This fire started near the Bloublokkies farm just outside Napier, and following several flare-ups, headed towards the Sandy’s Glen area. With extreme effort and several “nearly contained moments”, the fire was prevented from reaching the Napier Mountain, but did jump the Elim road. The head was stopped before reaching Fairfield farm with the support of professional ground crews – Enviro Wildfire Services and NCC Wildfires. The right flank had to be stopped on the R316, just outside Napier, with a burnout. The fire below the mountain (ignition point) was contained by doing two burnouts. The dense alien vegetation, hot weather conditions and very dry veld made for a very challenging fire. The wind was in our favour and allowed the strategy to work.

Nuwedam fire (Tierfontein, Baardskeerdersbos area). Dense vegetation, proximity to homes/infrastructure and “fire season-weather” made this fire a 10-day battle. Containment was reached more than once, only for changing weather conditions to cause spread again. Landowners continued to use heavy construction equipment (excavator) to create access and control lines. Burnout operations and active fire-fighting were required to extinguish this fire. It was an integrated response with the full commitment from the landowner and additional support provided by his neighbours.

The Goedvertrouw fire was reported at 12:42 on the 24^th and continued to burn for days. It burned over the Groenlandberg, into several wine estates and fruit farms, threatened at least two communities and two large packing plants, and cost millions of Rands to suppress (and much more in damages – both ecological and economic losses caused by the fire). By 30 January, the fire was brought under control, with around 9,500 hectares lost. The cause of this fire is still under investigation, but lack of land management made this difficult to control and extinguish. Several agencies, including the SANDF worked this wildfire.

The Koffiekraal Fire (Botriver/Grabouw area) started during the early afternoon, and required aerial resources and specialist ground teams to support the Fire Services and CapeNature.

The Franskraal fire was started due social unrest. Parts of the town of Franskraal were evacuated, with two structures lost in town, as well as a caravan park. Around 1,000 hectares were destroyed. More severe structural damage and the possible loss human lives were prevented thanks to the support of landowners. Photo: Rene Nel

The Betty’s Bay fire, which started on New Year’s Day. This became one of the most devastating fires in the history of the Overberg. The fire started due to a flare shot off early on the 1^st of January 2019. The fire caused significant ecological and economic losses, and contributed to tragically loss of lives. A Pringle Bay woman passed away from health difficulties exacerbated by stress due to the oncoming fire, while her family was assisting with fighting the fire. On 11 January, the fire entered the town of Betty’s Bay, and destroyed 31 properties, and damaged 28 homes. Henry Hopkins (71), a former journalist at Die Burgerand former editor at Die Wynboer tragically passed away from injuries sustained while trying to save his pets when the fire destroyed his home. The fire burned two thirds of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, with 12,800 hectares lost. Shelton April was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire. The court case is ongoing.

The Pearly Beach fire was one of the three wildfires in the Overberg on Christmas Day. This affected around 800 hectares but no structures were threatened.

This fire was ignited by a brushcutter making a firebreak.

The Karwyderskraal fire started on the 13^th and proved to be one of the large wildfires of the season. It lasted nearly two weeks and started up again during the Betty’s Bay Fire. This fire could have caused much more damaged were it not for the winter preparation and hard work of all the fire fighters (services and landowners).

The Arniston wildfire started on the 12th of December 2018 and was declared out four days later. The ignition point was 3km west of Arniston and burned in a westerly direction (De Mond). This fire burned in dense mixed dune fynbos, alien vegetation, agricultural land, a protected nature reserve and within the urban area. Access was limited and proved to be a special concern for the safety of the fire fighters. This, the weather conditions and the fuel load made suppressing this fire difficult and necessitated large burnout operations. Aerial support was used extensively, but the support from the surrounding farmers must be highlighted. Special mention to the Cape Agulhas Municipality, the SAPS, SANDF and Overberg Test Range.