Municipality enhances firefighting crews as Cape Winelands braces for wildfire season

The recruits completed an intensive training programme tailored to equip them for the region’s increasingly complex fire risks.

The Cape Winelands District Municipality, which has already faced at least five fires this season, is strengthening its capacity to combat wildfires with a new cohort of firefighter recruits.

A total of 42 new firefighters, including nine from the Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch municipalities, graduated on Friday from the Cape Winelands Fire and Rescue Training Academy.

Other graduates who will join local firefighting ranks are from municipalities including Cederberg, Hessequa, Overstrand, Swartland, and the Garden Route. Five graduates also hail from the South African Army.

The recruits completed a rigorous training programme designed to prepare them for the region’s increasingly complex fire risks. This training covered wildfire, structural, and hazardous materials (Hazmat) scenarios.

Cape Winelands District Mayor Elna von Schlicht emphasised the critical nature of these new teams, citing climate change as a factor fuelling more frequent and intense fire seasons.

“With climate change fuelling more frequent and intense fire seasons, the role of well-trained, locally rooted firefighting teams is more vital than ever,” said Mayor von Schlicht.

The mayor also highlighted collaborative efforts with the Department of Defence

“We are working with the Department of Defence, including the navy and all departments underneath the Department of Defence. They would like to work with us so that together we can share resources and make sure that we have a very competent firefighting component in the Western Cape but also in the rural areas. We have to work in the mountain fires.” he said.