Firewise

Rooiels is in a fire-prone landscape. Wildfires can spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds, dry vegetation, and invasive plants, putting homes, infrastructure, and natural habitats at risk. A fire in 2017 destroyed two homes in Rooiels, and in 2019 more than forty homes were lost in nearby Betty’s Bay. Recent fire seasons have reinforced the need for vigilance and preparedness. We need to be mindful of fire risks year-round and act responsibly to protect people, property, wildlife the environment.

Find out how to make firewise decisions in Rooiels on this page.

👉 Read about fires in the Rooiels to Kleinmond area between 1984 and 2019 on Dine van Zyl and Graham McCleland’s website rooielsfynbos.co.za.

👉 The Overberg Fire Protection Association also has lots of great information.

If you see a fire emergency in the village

Call the Overstrand Emergency Control Room on 028 313 8111

Post on the Block Watch WhatsApp group

Latest updates

Check back for updates on this topic.

Being Firewise Every Day
Outdoor fires are not permitted during fire season (typically 1 November – 31 May) or when the Fire Danger Index is yellow, orange, or red.

When you’re finished braaiing, douse the coals with water and dispose of them in your own bin – never on the ground.

Keep your garden clear of dry vegetation and dead wood.

Remove debris from roofs, gutters, and around the property.

Don’t store braai wood near your house walls.

Always be alert to potential fires. If you see something in the village, post on the Block Watch group and contact the Overstrand Emergency Control Room on 028 313 8111.

Further afield, you can dial 107 from a landline of 021 480 7700 to report a wildfire to the City of Cape Town.

Overstrand Municipality Emergency Contact List

Being Prepared For Fire
Ahead of fire season, make sure you’re prepared.

Keep an emergency bag ready for each household member and for pets.

Bottled water and snacks.

Medication and first aid kit.

Keys, security remotes, torch and batteries.

Mobile phone, power bank and charging cable.

Important documents in a waterproof bag.

Cash and cards.

Change of clothes, jacket, blanket, toilet paper and basic toiletries.

Pet carriers, leashes, medication, food and bowls.

Keep your vehicle fuelled and ready to go.

Keep your devices charged.

Check that taps, tanks, pools and other water sources can be connected to hoses.

Leave hoses connected for the duration of fire season.

Join the village WhatsApp groups, and install a wildfire tracker app on your phone.

If There's A Nearby Fire
Fires can move incredibly quickly. If there’s a fire nearby which may threaten Rooiels, be ready to evacuate at short notice.

Make sure that pets and people are all accounted for, and in a safe, indoor location.

Ensure everyone knows the evacuation route and assembly point.

Check if your neighbours need any help.

Pack emergency kits into your vehicle.

Monitor the fire’s status on an app and local alert groups.

If there’s time, protect your home by:

Closing all windows, doors and vents.

Removing curtains from your windows.

Moving gas bottles, flammable outdoor furniture and braai wood to a clearing on your property.

Wetting down the roof, gutters and vegetation near the house.

Shutting off the gas and electricity supply (make sure your vehicle is outside and ready to go first).

If You Need to Evacuate
Follow official instructions from the municipality or fire department.

Assemble in the parking lot on Anemone Road unless advised otherwise.

Don’t impede emergency vehicles.

Firewise In The Garden
Your garden can be a protective buffer rather than a fire hazard.

Remove flammable invasive species (e.g. rooikrans, wattle, pine, gum). These species ignite faster, burn longer and allow fires to spread more quickly.

Plant low-flammability indigenous species closer to the house.

Maintain a 3-metre strip around your house walls with no tall vegetation – use low, indigenous ground covers instead.

Avoid planting dense shrubs under eaves or near wooden structures.

Read more about firewise landscaping and maintenance, including indigenous firewise plant species.

Firewise On The Road Verges

It’s essential that the roads are clear and accessible for emergency vehicles in the event of a fire. In some parts of the village, vegetation encroaches into the roadways, creating a risk that fire engines may not be able to safely pass. The Rooiels Firewise Team (REFT) has consulted with the Overstrand Municipality, RERA, the Conservancy, residents and others to come up with a plan to monitor and address this.

Routine Maintenance

The Rooiels Maintenance Team ensures that small overhanging branches around the village are lightly and selectively trimmed. Given the relatively minor impact, this work will mostly be done as part of the regular maintenance schedule without consulting individual erf owners.

Larger Trees & Branches

The Rooiels Firewise Team will identify larger trees which may obstruct emergency access, and in consultation with the property owner and the Conservancy, will help facilitate the work to trim them back. This work may require the use of professional services. Costs are the responsibility of the property owner.

Building Firewise
If you’re building or renovating your property, making firewise choices is essential. Some top tips include:

Use non-combustible roofing and fire-resistant siding/cladding.

Close off eaves and roof cavities to prevent embers blowing in.

Provide multiple water sources and emergency access routes.

Set the building back from dense vegetation.

Read more on the Building Firewise page.

Vacant Plot Clearing

In 2022, the Overstrand Municipality adopted a new policy under which vacant plot owners could be issued with a notice to reduce all vegetation on their property to a height of 500mm in an effort to reduce fuel loads on unmanaged land. While the policy is intended to address fire risk, it differentiates between fire-adapted indigenous fynbos and highly flammable exotic vegetation only to a limited extent, nor does it take biodiversity considerations into account.

Reducing all vegetation to a standard 500mm may be detrimental to many taller growing indigenous shrubs. In some cases, notices have been misinterpreted to mean complete clearance of all vegetation to ground level, destroying biodiversity, habitats and indigenous fynbos species.

The policy was formally challenged in 2023 by several local organisations such as the Rooiels and Betty’s Bay Conservancies, CapeNature and the Kogelberg Biosphere Company, who submitted a proposal for a special appendix to apply to conservancies in the Overstrand. The municipality agreed to consider a more nuanced approach. No further formal feedback has been issued, although it was indicated that the Overstrand Municipality Environmental Manager could be consulted if there are concerns about an issued notice.

The Rooiels Conservancy will inspect your plot and give you guidance about the best course of action if you are notified that your vacant plot must be cleared. If you receive a plot clearing notice, please:

✔️ DO   Contact the Rooiels Conservancy for advice.

✖️ DON’T  Just call in a contractor to clear the plot.

✖️ DON’T  Ignore the notice.

📄 Read the Firewise Vacant Erven Plot Clearing Policy

📄 Read the proposed Appendix

THE ROOIELS FIREWISE TEAM (REFT)
The Rooiels Firewise Team members are:

Ivan Becker

Riel Buys

Maurice Dobeyn

Mike Lambert

Ralph Pina

Christoph Weichsler

Please email rera@rooiels.org if you have any questions about REFT.

For any fire emergencies, contact the Overstrand Emergency Control Room on 028 313 8111 and post on the Block Watch WhatsApp group.