Mossel Bay community rallies as Aalwyndal fire emergency continues
A massive inferno wreaked havoc in Mossel Bay
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The Mossel Bay Municipality is currently engaged in a critical firefighting effort in the Aalwyndal area, where blaze flare-ups have persisted under challenging windy and dry conditions. With aerial resources activated again on Wednesday morning, the municipality is taking decisive steps to manage the ongoing emergency.
Officials reported the implementation of road closures and access control measures due to the intensified fire situation. This follows the earlier reopening of the N2 highway, which had been temporarily closed due to hazardous smoke conditions.
Residents are urged to exercise caution and avoid the Aalwyndal area, as the situation remains precarious.
In addition to the fires in Aalwyndal, fire crews are also addressing a new vegetation fire that broke out on the R327, en route to Herbertsdale. The response teams are concurrently managing fires affecting Klein Brak River and Hartenbos.
On Tuesday night at approximately 7:20pm, evacuation orders were issued for residents in Island View, Vakansieplaas, and Aalwyndal as the fire threatened residential structures. The blaze, which began on Tuesday afternoon just after 3pm, has unfortunately resulted in the destruction of several households and vehicles.
In response to the escalating situation, additional resources from the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) have been mobilised, with assistance also requested from Hessequa and George municipalities. A Joint Operations Centre (JOC) has been activated to ensure coordinated firefighting and evacuation efforts across the affected areas.
In the interest of public safety, the N2 was closed for several hours, halting traffic between the Langeberg Mall off-ramp and Dana Bay towards Cape Town as crews battled dense smoke and poor visibility. The JOC remains operational for effective incident management.
The municipality expressed heartfelt gratitude towards the community for its overwhelming compassion and generosity demonstrated throughout this crisis.
“The offers of accommodation, ensuring evacuees have safe options, as well as humanitarian support for emergency workers, have been received with deep appreciation,” a spokesperson stated.
However, the municipality has advised that further drop-offs at the fire station in Schoeman Street should be paused until clearer needs can be assessed. They plan to announce a structured channel for donations shortly, ensuring that all contributions are directed where they are most needed.
“Your willingness to step forward in times of crisis reflects the strength and unity of Mossel Bay, and we encourage everyone to remain calm and support one another,” they added.