Knysna Fire Stories
Knysna Fire Stories
Hardcover
ISBN 9780620772808
Publisher: Santam 2017
Condition: Very good +. The original pictorial laminated boards are very slightly shelf rubbed. The book pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far.
KNYSNA NEWS - Residents of Knysna have united to compile and publish a coffee table book, Knysna Fire Stories, and accompanying DVD, which document the catastrophic fires that ravaged Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay during June 2017.
Sponsored by short-term insurer Santam, the book features real stories of tragedy, heroism and kindness during the inferno. It also contains dramatic pictures taken by Garden Route-based amateur and professional photographers of the fire and its aftermath.
The Knysna Fire Stories team include founder Justine Edwards, cofounders Dominic Morel and Andrew Aveley, and the Eden Community Initiative NPO team of director John Noble, editorial manager Emma Broadway and financial manager Francois Geldenhuys.
Over 3 400 photos, 250 videos and 160 stories were submitted to be considered for publication in the book.
Edwards said locals were overwhelmed by the generosity and the feeling of togetherness which the tragedy catalysed.
“As part of the project to compile the book, we interviewed many people, including firefighters, the NSRI crew and everyday heroes like Daniela Dotan, who made more than 25 000 meals for those affected by the crisis.
"While some of the accounts bring home the gravitas and sadness of the situation, others are more lighthearted.
"A social media post, for example, asked what people grabbed when evacuating their homes.
"Some items were especially surprising, including a banana, cat litter tray, pot of curry and an elephant’s tooth,” the team shares.
The fire has been dubbed the worst disaster of its kind in recent South African history.
The Knysna municipality has, for instance, estimated that due to the fire it has suffered losses of R496-million.
At least 1 000 properties were either totally engulfed by the fire or suffered damage, and to date, Santam has reported processing client claims totalling R800-million.
Santam brand and marketing executive head Mokaedi Dilotsotlhe said that insurance exists to help people when adversity strikes and that Santam is proud to have been on the ground to deliver its brand promise and live up to its responsibility of being a good corporate citizen.
The book provides firsthand experiences and stories of human heroism, together with powerful visuals.
"From what was a horrible tragedy, it offers a message of hope and a testament to the power of a community to overcome adversity.
"As Santam, we not only strive to offer insurance that is good and proper, but to also ensure that people’s lives are restored to normality after such tragedies,” he said.
