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Fire in City of Cape Town
Fire in the twelve months to October 2026: 656 fire detections seen from space; 1,318 ha burnt in the 7 of those months with burnt area out. The most since 2012: 2015, 1,291.
Two readings from space. Fire detections are hot spots a VIIRS satellite saw as it passed, each about 375 m across, counted where they fall in the place: a big fire gives many, a short one between passes none. Burnt area is the ground that looks burnt afterwards, from Sentinel-3 at 300 m, in hectares. Neither is a fire report from the ground.
The last twelve months
- 656Fire detectionsNovember 2025 to October 2026
- 1,318 haBurnt7 of the twelve months; the rest not out yet
Show the numbers
| When or what | Figure |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | 133 fire detections |
| December 2025 | 134 fire detections |
| January 2026 | 144 fire detections |
| February 2026 | 47 fire detections |
| March 2026 | 84 fire detections |
| April 2026 | 24 fire detections |
| May 2026 | 3 fire detections |
| June 2026 | 2 fire detections |
| July 2026 | 5 fire detections |
| August 2026 | 27 fire detections |
| September 2026 | 30 fire detections |
| October 2026 | 23 fire detections |
| November 2025 | 119 ha burnt (0.049% of the place) |
| December 2025 | 357 ha burnt (0.15% of the place) |
| January 2026 | 212 ha burnt (0.087% of the place) |
| February 2026 | 19 ha burnt (0.008% of the place) |
| March 2026 | 475 ha burnt (0.19% of the place) |
| April 2026 | 136 ha burnt (0.056% of the place) |
| May 2026 | 0.0 ha burnt (0.000% of the place) |
| June 2026 | not out yet |
| July 2026 | not out yet |
| August 2026 | not out yet |
| September 2026 | not out yet |
| October 2026 | not out yet |
| Month | Detections | Nominal or high confidence | NOAA-20 (second reading) | Burnt | Share of the place | Land seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 23 | 23 | 27 | not out yet | · | · |
| September 2026 | 30 | 30 | 40 | not out yet | · | · |
| August 2026 | 27 | 27 | 27 | not out yet | · | · |
| July 2026 | 5 | 5 | 0 | not out yet | · | · |
| June 2026 | 2 | 2 | 6 | not out yet | · | · |
| May 2026 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0.0 ha | 0.000% | 99% |
| April 2026 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 136 ha | 0.056% | 98% |
| March 2026 | 84 | 79 | 98 | 475 ha | 0.19% | 98% |
| February 2026 | 47 | 43 | 51 | 19 ha | 0.008% | 98% |
| January 2026 | 144 | 120 | 140 | 212 ha | 0.087% | 98% |
| December 2025 | 134 | 104 | 166 | 357 ha | 0.15% | 98% |
| November 2025 | 133 | 113 | 114 | 119 ha | 0.049% | 98% |
NOAA-20 carries the same instrument as S-NPP and passes about 50 minutes apart, so its count is a second reading of the same fires, not extra fires. “Land seen” is the share of the place’s land the burnt-area product saw often enough that month to tell.
The worst years
- 20151,291 fire detections, most in March 2015
- 20171,254 fire detections, most in January 2017
- 2023871 fire detections, most in December 2023; 2,873 ha burnt
By hectares burnt (whole years from 2019): 2025, 6,171 ha (2.5% of the place); 2022, 3,160 ha (1.3% of the place); 2023, 2,873 ha (1.2% of the place).
Every year since 2012
| Year | Fire detections | Burnt | Share of the place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (10 months) | 389 | 5 months out | · |
| 2025 | 827 | 6,171 ha | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 595 | 2,088 ha | 0.85% |
| 2023 | 871 | 2,873 ha | 1.2% |
| 2022 | 459 | 3,160 ha | 1.3% |
| 2021 | 438 | 2,189 ha | 0.89% |
| 2020 | 345 | 588 ha | 0.24% |
| 2019 | 344 | 2,138 ha | 0.88% |
| 2018 | 524 | 6 months out | · |
| 2017 | 1,254 | · | · |
| 2016 | 565 | · | · |
| 2015 | 1,291 | · | · |
| 2014 | 347 | · | · |
| 2013 | 413 | · | · |
| 2012 (11 months) | 360 | · | · |
Detections from February 2012 (S-NPP); burnt area from July 2018, so whole years of it from 2019. A larger place’s figures are the sums of its 2026 wards.
