Fire Services are on high alert as temperatures continue to soar in the Western Cape. The province’s fire season, which is observed yearly between November to May, is now in full swing. Multiple fires have already been reported this week alone, all of which have been contained.
The South African Weather Sevices this week sent out a fire danger warning for the City of Cape Town and the West Coast District. The warning will remain in place as scorching hot temperatures are expected to continue for the rest of the week.
Provincial Wildfire Resources
On Wednesday, the Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, confirmed that the department has approved an additional R3 million to the province’s wildfire budget. This will boost the budget from R16 million to R19 million.
According to statistics from the department, over 837 wildfires have been reported to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre since December 2023. Only 9 of these fires were classified as major wildfires.
“The public plays a critical role in the prevention of wildfires.” – Minister Bredell
Residents are urged to report any sighting of a fire as quickly as possible to the closest authorities.
“Experience over many years has taught us that the faster the initial response, the better our chances are of successfully controlling a fire before it spirals out of control.”
Cape Town fires
The City of Cape Town has experienced an extremely busy fire season since the start of December till now. On Wednesday, City fire and rescue services were battling against fires on Boyes Drive in Kalk Bay. The blaze was made extremely challenging due to high winds and inaccessible terrain. According to Minister Bredell, the likelihood of more wildfires in the coming months is a real concern.
Cape Winelands District fires
This past week, the Cape Winelands District’s fire services have responded to several fires including one in Franschhoek on Wednesday and one in the area of Paarl Mountain on Thursday morning. Both fires have since successfully been managed and contained. The district is however anticipating an increase in veld fires and temperatures are expected to reach 40°C.
The following numbers can be contacted to report any fire sightings:
City of Cape Town: 107 or 021 480 7700 from a cell phone
Overberg: 028 425 1690
West Coast: 022 433 8700
Garden Route: 044 805 5071
Central Karoo: 023 414 2603
Cape Winelands: 021 887 4446
