Now that fire season has started in areas of SA, including the Western Cape, it’s important to know one thing: the best way to stop a fire is to prevent it.
Western Cape, South Africa (29 October 2025) – The Western Cape has already seen its fair share of destructive wildfires this season, and it’s bound to ramp up in the hotter months. Having and sharing awareness around fire prevention is one good thing you can do about it.
Did you know that most wildfires aren’t caused by lightning or natural events? In fact, last season fewer than 20% of fires in the Cape region were natural. The rest were human-caused – accidents, carelessness, or simple neglect.
That speaks to a greater need for awareness around the devastation that wildfires bring, but also about how we can stop them.
A wildfire doesn’t think twice about causing devastation that wipes out wildlife, destroys homes, puts families in danger, and flattens precious biodiversity. It can all happen in a matter of hours. It also zaps resources. Stats from CapeNature are telling. Last season alone, more than 75,000 hectares burned across the Western Cape and it added up to R20 million in suppression costs and over R300 million in damages to forests and infrastructure. But really, the cost can’t be measured in rands. Life gets destroyed in wildfires.
The good news is that prevention is absolutely in our hands.
Like we said, a wildfire can’t think twice. But you can:
- Don’t leave fires or braais unattended and put them out properly before moving on
- Keep the area around your home clear of dry brush or anything that can burn
- If you see someone playing carelessly with fire, matches or lighters, ask them to stop
- Do not flick cigarette butts out of your car window
- Have the relevant emergency numbers at hand to report any fires – don’t assume that somebody else has. You can reach emergency services by dialling 112 from your phone or 10177 from a landline.
If you’d like even more tips, CapeNature is taking an extra step to share practical knowledge with the public. Through their new Fire Fridays with Kai and Friends series on socials, weekly tips on fire awareness and prevention will be shared. It’ll share bite-sized bits of info that can educate families, schools, and communities in a simple way that makes fire safety knowledge more accessible.
You can also check out this fire prevention toolkit that shares a lot of valuable info!
If we all play our part in fire prevention, we could see far fewer destructive wildfires this season.
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