The Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA) has confirmed that the aerial firefighting runway in Misgund – which is necessary to combat wildfires in the Langkloof and Baviaans – is now operational after successfully conducting the necessary tests recently on April 28.
As previously reported by the Kouga Express, according to SCFPA manager for the Eastern region, Dirk Smit, the closest operational runway to the Langkloof is in Tsitsikamma and is situated on one of their members’ properties.
The airstrip in Misgund was therefore necessary to ensure that the SCFPA extended and improved on the current facilities available to their members and strategic partners, which included organisations managing conservation areas, Local and District Municipal Fire and Rescue Services and Working on Fire.
Smit said the runway would also ensure that their members and strategic partners would be able to dispatch aerial resources more effectively within their area of operation.
To ensure the runway was ready he said they have now tested the runway by using their aircraft to take-off and land.
In addition, they previously tested the water system but have recently physically supplied water to the Air Tractor 802 fixed wing bomber.
“The test was done and we can confirm that the runway in Misgund is operational,” said Smit.
