514-215a-4c46-81e8-b5d733092cdd@lantic.net> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > >Yesterday was a very hot day (40?C) in Phalaborwa with strong winds from >the west. A veld fire broke out to the West of the town & rapidly got of >control, jumping Spekboom Street on the western boundary & setting >several thatched roofed houses on fire including the iconic Elegant >Guest House. All available local firefighting services from the town >fire brigade & mines were on the scene &? a firefighting helicopter was >brought in from Tzaneen but It still took 10 hours to bring the fire >under control. 12 houses were totally destroyed & others damaged but >fortunately there was no loss of life. By far the worst disaster in >Phalaborwa in the 47 years I have been here. Much cooler today but the >air is still filled with smoke. I felt it would be ghoulish to take >photos but you can find some on the internet if you look. I'm glad you're okay Alan, it sounds like they had quite a fight on their hands getting it under control. We've been fortunate to only deal with the smoke blowing in from distant wildfires living in Washington and now Detroit. I hope this one was an anomaly for Phalaborwa. Bruce N. -- You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere. (Ursula K. LeGuin)

Thanks all. The community is rallying round. Perhaps "ghoulish" was a bit strong. There are plenty of images "for posterity" on the web. Alan C On 17-Sep-23 09:47 PM, Bruce Nagel wrote: > On Sun, Sep 17, 2023 at 02:50:04PM -0400, pdml-request@pdml.net wrote: > >> Message: 2 >> Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2023 07:28:51 +0200 >> From: Alan C <cole@lantic.net> >> Subject: OT: Fire in Phalaborwa >> To: Pentax Discus Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> >> Message-ID: <7696a514-215a-4c46-81e8-b5d733092cdd@lantic.net> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed >> >> Yesterday was a very hot day (40?C) in Phalaborwa with strong winds from >> the west. A veld fire broke out to the West of the town & rapidly got of >> control, jumping Spekboom Street on the western boundary & setting >> several thatched roofed houses on fire including the iconic Elegant >> Guest House. All available local firefighting services from the town >> fire brigade & mines were on the scene &? a firefighting helicopter was >> brought in from Tzaneen but It still took 10 hours to bring the fire >> under control. 12 houses were totally destroyed & others damaged but >> fortunately there was no loss of life. By far the worst disaster in >> Phalaborwa in the 47 years I have been here. Much cooler today but the >> air is still filled with smoke. I felt it would be ghoulish to take >> photos but you can find some on the internet if you look. > > I'm glad you're okay Alan, it sounds like they had quite a fight on their > hands getting it under control. > > We've been fortunate to only deal with the smoke blowing in from distant > wildfires living in Washington and now Detroit.  I hope this one was an > anomaly for Phalaborwa. > > Bruce N.