With fire season still in full swing it is of the utmost importance to know what steps you can take to protect yourself and your property against the possibility of a fire breaking out.
The Overberg is lucky to have highly skilled, experienced and dedicated firefighters employed by the Overberg District Municipality (ODM) and Overstrand Municipality (OM) who work in conjunction with other role-players, such as the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association (goFPA), Capenature, Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), Working on Fire (WoF) and private landowners (farms), to implement fire prevention measures and actively fight fires.
Since the official start of the fire season until 20 January ODM Fire and Rescue Services attended a staggering 313 veld fires and 34 structural fires. In addition to this, Overstrand Municipality firefighters attended approximately 110 calls, including 53 veld fires, six mountain fires and eight false alarms.
Louise Wessels, spokesperson for the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association, reports that there has fortunately been no loss of human lives as result of fires and only a few minor injuries reported.
Some thatched roof structures at a retreat next to the Breederivier were however lost when a fire spread rapidly through the area, offering little chance to defend or protect the structures.
Farmers in the Villiersdorp area also suffered some losses when orchards were damaged during a blaze that broke out on 29 December and raged through the area for several days before it was finally declared “closed” on 13 January. One grain farmer also suffered the loss of several bales of high during a different fire.Damages, costs and risks
“And in almost every fire, fences are damaged or destroyed,” Wessels stated. “While the exact figure of these damages is uncertain, a cost that is often overlooked is the actual cost of fire fighting incurred by the fire services and private landowners alike.
“In one fire, for example, the costs of just the aerial resources for the first day of fire was nearly R600 000. If you were to further add the costs of all the fire fighters, and then add the individual costs of each landowner, his vehicle and his staff that assist him, as well as the cost of the water that is used on the fire, the figure would be staggering.”
Wessels explained that alien invasive species cause fires to burn much hotter, making suppression difficult and dangerous. She added: “A few of the fires this season have burnt in large swathes of unmanaged alien forests where there was little to no access to get to the fire. In such cases they can’t extinguish it in that first hour, also known as the golden hour.”
Another common hindrance is the topography of the area, which makes access difficult and also influences the fire behaviour.
“Last but not least is the weather conditions exacerbated by climate change factors,” said Wessels. “We are in Fire Season (December to April) in the Western Cape and the extended fires were all battled in extreme wind conditions, high temperatures and with little or no rain received in December 2024.
“The very wet winter helped to spur vegetation growth on over much of the Overberg, which then switched to a hot, dry and windy summer season from the middle of December; resulting in a proverbial incubator of a rough fire season.”
We all have a role to play
The National Veld and Forest Fire Act (soon to be renamed the “veldfire act”) compels all private rural landowners to implement preventative measures, such as constructing fire breaks that will curb or stop fires from spreading from their property or that of their neighbour.
Landowners also need to have equipment and trained personnel among them so that, as an organised group, they are able to respond fires.
But, said Wessels, fire breaks seldom work as a stand-alone passive defence. “Instead, fire breaks form a part of a larger mitigation effort which includes training landowners in basic veldfire safety, alien clearing and such. Both Fire Services have programmes in place to support and enforce landowner and home fire safety.”
Wessels said it is fortunate that the vast majority of landowners in the Overberg treat runaway fires as a common enemy and come together to help each other and the fire services to extinguish the fire.
“Landowners are typically the first to arrive at the scene of a fire and begin suppression while the fire services are en route. Without their efforts, fires in the Overberg would be far larger and more devastating.”
Independent firefighting services, including NCC Wildfire Services and Enviro Wildfire as well as volunteer agencies such as VWS and the Villiersdorp Volunteers, also play a big role in firefighting efforts.
However, Wessels said, there is some concern around those homeowners in the Wildland Urban Interface, those who live next to open fields of vegetation and mountains. “We are worried that these homeowners are not doing enough to prevent the loss of their homes due to a veld fire.”
She said the abilities of firefighting teams, leadership and aerial support are well recognised but that this is considered an obstacle as homeowners believe the firefighters will always save their homes.
“And they are therefore reluctant to make the changes needed to protect their homesteads, or simply avoid taking the necessary responsibility,” Wessels explained.
Here are some tips on how you can protect your home:
. Create defensible space around your house is critical, especially if you live on or close to the natural veld. Defensible space refers to an area around the structure(s) where you cut back or remove flammable vegetation. Many fynbos species unfortunately are highly flammable, but can be replaced by other indigenous plants such as vygies, spekboom and aloes which in fact, can offer some protection.
Clean your gutters often, as this is a common ignition point for houses caught in a veld fire. If you have a deck don’t store any flammable materials or firewood underneath.
Ordinary citizens also have an important role to play. The most important way in which communities can assist firefighting efforts, said Wessels, is to stay clear of the fire.
“It is understandable that fires are intriguing, but going out to look at the fire not only places yourself at risk; it often results in the public hindering firefighting efforts. Secondly, with busy fire seasons, such as this one, rations quickly run out so donations in the form of drinking water, cooldrinks, or non-perishable foods is always welcome.”
Other suggested items include chocolate and energy bars, trail mix, nuts, unopened packets of biltong Energade, instant coffee, long-life milk, plasters and eye-drops.
These donations can be dropped off at the Hermanus Fire and Rescue and Disaster Management building, located on Mussel Street in Hermanus. The building is open 24 hours a day.
Donations for the ODM Fire and Rescue and Disaster Management firefighters can be dropped off at your nearest fire station in Bredasdorp, Caledon, Swellendam, Grabouw and Villiersdorp.
The Greater Overberg FPA assists the Overberg District Municipality in coordinating donations received.
Contact goFPA manager Louise Wessels on 083 327 0477 or Shane Summers (ODM) at 028 425 1690 for more info.
