They came in fire and they left in rain.
Some might say it was the singing and stomping of hundreds of fire-fighters late into Friday night that brought the rains which fell during Knysna's moving "Heroes March" yesterday.
Hundreds of residents wearing red and yellow ribbons - the colours of the Working on Fire programme - marched behind their 400 "saviours" from across the country, often making great sacrifices for a tiny town in the southern Cape
According the office of the Western Cape premier, a total of 1106 firefighters were part of the operation to douse the fires that spanned at least 100km.
Ben Magoa, a young Working on Fire volunteer from the Free State who was honoured by residents, said: "Looking at how happy the people are to see us, it feels like we did what they expected of us."
Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen thanked the firefighters.
Nizaam Ali from Paarl could not hide his pride as he marched.
"I was very sad when we came here and heard that hundreds of houses had already burnt out.
"It was a good thing for me and my team to be able to help everyone in this area.
"This is the biggest fire I've ever seen since I started working here. It's a disaster."
This week hundreds of people queued for food and clothing because their homes and belongings had been destroyed.
Aid is streaming into the area from around the country.
Knysna resident Phil Golson walked behind the firefighters with a sign that read "Heroes we salute you".
The music professor said their singing was "soul stirring" and proof that Knysna would rebuild after the "life-changing" calamity.
"Today we're seeing a celebration of humanity, of diversity becoming unity," he said.
Bazil Madera, who attended the ceremony with his wife and three children, said the rain falling on the day of the parade was a blessing.
"We came out to say thank you to the men and women who fought the fires.
"It's ironic - they came in fire and they leave with rain," he said...