St Francis Bay - The Royal Wharf in St Francis Bay where yesterday's devastating fires started, have rejected suggestions that the blaze was a result of a braai fire.

Ten of the 20 units at Royal Wharf were destroyed in the fire that eventually laid waste to 68 homes on the canals, six apartments and a business premises. Just four time-share units were left standing.

The cause of the blaze will be the subject of a police forensic investigation. Meanwhile, shell-shocked home owners milled around burnt out structures that were once luxury homes or holiday homes today while curious onlookers flocked to St Francis Bay.
 
Stacey Gill of Port Elizabeth says they've had a holiday house in St Francis Bay for the past 15 years or so.
Meanwhile, as homeowners and insurances assessors count that cost that is expected to run into hundreds of millions of rands, a sense of optimism remains that St Francis will rise from the ashes.

That was the sentiment expressed by Beth Mortimer, of the St Francis Chronicle, a tabloid and online newspaper for the area. She says its been a trying time for St Francis following earlier floods and the collapse of the Sand River Bridge.

AlgoaFM