| 15 January 2026 @ 06:00
Overstrand firefighters and Fire Management Units (FMU) were under immense pressure yesterday afternoon from 15:00 when fires at Stanford and Pearly Beach broke containment in very strong westerly winds.
Two Huey helicopters, as well as the Oryx, were deployed to work alongside ground crews at Witvoetskloof and Byeneskrans.
Fire crews worked hard on a new island flare-up on the Witvoetskloof line at Helderfontein, which ran towards Avuka Road. In addition, the Stanford fire generated significant smoke that spread over a large area, from Voëlklip to the town of Elim.
The Byeneskrans line moved towards Baardskeerdersbos/Lomond, and fire crews worked hard to push the fire back towards the already burned area. Structure protection remained a high priority, and the firefighters and FMUs deserve a pat on the shoulder for keeping the fire away from two thatched roofs.
Welcome rain started at approximately 20:30 and continued through the night, while cooler conditions slowed things down and prevented the fire from spreading.
This morning, there are still a couple of active lines, and fire crews and FMUs will continue mopping up and monitoring today.
We are on day 9 of the Stanford fire and day 12 of the Pearly Beach fire. Huge respect and gratitude go to every firefighter and support crew involved. They are working under incredibly tough conditions and giving everything they have.
A big thank you to our communities for all your donations, and hard work preparing and pack meals for the crews out there. The community spirit is amazing.
| 15 January 2026 @ 14:00
During this morning’s feedback session with affected landowners and Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association (goFPA), risk areas were identified and discussed. The message was clear: “we are not out of the woods yet.”
The rain has brought well needed relief and the cooler weather will assist with firefighting efforts today.
The Overstrand Municipality Fire Service continues to assess the fire, checking the perimeters and identifying the best places to anchor the containment lines.
Landowners were once again urged to carry out aggressive mop-up on their farms and to assist neighbours where possible. It’s important they stay aware of conditions on their property so that stand-by crews can respond quickly if the situation changes.
Status report:
A fresh Working on Fire (WoF) team from Kleinmond arrived to assist with operations in Pearly Beach. Walker Bay WoF team is deployed at the Stanford fire, behind the industrial area.
At the Stanford fire, back-burn operations on this line could not be completed last night due to the rain. Approximately 4 km of the Witvoetskloof to Goedvertrou strategic firebreak still needs to be secured. Teams will continue work to close off this line as soon as weather conditions allow.
At the Pearly Beach fire in Bluewater Bay, the team is busy cutting through dense rooikrans with chainsaws, while the Byeneskrans team is focused on mop-up operations.
Last update: This will be the final update on the above-mentioned fires, unless the situation changes significantly
