Western Cape wildfires lead to N2 road closures and urgent firefighting efforts

Fire authorities are battling an extensive and demanding fire season across the Western Cape. With large wildfires burning from Cape Town to the Garden Route and Overstrand, forcing road closures, evacuations and the mobilisation.

Significant aerial and ground resources as tens of thousands of hectares have already been scorched.

The scale of the fires was underscored on Thursday after the provincial government confirmed that approximately 90 000 hectares have burned so far this season, with 38 aerial firefighting missions authorised and R15 million already spent on aerial support alone.

Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said the province was facing a particularly challenging fire season.

“The Western Cape has experienced a particularly challenging fire season so far, with double the number of aerial firefighting support callouts authorised compared to this time last year,” Bredell said. “The South African Weather Service has also indicated that the outlook for the remainder of the summer remains hot and dry, which could extend the fire season beyond March.”

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and Provincial Fire Services, 45 structures have been destroyed to date, although no fatalities or serious disabling injuries have been reported.

One of the largest active fires is burning in the Keurbooms–Soetkraal area within the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park. The fire, believed to have been caused by lightning, is burning in extremely remote and mountainous terrain on land managed by South African National Parks.

The affected area is estimated at about 10 000 hectares. Firefighting teams are implementing a containment strategy aimed at keeping the blaze within predetermined management parameters due to the terrain and prevailing conditions. Minor damage to park infrastructure has been recorded, and no injuries have been reported. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area.

In Cape Town, firefighters were also deployed to an active fire above Fresnaye near Kloofnek. City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said crews responded to reports shortly after 2.25pm.

“At around 2.25pm we received several reports of a fire above Fresnaye. Currently, we have several crews on scene accompanied by Wildland Strike teams,” Carelse said.

He said the scale of the incident required the activation of an Incident Management Team Type 4, with strong winds complicating efforts. One helicopter was deployed for waterbombing, while additional crews were dispatched to Ocean View Drive. Signal Hill Road was closed to allow emergency access, and hikers near Lion’s Head were urged to evacuate.

In the Garden Route, thick smoke from nearby fires forced the closure of the N2 near Mossel Bay between Dana Bay and Langeberg Mall, with traffic diverted via Louis Fourie Road. Fires were burning in areas including Aalwyndal, Island View and Vakansieplaas, where aerial firefighting was reintroduced and residents were urged to keep doors and windows closed.

Further east, the Overstrand Municipality said fires in Pearly Beach and Stanford remained out of control, with municipal firefighting capacity under severe strain. Power was temporarily cut to parts of Pearly Beach to protect infrastructure, and several roads, including sections of the R43, were closed.

Beyond fire damage, water security has emerged as a growing concern in several municipalities affected by prolonged dry conditions and firefighting demand. Langeberg, Bitou and Knysna are among the areas under pressure, with dam levels critically low and emergency measures under way to secure supply.

Bredell urged residents and visitors to comply with safety instructions and water restrictions as authorities warned that conditions remained volatile and that the peak of the fire season may still lie ahead.

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Cape Argus