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Volunteer Wildfire Services

@vwsfires

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The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) assists in suppressive and prescribed wildland firefighting efforts
Call 112 (cell) to report wildfires 🔥

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WILDFIRE WEATHER WARNING

The Western Cape is set to experience very hot conditions across the province this weekend, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires. With multiple ongoing multi-day fires, we urgently appeal to the public to be extra vigilant and responsible.

Many wildfires are anthropogenic — meaning they are caused by human activity, often unintentionally.

Common causes include:
🔥Open or uncontrolled braais
🔥Poorly extinguished campfires
🔥Discarded cigarette butts thrown from vehicles
🔥Glass bottles left in the veld that can magnify sunlight
🔥Hot vehicle exhausts or brakes in dry vegetation
🔥Curious children playing with fire just to see fire engines arrive

SEE SMOKE? SAY SOMETHING.

Do not assume someone else has reported it. Immediately call the emergency numbers in your area to report smoke or fire.

Your awareness and quick action can make a real difference in protecting lives, homes, and our natural environment.

Please share this message and help us keep the Western Cape safe this weekend. by @vwsfires

When a wildfire breaks out, many people immediately assume arson. While intentional fire-setting does occur, it is not the only cause of wildfires in the Western Cape.

Our climate, mountains, and fire-adapted landscapes mean fires can start in several ways:

☀️ Hot weather & heatwaves dry out vegetation, making it easier to ignite.
🌩 Dry lightning can start fires in remote and mountainous areas.
💨 Strong winds & low humidity rapidly increase fire danger.
🌱 Fynbos & terrain burn easily during dry periods, especially on steep slopes.
🪨 Rockfall & friction in mountainous areas can create sparks that ignite dry vegetation.

⛺Anthropogenic (human-caused) fires are often accidental. These include discarded glass bottles that magnify sunlight, hot vehicle exhausts or brakes, powerline faults, uncontrolled braais, poorly extinguished campfires, and curious children playing with fire during school holidays.

🔥 Escaped fires, such as prescribed or agricultural burns, can also spread due to sudden weather changes.

👨‍🚒 Arson does happen, but determining a fire’s cause takes time, investigation once it is safe to do so, and evidence.

📣 Why this matters
Jumping to conclusions spreads misinformation. Awareness, preparedness, and responsible behaviour are what truly reduce wildfire risk.

Understanding both natural and anthropogenic fire causes helps protect lives, animals, property, and the firefighters on the front lines.

Let’s stay informed, not reactive. by @vwsfires

You can support Volunteer Wildfire Services every time you shop at Woolworths, at no extra cost to you.

Through the MyDifference programme, Woolworths donates monthly to the cause you choose — and during fire season, this support really matters. These funds help us cover fuel for call-outs, maintain our vehicles, and replace essential PPE and tools so our crews can stay safe and operational on the fireline.

All you need to do is join MyDifference on the Woolies App, select Volunteer Wildfire Services as your cause, and remember to scan your barcode when you shop. From there, Woolworths donates on your behalf.

It’s smart. It’s free. by @vwsfires

The 2026/27 fire season is upon us, and it’s shaping up to be a busy one! 🔥

With forecasts pointing towards a potentially record-breaking Super El Niño, and the hotter, drier conditions that may come with it, we’re preparing for a challenging summer.

Our volunteers have spent the past few months putting in the hours. From physical fitness and fireline training to incident management, logistics and operational readiness, there’s been plenty happening behind the scenes. And while the season is only just beginning, our crews have already been called out to a few fires.

As we head into the warmer months, we’re asking everyone to stay vigilant, report fires early and take extra care when enjoying our beautiful outdoor spaces.

We’re ready to do our part. Help us by doing yours!

📸 @royashleyyyy

#VolunteerWildfireServices #VWS #WildfireSeason #wildfireawareness

R300 000 towards protecting our mountains! ❤️🔥

A massive thank you to the @tablemountainca Table Mountain Aerial Cableway for their incredible donation of R300 000 to Volunteer Wildfire Services, raised through their annual charity golf day.

As a volunteer organisation, we’re incredibly grateful for the businesses and communities that continue to support the work we do. Contributions like these help us equip, train and prepare our volunteers to respond when they’re needed most.

Thank you to the entire Table Mountain Aerial Cableway team, the golfers, sponsors and everyone who played a part in making this possible.

We’re proud to have your support as we head into another fire season!

#VolunteerWildfireServices #VWS #TableMountainAerialCableway #CommunitySupport

Another year of VWS, and another year made possible by the people behind the yellow shirts.

We recently held our Annual General Meeting, taking the opportunity to reflect on the past year, the challenges we’ve faced, what we’ve achieved together and where we’re heading as an organisation.

