Key Takeaways:
- Fast-moving flames tore through parts of the Kouga municipality, leaving residents with seconds to decide what to save and how to escape.
- The fires, driven by dry conditions and changing wind directions, spread from the Oyster Bay side and threatened homes along the Kromme River.
- Residents were forced to flee, with some escaping by boat as roads became inaccessible.
- The community responded with overwhelming support, with neighbors sheltering each other’s families and pooling equipment and vehicles to help with the evacuation.
- The fire situation remains volatile, with flare-ups threatening the area and authorities urging residents to take precautions to prevent further fires.
Introduction to the Crisis
Within a few hours, a calm afternoon along the Kromme River turned into a fight for survival as fast-moving flames tore through parts of the Kouga municipality, leaving residents with seconds to decide what to save and how to escape. For one woman living on a smallholding near Long Ridge Road, close to the picturesque river, there was no time for planning, only instinct as the fire closed in. The woman, who did not want to be named, described her ordeal of narrowly escaping the fires that affected the area, saying, "You feel completely overwhelmed. I couldn’t even put into words how I felt. The adrenaline pumps through your body so intensely that you can’t think about anything else."
The Spread of the Fire
The fires, driven by the dry conditions and changing wind directions, spread from the Oyster Bay side on Thursday, threatening homes along the Kromme River and elsewhere in the Kouga region. The woman first noticed smoke shortly after 13:00 while driving home on the R330 near Humansdorp. After arriving home, she contacted a neighbor who had lived in the area for several years, who assured her that there were plenty of people and water, and that it seemed like the fire would be brought under control soon. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly, with the fire slowly creeping closer to her residence. The woman moved her car from under the carport and began packing a bag inside her house, but soon after, she heard the sound of the fire approaching.
A Desperate Escape
The woman had time to grab her phone and car keys before running to her vehicle, but when she attempted to leave the property, her usual exit route had already been blocked by flames. She was forced to turn towards the river, and when she looked back, she could see the fire spreading to neighboring properties. A sudden change in wind direction forced her to briefly stop and maneuver her car through a fence. "It was pure panic and adrenaline," she said. "You don’t think clearly. You only think about surviving." The woman eventually escaped by boat, warning another woman who was trying to flee with her child to turn back before reaching neighbors with property on the riverbank.
Community Response
The community responded with overwhelming support, with neighbors sheltering each other’s families and pooling equipment and vehicles to help with the evacuation. Leandri du Bruyn, who has lived with her family on the riverbank for eight years, said the fire moved with shocking speed. Two homes on the family property were destroyed, one of which belonged to Du Bruyn’s late father-in-law; the other to her husband’s uncle. Despite the gutting of several structures, Du Bruyn said the community’s response had been overwhelming. "Everyone tried to save the animals, and neighbors opened their doors to help others," she said. "In times like this, you really see how people support each other."
Firefighting Efforts
Kouga mayor Hattingh Bornman said all three original fires were under control overnight, with teams working through the night to prevent flare-ups. However, by early Sunday afternoon, Bornman reported that small flare-ups had occurred along the N2 and behind Humansdorp. He said that teams on Oyster Bay Road were still battling fires, while air support continued dropping water on remaining hotspots. The municipality again urged residents on Sunday to take immediate precautions to prevent fires during the present high-risk period. Authorities warn that the conditions significantly increase the risk of uncontrolled veld and structural fires, which pose a threat to lives, property, infrastructure, and the environment.
Support for Firefighters
There has been an outpouring of support for firefighters in Nelson Mandela Bay, where fires have also burned swaths of land and destroyed property, as well as in Kouga. Community members have rallied together, donating essential firefighting equipment and supplies. Andrew Mackie, who lives in Johannesburg but owns a house in St Francis Bay, praised the efforts of the firefighters on Friday afternoon after dropping off essentials. "These guys are risking their lives to look after others, to manage the loss of livestock," he said. "They are putting their lives on the line. What we are doing is very small relative to what they are prepared to offer."
The Ongoing Crisis
The fire situation remains volatile, with flare-ups threatening the area and authorities urging residents to take precautions to prevent further fires. Acting mayor Gary van Niekerk said the fire situation across the metro remained "volatile and unpredictable". He said numerous veld fires were flaring up in parts of the city, with Fire and Emergency Services "responding to these incidents to the best of their ability". Crews remained on high alert and were working closely with the farming community and other stakeholders to ensure rapid responses as conditions shifted. Eastern Cape MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Zolile Williams commended the ongoing efforts of teams to contain the raging fires and the support the province had received from, among other groups, business, fire protection associations, district municipalities, and farming communities.