As Cape Town switches seasons, the additional resources brought on to help deal with increased vegetation fires over the warmer months are standing down – including 78 Wildland firefighters.
The Wildland Firefighters are seasonal employees who are employed annually in terms of the Fire and Rescue Service’s summer readiness plan, when Cape Town experiences a surge in vegetation fires.
In recent years, the Fire and Rescue Service has recorded increases in the total number of emergency incidents responded to, including vegetation fires – signalling just how critical the additional resources are.
A comparison of statistics for the period 1 September to 27 May over the past three years is outlined below:
| Category | Sept 2023 – May 2024 | Sept 2024 – May 2025 | Sept 2025 – May 2026 |
| Total incidents | 24 254 | 24 543 | 25 029 |
| Vegetation fires | 11 321 | 11 841 | 12 163 |
| Formal residential fires | 1 377 | 1 372 | 1 416 |
| Informal residential fires | 1 691 | 1 598 | 1 623 |
| Motor vehicle accidents | 3 435 | 3 563 | 3 604 |
| Pedestrian vehicle accidents | 1 572 | 1 666 | 1 495 |
‘The Wildland Firefighters are strategically deployed to cover areas prone to runaway vegetation fires, freeing up permanent on-duty staff to attend to other types of emergencies. And, as the statistics show, their presence is critical, because the pressure on our Fire and Rescue Service is relentless, on all fronts.
‘Combatting vegetation fires is no easy feat, and we salute our Wildland crews for their contribution to the cause. In fact, thank you to each and every person who has been on the frontlines this summer, including our permanent firefighters, the crews from other entities and of course our volunteers in Disaster Risk Management and the Volunteer Wildfire Services. Cape Town owes you a debt of gratitude,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The Wildland Firefighters aren’t the only ones whose season has come to an end – the aerial firefighting support will also be grounded on 31 May.
The two Huey helicopters and the fixed wing light spotter aircraft that form part of the Fire and Rescue Service’s arsenal each summer are critical to efforts to manage and respond to large vegetation fires, particularly in mountainous areas.
‘The challenges particular to summer are now in the rear-view mirror, but let’s not forget that the risk of fire is ever present, and that the colder months come with challenges of their own. Let’s all work to keep fire safety top of mind at all times,’ added Alderman Smith.
The public is reminded that fires and any other emergency incident can be reported to the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.
