KNYSNA – One firefighter died and another was fighting for his life after battling the Knysna blazes.

It is with great sadness that I have to report the loss of 1 of our own. Brad Richards passed away after sustaining burns in Knysna Fire pic.twitter.com/HX3YGyTZlX

— Wildfire Support (@FWSfire) June 9, 2017

It is believed Brad Richards sustained 70 percent burn wounds while fighting fires on Thursday. Another fighter sustained 50 percent wounds and was in hospital.

This brings to ten the number of people who died in the Cape Town storms and Knysna fires. 300 homes were destroyed in the severe weather conditions.

Meanwhile, donations were pouring in for victims of the Knysna fire.

“The outreach from everybody far and wide has just been absolutely incredible, Many people have brought home-cooked meals and ready-cooked food, which we can get straight out to the centres that are feeding people,” community volunteer Nicky Goodall said.

Several businesses delivered staple foods to assist the relief efforts.

We received a bakkie load of donations for the #KnysnaFire @Die_Burger #KnysnaDrive from from Riversdale and surrounds!Thank you for caring! pic.twitter.com/M24TjyD9Yj

— Baleia Wines (@BaleiaWines) June 9, 2017

“Perishables and non-perishables are all welcome at this stage,” Goodall appealed.

“We’ve set up a group liaison [of] volunteers to try [and] make sure the things are getting to where it is needed,” she said.

eNCA