Fire rages through camp at Omauni

A VELD fire that has been burning in the Omauni Quarantine Camp in the east of the Ohangwena Region has destroyed grazing in nine of the facility’s 11 camps.

According to the Governor of Ohangwena, Usko Nghaamwa, the fire broke out on Tuesday and was still raging by yesterday afternoon. Nghaamwa called on people living nearby to lend their assistance in fighting the fire.He also called on the Police and the Namibia Defence Force to help.Nghaamwa said a large number of NDF soldiers from the Kavango Region have already rushed to the area to fight the fire.There are about 100 cattle in the quarantine camp at the moment.Nghaamwa said he was concerned that the fire could spread to communal farmland around the camp.Communal farmers north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence have to quarantine their cattle in such camps for 21 days before selling them to Meatco.It is believed that the blaze might have started when some farmers set fire to veld in the area to try and scare off predators like hyenas and wild dogs.Nghaamwa called on people living nearby to lend their assistance in fighting the fire.He also called on the Police and the Namibia Defence Force to help.Nghaamwa said a large number of NDF soldiers from the Kavango Region have already rushed to the area to fight the fire.There are about 100 cattle in the quarantine camp at the moment.Nghaamwa said he was concerned that the fire could spread to communal farmland around the camp.Communal farmers north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence have to quarantine their cattle in such camps for 21 days before selling them to Meatco.It is believed that the blaze might have started when some farmers set fire to veld in the area to try and scare off predators like hyenas and wild dogs.