Friday, January 16, 2026

Destructive Fire destroy and damage homes, cars and wild-life in Mossel Bay (6 - 10 January 2026)


2026 was off to a fiery start in Mossel Bay in the Garden Route with various fires gutting homes, destroying vehicles and vast tracts of prime land and fynbos. The fire that started in open veld next to the N2 and spread to several areas as listed in the image below.

During the period 6 - 12 January 2026 the ZS Link Network Amateur Radio Group kept abreast of the fire and all related developments via WhatsApp Group and live Amateur Radio Nets in the event that amateur radio emergency communications were called upon.  Another first is that the fire fighters were supported by OM Jan ZS1CBS, a radio amateur and farmer who assisted in fighting the fires with his own fire fighting equipment.  Well done to Jan and a big thank you for assisting our community in times of need!!  (See images below)


The fire in Aalwyndal, Vakansieplaas, Island View and surrounds saw an enormous outpouring of solidarity – it was a tenacious community against a raging fire. Special thanks to the neighbourhoodwatch groups (Community Policing Forum), NSRI and the farmer’s associations from all over the greate Mossel Bay.
On the afternoon, 8 January 2026, when numerous flare-ups occurred due to persistent, strong and ever-changing winds, threatening adjacent areas like Sonskynvallei, Hartenbos Heuwels, Renosterbos and Num Num - more than 30 bakkies and small trailer tenks with water were, as well as trucks with water tanks were deployed. Here are some of the videos of the volunteers who added tremendous value to the firefighting effort.

Hannelie Marias, Chairperson of the Da Gamaskop Community Policing Forum writes (translated from Afrikaans):  “𝐼𝑑’𝑠 π‘’π‘›π‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘’π‘£π‘Žπ‘π‘™π‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘€ π‘π‘’π‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘ π‘˜, ‘π‘Šβ„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ 𝐼 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑝 π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ?’ 𝐴𝑛𝑑 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘¦’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘œπ‘“π‘“! π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘£π‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘ π‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘šπ‘ π‘’π‘™π‘£π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘”π‘–π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘ π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘˜π‘–π‘’π‘  (π‘π‘–π‘π‘˜π‘’π‘π‘ ) π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Ž π‘ π‘’π‘π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘–π‘π‘™π‘’ π‘π‘’π‘šπ‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘šπ‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘œ π‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘¦ π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Žπ‘› 𝑗𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘“π‘–π‘™π‘™ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑. π‘Œπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦, 𝐼 π‘šπ‘¦π‘ π‘’π‘™π‘“ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘’π‘‘ π‘Ž π‘“π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘’ β„Žπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π΄π‘Žπ‘™π‘€π‘¦π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™ π‘…π‘œπ‘Žπ‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘’π‘› π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘, 𝐼 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘š π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘. π‘‡β„Žπ‘’π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑒π‘₯β„Žπ‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘‘π‘’π‘‘, π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘› π‘œπ‘’π‘‘. π΄π‘”π‘Žπ‘–π‘›, 𝐼 π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘œπ‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘  π‘π‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’, π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘ π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘ π‘π‘’π‘π‘‘, π‘Ž π‘¦π‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘” π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘ 𝑙𝑒𝑔—𝑦𝑒𝑠—π‘π‘™π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘  π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘˜π‘–π‘’, π‘π‘™π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘  π‘œπ‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘™π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘Ž π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘˜ 𝑖𝑠 π‘šπ‘œπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘, π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘›π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘˜ 𝑙𝑖𝑑. 𝐻𝑒 π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘£π‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘œ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘“π‘–π‘™π‘™ π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿ π‘π‘œπ‘–π‘›π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ 10 π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’π‘ . π‘π‘œπ‘€ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘ π‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘  𝐼 π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙.”

Videos:  Mossel Bay Advertiser and EWN 

 


 

π—¨π—£π——π—”π—§π—˜ – π—›π—¨π— π—”π—‘π—œπ—§π—”π—₯π—œπ—”π—‘ π—”π—œπ—— - 12 Jan 12:25 πŸ™ THANK YOU, Mossel Bay! Your generosity during the Aalwyndal, Vakansieplaas & Island View fires has been overwhelming. Crews are no longer stationed in the fire zone, but remain on alert for flare‑ups. 🚫 No more perishables accepted – the active operational period has ended. 🧴 Toiletries & household items still welcome (see list below). πŸ’³ Financial contributions remain open to support affected families. Drop‑off: Generosity, 3 Watson Street, Voorbaai Donate online: edenprotocol.co/mossel-bay-fire-relief 🧴 Needed Items * Soap, facecloths, toothpaste, toothbrushes * Shampoo, conditioner, roll‑on, spray * Sanitary towels, lotion/aqueous cream * Razors, hairbrushes, combs * Toilet paper, washing powder, fabric softener * Handy Andy, bleach/Domestos, dishwasher liquid * Washing pegs, scourers, broom, mop, dustbins

Images:  Robert Crous + Mossel Bay Advertiser (Click on images for larger view.)

 



Images:  Working on Fire, Kishugu Aviation and Mossel Bay Advertiser  (Click on images for full view.)









Images below:  Jan ZS1CBS, Radio Amateur and Farmer getting his fire fighting  equipment ready before moving in to fight the fire which at that stage was threatening the Hartenbos Heuwels and other areas.  Jan, thank you for the community service you provided free of charge.




Images and video below:  The editors son also assisted in fighting the fire after his normal daily work schedule.  Thank you son for the service that you rendered to the Community of Mossel Bay!


 


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Destructive Fire destroy and damage homes, cars and wild-life in Mossel Bay (6 - 10 January 2026)

2026 was off to a fiery start in Mossel Bay in the Garden Route with various fires gutting homes, destroying vehicles and vast tracts of pri...