Firefighters save historic home in Paarl from devastating wildfires

A historic family home in the Otterkuil and Kuilenberg area outside Paarl was narrowly saved from an advancing wildfire on Monday night, as firefighters and residents battled intense conditions during an unrelenting wildfire season across the Cape Winelands.

The fire threatened the property shortly before 10pm, at a time when firefighting resources were already under pressure due to major deployments linked to ongoing blazes in Franschhoek. A call was received by DFW Fire & Rescue NPC, warning that flames and embers were bearing down on the home.

DFW responded by dispatching two tanker-pumper trucks, two cruisers and a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) unit. On arrival, crews encountered strong winds, heavy smoke and an active fire front pushing through vegetation towards the buildings.

According to firefighters on scene, residents, neighbours and local farmers had already begun attempting to contain the fire using portable pumps and farm equipment, including ploughing firebreaks. Fire crews focused on protecting the historic structure, which dates back to the 1800s and was under sustained ember attack.

The CAFS unit was used to repeatedly coat the roof and surrounding areas with foam to prevent ignition. Firefighters worked through the night and the fire line was held just short of the buildings. Crews stood down at about 2.15am, handing over to the remaining Paarl Fire Officer. No injuries were reported.

The successful defence contrasts with damage reported elsewhere near Paarl over the weekend, when a runaway veld fire destroyed part of the historic Roggeland farmstead in the Dal Josaphat Valley. That fire began as a fast-moving grass fire along Bodal Road before spreading onto Roggeland, one of the area’s oldest farmsteads.

Firefighters from DFW Fire & Rescue NPC and Paarl Fire Services responded with multiple pumpers, tankers and a CAFS unit, but one thatched structure was already alight on arrival and could not be saved. A second historic building was protected. A case is expected to be opened against those allegedly responsible for starting the nearby grass fire.

Roggeland, which dates back to the late 17th century, is listed in heritage inventories for the Drakenstein area and is regarded as an important example of Cape Dutch rural architecture.

Meanwhile, fires continued to burn across the Cape Winelands on Tuesday. Cape Winelands District Municipality Fire Services said the Three Streams fire above Franschhoek remained out of control, with strong overnight winds pushing flames through the Assegaai-bos area and across the Berg River, igniting new fires on the mountain slopes.

Firefighting efforts have been hampered by steep terrain and dense vegetation, limiting ground access and forcing crews to prioritise property protection. Firefighters from Stellenbosch, Worcester and Paarl remain on scene, supported by CapeNature, the Winelands Fire Protection Association and Volunteer Wildfire Services. Additional teams are also dealing with fires in Wellington and Gouda.

Authorities have warned that persistent heat, dry conditions and strong winds continue to pose extreme fire danger, as emergency services remain stretched across multiple incidents in the district.

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Cape Argus