North West currently facing a relentless Winter Fire Season

The Working on Fire- Kishugu in the North West is currently facing a relentless on slaught of wildfires that have ravaged its grasslands and communities.

This came after another busy month on our frontlines in North West with both ground and aerial resources stretched and working timelessly, day and night to the limit battling runaway wildland fires in Kgaswane Mountain Reserve.

The devastating Kgaswane fire started last week Wednesday on the 25th of September 2024 approximately around 09:30 am in the early mornings and was officially declared contained on the 1st of October 2024.

The fire ignited at the Kgaswane Group Camp and rapidly spread over to the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve and Kgaswane Western Boundaries.

WOF-Kishugu JV firefighter have been working timelessly day and night on the Kgaswane fires.

The Kgaswane fires has caused a lot of damages such as livestock, properties and over 10 000 of destroyed fuel hectors burnt.

More than 90 firefighters supported by aerial resources were deployed to assisting stakeholder and partners.

Strong winds posed challenge, however, the teams remains dedicated to saving lives and protecting the environment.

Since the beginning of the winter fire season, firefighters attended to over 70 wildland fire suppression assisting various stakeholders and partners across the province.

The collective efforts of all those involved stand as a testament to the resilience of communities in the face of adversity.

This challenging period in the North West serves as a stark reminder of the burning issue of climate change,  global warming,  the unpredictable forces of nature, and the crucial importance of community collaboration in disaster management. It also highlights the invaluable contributions of the Working on Fire- Kishugu Joint Venture whose dedication and commitment to saving lives, and property, and protecting the environment are unwavering.