Pietermaritzburg fire-fighters extinguished 37 fires by 4pm today.
"We are running from one call to the next. We are trying our best as we do not have enough resources," Msunduzi Fire Service protection officer Rodney Trenam said.
He said the heat and wind had created extremely high fire danger conditions.
The temperature was 39ºC in the KwaZulu-Natal city.
Trenam said there were no official evacuation however residents, who were panicking as runaway fires approached their properties, were leaving their homes.
The city was also experiencing a power outage.
"We do not know the cause of the power outage," Trenam said.
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