Forest Fire (5937 ha) in South Africa 20 Feb 2025

Event summary

Forest fire can have a low humanitarian impact based on the burned area and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID WF 1023530
Countries: South Africa
Start Date - Last detection*: 20 Feb 2025 - 27 Feb 2025
Duration (days): 7
People affected: 348 in the burned area
Burned area: 5937 ha
More Info: Global Wildfire Information System

*(Last detection of the thermal anomaly of the fire)

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South Africa - Wildfires (ECHO 25 Feb 2025)Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:54

  • Since February, wildforest fires fuelled by strong winds have affected the Western Cape province, particularly the Western Cape wine geographical unit, resulting in evacuations and damage. The fires started on Oaklands farm above the town of Wellington, about 75 km north-east of Cape Town.
  • According to media, two cottages have been evacuated, one house and two hangars have been destroyed as well as several hectares of crops.
  • Firefighters are still battling to control raging fires in the area.
  • For the next 48 hours, according to the JRC Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), the fire danger forecast is from high to extreme over the interested region. 
Detailed event map. European Union, 2025. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

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For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: (2), EC-JRC (28), WMO (1), INFORM (2), JRC (1),