Wildfires scorch over 32 000 ha in the Western Cape

THE Western Cape has been in the throes of a sustained fire season, with 32 187 hectares of land burned from October 2024 to the end of February.

- STAFF REPORTER

CapeNature-managed reserves have borne the brunt, with nearly 19 000 ha affected, while private lands and mountain catchment areas have also suffered extensive damage.

The fire-ravaged Boland Mountain range continues to have the lion's share of fires, with Limietberg Nature Reserve and Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve particularly hard hit, with 25 fires between the two reserves.

Notably, the Hottentots Holland area experienced a fire that destroyed the Nuweberg community hall.

There is an ongoing investigation into the cause of this fire.

The Swartberg Protected Area accounts for about half of all hectares burned and is the worst affected area, with 15 545 ha burned, including 12 359 ha of CapeNature-managed land.