There is a tremendous amount of work that goes into keeping a volunteer organisation like VWS running. Much of it happens away from the fireline, through planning, administration, fundraising, training and countless hours volunteered behind the scenes. by @vwsfires

Crew Responding 🔥Franchoek Area🔥 VWS has dispatched a crew to work throughout the night assisting our partners @winelandsfpa

Safe out, Safe Home.

#vws #firefighter #capetown #franchoek #wildfire by @vwsfires

🚨 VWS OPEN DAY 2026 IS HERE! 🚨 On Saturday, 28 November, we’re opening the gates at Newlands Fire Base and inviting you into the world of fighting wildfires. 🔥🚒

Come meet our crews, climb aboard the fire trucks, tackle the obstacle course and use our tools, try your hand at abseiling, see a real helicopter water drop and get ready for a full day of firefighting action, family fun and a few surprises along the way.

And yes, the famous Open Day bubble and water party is back. 💦

📍 Newlands Forest 📅 Saturday, 28 November 2026 ⏰ 09:00–16:00 🎟️ Adults R55 | Kids FREE

Open Day is one of our biggest fundraising events of the year, helping us raise the funds we need to keep our volunteer crews trained, equipped and ready to respond when the call comes.
Bring the family. Meet the people behind the yellow shirts. See what it takes to fight wildfires.

🎟️ Tickets are live now. Grab yours via the link in our bio.

#VWSOpenDay #VolunteerWildfireServices #VWS #CapeTown #NewlandsForest Firefighters by @vwsfires

What a weekend in George. 🔥💪

A huge congratulations to every VWS competitor who took on the Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge this past weekend. The work that goes into preparing for an event like this happens long before competition day, and we’re incredibly proud of the grit, discipline and team spirit shown by everyone who stepped up to compete.

And the results speak for themselves: 12 medals for VWS. 🏅

Thank you to the organisers and officials who put together another incredible event, and to every competitor who pushed the standard higher throughout the weekend.

We also couldn’t have done it without the support of our sponsors, who helped get our teams to George, fuelled, prepared and ready to compete:

CBS Innovations
Revive
The Fire Engine Company
Elite Chiropractic Stellies
Vlocity Communications

Thank you for backing our volunteers and helping us represent VWS on the national stage.

Proud of this team. Now back to work. 🔥 by @vwsfires

Two of VWS’s own competing in the Individual 45-49 Age category run at Toughest Firefigher Alive Challenge in George this weekend - Nathan Heyns and Dawood Hess. Show ‘em how it’s done 🔥🔥

Special thanks to @thefireenginecompany for sponsoring our bunker gear for the competition 👨‍🚒👨‍🚒#vws #volunteerwildfireservices #toughestfirefighteralive by @vwsfires

This weekend, our teams are heading to George to take on the Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge. 🔥💪

The event is designed to test strength, endurance, speed and grit, and our crews have been putting in the work for weeks to make sure they’re ready for it.

From early mornings and hard training sessions to pushing through tired legs, heavy kit and one more rep, the preparation has been intense. We’re incredibly proud of the commitment, discipline and team spirit they’ve shown getting to this point.

Now it’s time to put all that training to the test.

Good luck to every VWS volunteer competing this weekend. Give it everything, back each other all the way, and enjoy the challenge.

George, we’re coming for you. 🔥

#VWS #VolunteerWildfireServices #ToughestFirefighterAlive #TFA #FirefighterFitness TeamVWS by @vwsfires

Crew Responding: 🔥 Hout Bay Area 🔥

VWS has dispatched a crew to a fire in the Hout Bay Area to assist our partners @sanparkstablemountain

We urge all residents near the wildfire to follow requests from emergency personnel, and to avoid hiking or cycling in the area near to the fire.

All the best to the crews out there today 🔥

Safe Out, Safe Home.

#volunteerwildfireservices #vws #firefighter #capetown by @vwsfires

Our heritage is in the landscapes we call home.

The mountains, the fynbos, the forests and the wild spaces that shape so much of who we are.

At VWS, protecting those places is part of the job. So that they are still here to be explored, enjoyed and passed on.

This Heritage Day, we celebrate the landscapes worth protecting and the people who stand up for them. 🇿🇦🔥

#HeritageDay #VWS #VolunteerWildfireServices #ProtectOurHeritage

📸: @patrickryanimages by @vwsfires

Crews Responding 🔥 Grabouw Area 🔥

VWS has dispatched crews to assist our partners @capenature through the night.

As fire season approaches, please remain vigilant and assist by reporting fires in your area.

Safe out, Safe Home.

#vws #capetown #wildfires #firefighter by @vwsfires