Mossel Bay community opens homes and hearts as devastating wildfires destroy properties

While many Mossel Bay residents have lost everything in the recent wildfires, the disaster has also brought the community together, with locals opening their homes, businesses, and animal shelters to support those in need.

Residents in Island View, Vakansieplaas, and Aalwyndal were evacuated from their homes on Tuesday, after vegetation fires spread amid strong winds. Several structures were destroyed in the blaze. 

By Wednesday afternoon, the municipality reported a child was injured in Vakansieplaas, while multi-agency firefighting efforts continued in Aalwyndal and surrounding areas, with crews managing regular flare-ups. Three firefighters also sustained injuries during firefighting operations.

“The fire originated in a farming area adjacent to the N2 on the right, in the direction of Cape Town, on 5 January 2025. Adverse weather conditions, including strong to gale force winds and inaccessible terrain contributed to its rapid spread to Aalwyndal, Island View and Vakansieplaas by 6 January 2026. Firefighting operations saw multiple fire crews including Mossel Bay, Garden Route, Hessequa, George and multiple volunteers involved in a coordinated collaborative effort. Aerial firefighting was implemented during the afternoon of 6 January 2026, under command of the Garden Route District Municipality.

“Wind gusts and inaccessible terrain are complicating the containment of the fire. Aerial firefighting resources are still deployed strengthening containment efforts. Flare-ups have necessitated further evacuations in Aalwyndal.”

Multiple structures, vehicles, and other property also sustained varying levels of damage during the incident.

Resident Chantel Jonck said with no rain in recent weeks they were expecting some veld fires but nothing of this magnitude. 

“(Tuesday) it was really really windy and that’s when it started spreading.  A lot of houses and people have been affected and animals as well. It’s sad to see people in despair, we have such a beautiful little town to see what’s happening around.

"But as a community I must say everyone has done their part, people are helping, driving water food up and down. We are also trying to get some clothes because people basically just took (what they could) and left. The community has taken hands. It's amazing. Last night the ATKV holiday resort opened their doors to people who didn't have any houses, Montego provided pet food donations, most of the vets have opened their doors for the animals, people are giving use of their caravans,” she said.  

Jonck is collecting donations for those in need and said anything would help, including food, blankets, water to be dropped off at the Blaize and Barrell restaurant located at 12 Marsh street between 9am and 10pm. 

Tarina Els said everything happened so fast. “We saw the smoke then the next thing you know it was hectic how it spread”.

Els' friends, the Van Jaarsveld family, experienced a house fire in Hartenbos just seven kilometres away at the same time the wildfires started spreading, and they lost everything. 

“My friends had a house fire just at the same time about seven or eight kilometres from the wildfires. They were in Hartenbos, everything burned down. They’ve lost everything, 33 years worth of stuff. They are currently still shocked. The husband is currently still in hospital. He rescued one of the animals, the dog, he got burned and cut his head open but the dog is fine. We’ve got a lot of people that offered them places to sleep and we are busy getting some donations and things together. 

“The community got together like you cannot believe during these fires. Animal shelters are taking animals in, the community is fantastic.” 

She has started a backabuddy campaign where donations can be made via: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/van-jaarsvelds-fire

The municipality has also set up several donation drop-off points and is in the process of opening a dedicated bank account to support those affected. Donation items can be dropped off at the Mossel Bay Fire Station (for emergency personnel), Bean Blessed Coffee Shop on Marsh Street, Pick n Pay in Langeberg Mall, Hartenbos Seefront (for clothing and bedding), Pick n Pay on the Seefront (for food and toiletries), Hartenbos Dierehospitaal (for animal food), and the SPCA in Mossel Bay (for animal food).

Cape Times