Media Release: GRDM Fire and Rescue Services Takes Fire Safety Awareness and Education to Communities Across the Garden Route

24 August 2026

Last summer’s fire season was described as one of the most challenging in recent years. The Garden Route and the broader Western Cape experienced a significant increase in fire incidents, extreme weather conditions, and extensive areas of land affected by fires. This included fires in Knysna that affected informal structures, fires across the Hessequa area that caused various infrastructure damages, and the loss of formal houses in Mossel Bay. These events were followed by a mini drought period across the Garden Route District.

With severe weather conditions forecasted for the upcoming summer months, including a Super El Nino event, which is already taking shape around the globe, the following factors were highlighted by research experts of both the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch):

• Increase in temperatures – potentially leading to more heatwaves;
• An increase in fire risk (the impact also of a drier winter so far);More variable wind, however less windy;
• Almost certain that an extremely strong EL Nino will occur this summer (2026/2027) – it would rank among the largest EL Nino events since the 1950’s; and
• The warmer temperatures forecasted for this summer, along with the very poor winter rainfall of 2026 (July was one of the driest on record), could lead to more favourable conditions for veld fires across the Western Cape, but ameliorated by weaker winds (except Berg Winds). Berg Winds has historically caused problems in the Garden Route especially.

According to GRDM Fire Chief Deon Stoffels, the importance of fire prevention, preparedness and community awareness cannot be overstated. “It is for this reason that the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) Safe Schools Programme, has conducted numerous fire safety awareness and prevention sessions for learners, teachers, school staff and residents across the district,” Stoffels said.

These interventions aim to reach communities far and wide, including remote communities and schools in isolated areas, ensuring that everyone has access to fundamental fire safety information. The sessions focus on helping communities understand their environment, how to prevent fires, how to make their living areas fire safe, respond appropriately during such events, and assist first responders in emergencies and thus helping protect lives, property and the environment.

On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, GRDM firefighters visited three schools in the Knysna municipal area as part of their ongoing fire safety awareness programme. The schools visited were Karatara Primary School, Redlands Primary School and Ruigtevlei Primary School. During the visits, learners and teachers received important information on fire safety, fire prevention and what to do in the event of a fire. They were equipped with practical knowledge and skills to help them stay safe and respond appropriately during fire emergencies. The firefighters also provided flood safety awareness, teaching learners what to do and how to stay safe during flooding and other emergencies.

On Thursday, 20 August 2026, the firefighters continued the initiative at Britsvlakte Primary School, on the outskirts of Uniondale. The session was attended by 30 learners of different ages, four teachers and a representative from the Western Cape Education Department.

The learners were taught important fire prevention measures, including how to prevent fires and safely handle hazardous substances commonly found in households. The interactive sessions provided an opportunity for learners to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the dangers associated with fires and hazardous substances. The recent flood events have raised attention as well and flood safety tips were share equally.

These ongoing awareness initiatives play an important role in ensuring that learners, teachers, and communities are better prepared to prevent and respond to veld fires and fire related activities around their homes, ultimately helping to keep schools, homes, and communities across the Garden Route safer.

“We plea to the greater community owning land on small holdings and rural areas to fire scaping their properties and larger landowners to ensure they contribute to risk reduction by making fire breaks around their properties and constantly decreasing fuel loads, especially alien invasive plants, which are standard fire drivers,” said Chief Stoffels.

Captions for all photographs: A look back at fires, flooding and extreme weather experienced across the Garden Route, alongside ongoing fire safety training to prepare children for the upcoming fire season.

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