“We Lost Everything Again”: Plettenberg Bay Fire Leaves Families Homeless and Desperate

The smell of smoke still hangs over Qolweni, a small community on the edge of Plettenberg Bay, where yet another fire has reduced homes to ashes. For many residents, this nightmare has become heartbreakingly familiar, it’s the fourth blaze in just six months, and once again, families are left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing when the flames struck.

A Community in Flames, Again

The fire broke out just after midday on Monday in the Bossiesgif section of the settlement, spreading quickly through the tightly packed homes built of wood, zinc, and plastic sheeting. Within minutes, the blaze tore across several blocks, consuming houses, belongings, and a small shop.

By late afternoon, the sky above Plettenberg Bay had turned a heavy shade of grey as firefighters battled the inferno from every direction. Bitou Municipality confirmed emergency services were at the scene, coordinating rescue operations and setting up relief measures.

“At this stage, there is no confirmed information regarding the extent of the damage or any injuries,” municipal officials said, urging residents to stay clear of the area and allow firefighters to work safely.

Tragedy Strikes Twice in One Weekend

The blaze came just two days after another tragedy in Qolweni, a smaller fire that claimed one life early Saturday morning. The remains of a resident were found after the flames were extinguished, deepening the community’s grief.

For locals, the back-to-back disasters have left an emotional scar. “We barely finished rebuilding from the last fire,” said one resident in a WhatsApp voice note shared widely on Monday afternoon. “Now we’re starting from zero again.”

Social Media and Local Heroes Mobilise

As thick plumes of smoke rose over Bossiesgif, neighbourhood WhatsApp groups lit up with videos and warnings. Residents pleaded for help, asking for water buckets, blankets, and shelter. Within hours, volunteers from surrounding areas had begun arriving with supplies.

Among the first to respond was Gift of the Givers, South Africa’s leading humanitarian organisation. The group confirmed it was already on the ground distributing energy drinks to exhausted firefighters and assessing damage.

“Our teams are currently in Bossiesgif, Plettenberg Bay, where a devastating fire is raging and destroying numerous homes,” the organisation said in a statement. “It appears to be the biggest fire the area has ever seen.”

Meanwhile, the Dignity Fund Garden Route launched an emergency appeal for food, blankets, and clothing, urging South Africans to step in and support the displaced families.

The Cycle of Fire and Loss

In the Garden Route region, fires like this have become an almost seasonal tragedy. Communities such as Qolweni and Bossiesgif, informal settlements made up of tightly clustered shacks are especially vulnerable. A single spark from a cooking fire, faulty wire, or candle flame can spread with deadly speed, fanned by the coastal winds.

For residents who’ve rebuilt their homes time and again, frustration and fatigue are growing. “We keep hearing about plans to make our homes safer, but nothing changes,” said a local mother of two. “Every few months, it’s another fire.”

Experts have long warned that the combination of poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and limited access to emergency water supply makes these communities dangerously prone to repeat disasters.

A Plea for Prevention, Not Just Recovery

While the municipality and aid groups are providing short-term relief, locals are calling for more permanent solutions, safer housing, better wiring, and stronger fire prevention systems.

The Bitou Municipality said it is coordinating long-term support and working with provincial agencies to assess how to prevent further incidents. “We urge residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with emergency personnel,” it said.

But for families now sleeping in community halls or with neighbours, those promises feel far away.

As one exhausted resident told a volunteer from Gift of the Givers:

“We don’t need sympathy, we need safety. Because this keeps happening.”

At a Glance: The Plettenberg Bay Fire Crisis

• Fourth major blaze in six months in Qolweni/Bossiesgif

• Dozens of homes destroyed; one life lost in a separate weekend fire

• Gift of the Givers and Dignity Fund mobilised for relief

• Calls grow for long-term fire prevention and safer housing

Plettenberg Bay’s residents are no strangers to disaster, but this time, many say, they’re running out of strength. Until stronger safety measures are put in place, the fires will keep returning and so will the heartbreak.

{Source: IOL}

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