Each ward
- Ward 1 (Baronetcy Estate, De Duin)
- Ward 2 (Parow, Avondale)
- Ward 3 (Belgravia, Bellair)
- Ward 4 (Joe Slovo Park, Marconi Beam)
- Ward 5 (Bothasig, Edgemead)
- Ward 6 (Wallacedene, Scottsdene)
- Ward 7 (Arauna, Northpine)
- Ward 8 (Brackenfell)
- Ward 9 (Bellville South, Glenhaven)
- Ward 10 (Hardekraaltjie, Klipkop)
- Ward 11 (Kuilsrivier, Amandelrug)
- Ward 12 (Roosendal)
- Ward 13 (Atlas Gardens Business Park, Burgundy Estate)
- Ward 14 (Blackheath, Gaylee)
- Ward 15 (Briza, Die Wingerd)
- Ward 16 (Eersterivier, Eersterivier Suid)
- Ward 17 (Blue Downs, Dennemere)
- Ward 18 (Mxolisi Phetani (Site C), Mandalay)
- Ward 19 (Alora, Camelot)
- Ward 20 (Delft, The Hague)
- Ward 21 (Bellville, Amanda Glen)
- Ward 22 (Belhar)
- Ward 23 (Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand)
- Ward 24 (Delft South)
- Ward 25 (Elsiesriver, Cravenby)
- Ward 26 (Beaconvale, Glenlily)
- Ward 27 (Acacia Park, Glenwood)
- Ward 28 (Epping Forest, Goodrail)
- Ward 29 (Avondale, Wesfleur)
- Ward 30 (Manenberg)
- Ward 31 (Boquinar Industrial Area, Kalksteenfontein)
- Ward 32 (Atlantis, Beacon Hill)
- Ward 33 (Sweet Home)
- Ward 34 (New Crossroads, Philippi)
- Ward 35 (Klipfontein)
- Ward 36 (Crossroads)
- Ward 37 (New Crossroads)
- Ward 38 (Nyanga)
- Ward 39 (Guguletu)
- Ward 40 (Barcelona, Europe)
- Ward 41 (Guguletu, Manenberg)
- Ward 42 (Bishop Lavis, Matroosfontein)
- Ward 43 (Philippi - Farmland)
- Ward 44 (Heideveld, Vanguard)
- Ward 45 (Capricorn, Marina Da Gama)
- Ward 46 (Gatesville, Hatton)
- Ward 47 (Hanover Park, Newfields)
- Ward 48 (Athlone, Belgravia)
- Ward 49 (Bridgetown, Hazendal)
- Ward 50 (Bonteheuwel)
- Ward 51 (Langa)
- Ward 52 (Langa, Bridgetown)
- Ward 53 (Maitland Garden Village, Ndabeni)
- Ward 54 (Bakoven, Bantry Bay)
- Ward 55 (Milnerton, Brooklyn)
- Ward 56 (Kensington, Maitland)
- Ward 57 (Mowbray, Rondebosch)
- Ward 58 (Wyndover, Harfield Village)
- Ward 59 (Claremont, Kenilworth)
- Ward 60 (Crawford, Lansdowne)
- Ward 61 (Simon's Town, Da Gama Park)
- Ward 62 (Belle Ombre, Bishopscourt)
- Ward 63 (Diep River, Plumstead)
- Ward 64 (Fish Hoek, Kalkbaai)
- Ward 65 (Parkwood)
- Ward 66 (Ottery, Wetton)
- Ward 67 (Grassy Park, Lotus River)
- Ward 68 (Lavender Hill, Square Hill)
- Ward 69 (Capri, Noordhoek)
- Ward 70 (Blomvlei, De Bron)
- Ward 71 (Dennendal, Fir Grove)
- Ward 72 (Elfindale, Heathfield)
- Ward 73 (Bergvliet, Deurdrif)
- Ward 74 (Hout Bay, Harbour Heights)
- Ward 75 (Westgate, Westridge)
- Ward 76 (Lentegeur, Mandalay)
- Ward 77 (Bo-Kaap (Schotschekloof), Gardens)
- Ward 78 (Colorado Park, New Woodlands)
- Ward 79 (Rocklands)
- Ward 80 (Philippi)
- Ward 81 (Mitchells Plain, Portland)
- Ward 82 (Tafelsig)
- Ward 83 (Strand, Die Vlakte)
- Ward 84 (Somerset West, Audas Estate)
- Ward 85 (Die Bos, Rusthof)
- Ward 86 (Nomzamo, Broadlands Village)
- Ward 87 (Mxolisi Phetani (Site C))
- Ward 88 (New Woodlands, Crossroads)
- Ward 89 (Nonqubela (Site B))
- Ward 90 (Bellaire, Firgrove)
- Ward 91 (Victoria Mxenge (Site B))
- Ward 92 (Observatory, Salt River)
- Ward 93 (Barnet Molokwana Corner, Sabata Dalindyebo Square (Green Point))
- Ward 94 (Khayelitsha, Ekuphumuleni)
- Ward 95 (Enkanini, Kuyasa)
- Ward 96 (Umrhabulo Triangle (Makhaza))
- Ward 97 (Mandela Park (Makaya))
- Ward 98 (Harare, Ilitha Park)
- Ward 99 (Endlovini, Good Hope)
- Ward 100 (Casablanca, Gordon's Bay)
- Ward 101 (Kraaifontein East, Wallacedene)
- Ward 102 (Bonnie Brae, Joostenbergvlakte)
- Ward 103 (De Tuin, Langeberg Ridge)
- Ward 104 (Du Noon, Racing Park)
- Ward 105 (Bergsig, Durmonte)
- Ward 106 (Eindhoven, Voorbrug)
- Ward 107 (Blouberg Rise, Bloubergrant)
- Ward 108 (Brentwood Park, Silversands)
- Ward 109 (Macassar, Sandvlei)
- Ward 110 (Cafda Village)
- Ward 111 (Kraaifontein, Belmont Park)
- Ward 112 (Durbanville, Aurora)
- Ward 113 (Flamingo Vlei, Killarney Gardens)
- Ward 114 (Mfuleni)
- Ward 115 (Cape Town, City Centre)
- Ward 116 (Eastridge)
- Ward 117 (Blouberg, Wentworth Village)
- Ward 118 (Electric City)
Places in each ward: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Everything we hold for City of Cape Town, on one page
Source
Seen from space by American and European satellites: not fires reported on the ground.
How we worked this out
What we changed: we counted FIRMS’s detections (presumed vegetation fires only) by the 2026 ward their position falls in, and summed CLMS’s burned fraction times each pixel’s area over each ward; municipalities, districts and provinces are the sums of their wards.
Fire detections: we acknowledge the use of data and/or imagery from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), part of NASA’s LANCE (VIIRS 375 m, S-NPP and NOAA-20). Burnt area: generated using European Union’s Copernicus Land Monitoring Service information (Burnt Area 300 m version 4, DOI 10.2909/8fa58061-28ab-49bb-9b77-c26b50733e34), modified; this does not mean the European Union endorses us.
Dataset: burnt area and fire, release of 12 November 2026.