Over the weekend, the community in Makhanda showed up to protect the animals when a fire crept toward the animal welfare facility.
Eastern Cape, South Africa (26 January 2026) – On Saturday, a fire spread across an industrial area in Makhanda, threatening multiple properties, including that of the SPCA.
The flames burned right up against three boundary points along the facility and found its way in, in some areas. Thanks to a community who jumped in to help, everyone’s safe. Animals included.
“All our animals are safe (they enjoyed the visitors), our residents are safe, buildings were saved, just our exercise runs were damaged.” shared the SPCA.
The fire posed an imminent threat – to people, animals and infrastructure – but it also brought out the helpers. A village showed up in full force. Everyone did what they could to help.
“Amazing folk in our town who came – people pitched up to beat the fire with branches, carry buckets of water, vehicles arrived to assist with evacuation if needed, trailers with tanks and firefighting equipment came, even a bulldozer!” shared a local.
“To Frontier Fire, Rhodes University, St Andrews fire team, DSG, Makana Fire Dept., EC Fit & Go, the lady who brought bottled water, our staff and volunteers, the community who arrived with buckets, who beat the fire with branches … THANK YOU!” shared the SPCA. “The fire was around and on our property. We were overwhelmed by the help we received – words cannot express our gratitude enough.”
Through the recent fires that have swept across both the Eastern and Western Cape, compassion has emerged at every turn. Visitors who risked their lives to help. Heroes who saved hundreds of beehives. Animal welfare teams who searched tirelessly for survivors.
People keep on showing up. Another point for humanity.
“We are privileged to have such a caring community.”
Sources: Linked above.
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