FIRES IN THE ROOIELS TO KLEINMOND AREA 1984 to 2019
35 YEARS OF FYNBOS FIRES IN THE ROOIELS TO KLEINMOND AREA.
Overview
In the below photo, using satellite images of the Rooiels to Kleinmond area taken over the last 35 years, I have layered the 35 years of the areas visible fynbos fires and created an image that shows us where the fynbos fires have burnt. Then, by comparing the shades of red, it is possible to see how many times the fynbos has burnt in any particular area on the image. i.e. the darker the shade of red the more times the fynbos has burnt. Likewise the fewer times the area has burnt the lighter the colour red will be.
I have also included below, all the satellite images from the last 35 years that indicate the fynbos area that has burnt during that specific year. (Please note that the date stamp on the photo is the satellite image date and not the date that the fire occurred)
Also below. is an 85 year old photo of Rooiels that clearly shows that in the year 1938 the Rooiels area was ravaged by a fynbos fire.
In addition, Cape Nature provided some statistics of fynbos fires in the Rooiels area between 1969 & 1980. (Unfortunately, no photos or actual locations were available)
EARLY DAYS IN ROOIELS – 1938
85 year old photo - origin unknown
The earliest aerial photograph that we have of Rooiels is the one below taken in 1938. Although not of the best quality, the photograph clearly shows that a fire in the Kogelberg Mountains had moved right down to the sea, ravaging the Klein Hangklip Mountains in its path of destruction. The fire appears to have stopped on the southern side of the estuary and Rooiels River and to have affected most parts of the area that today is the Rooiels Village.
INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM CAPE NATURE - 1969 to 1980 (No photographs)
The below data was received from Cape Nature and details fynbos fires in the Rooiels area between 1969 and 1980.
1969 SEPTEMBER: Buffelstal Mountain block burn. Blocks A13 & A14 – 2,651 ha
1973 AUGUST: Rooiels area block burn. Block A15 – 1,027 ha1974 OCTOBER: Klein Hangklip – 9 ha
1974 OCTOBER: Klein Hangklip mountains, Rooiels village area & 100 ha reserve (Block A16) – 538 ha
1975 NOVEMBER: Above Blousteen – 3 ha
1980 FEBRUARY: Coastal Reserve near Rooiels – 4 ha
SATELLITE IMAGES DETAILING FYNBOS FIRES BETWEEN 1984 and 2019
The below SATELLITE IMAGES indicate Fynbos fires between Rooiels and Kleinmond.
I have been able to indicate all the visible Rooiels to Kleinmond fynbos fires between 1984 and 2019 on the following satellite images. The reddish shades indicate the areas that burnt in the months prior to the date on the satellite image . There may be a few small discrepancies with regard to the areas burnt by the fynbos fires due to the sometimes poor quality of the satellite images received. Should any major errors be noted please contact me using the "Message" facility of the website.
1984 December satellite image (1982 to 1984, month unknown) – Pringle Bay to Rooiels including Buffelstal dam.
1986 (between Dec 1985 & Dec 1986) – Small section of the Kogelberg Reserve behind Betty's Bay.
1988 (between Dec 1987 & Dec 1988) – Fires in the Kogelberg behind Kleinmond.
1990 (between Dec 1989 & Dec 1990) – Fires in the Kogelberg behind Kleinmond.
1991 (between Dec 1990 & Dec 1991) – Fire in the Kogelberg Reserve from Betty's Bay to Rooiels and beyond towards Kogel Bay.
1991 (between Dec 1990 & Dec 1991) – Fire between Betty's Bay and Pringle Bay on the western side of the R44.
1992 (between Dec 1991 & Dec 1992) – Fire between Sea Farm and Pringle Bay village
1997 (month unknown) - Rooiels Nature Reserve was burnt.
1998 (between Dec 1997 & Dec 1998) – Betty's Bay to Pringle Bay.
2000 (between Dec 1999 & Dec 2000) – Kogelberg Biosphere from Rooiels to Kleinmond.
2004 (between Dec 2003 & Dec 2004) – Pringle Bay to Rooiels coastal mountain range.
2004 (between Dec 2003 & Dec 2004) – Platberg inside Kogelberg Biosphere.
2006 (between Dec 2005 & Dec 2006) – Pringle Bay to Rooiels including Kogelberg Biosphere.
2006 (between Dec 2005 & Dec 2006) – River valley behind Platberg in the Kogelberg Biosphere.
2007 (between Dec 2006 & Dec 2007) – Sea Farm in the Pringle Bay area.
2008 (between Dec 2007 & Dec 2008) – Betty's Bay mountain slope to Harold Porter.
2008 (between Dec 2007 & Dec 2008) – Betty's Bay, Voorberg to Buffelstal Dam.
2009 (between Dec 2008 & Dec 2009) – Pringle Bay, north of beach area.
2010 (between Dec 2009 & Dec 2010) – Kleinmond area.
2011 (between Dec 2010 & Dec 2011) – Kogelberg Biosphere between Kleinmond, Rooiels & to the north.
2013 (between Dec 2012 & Dec 2013) – Pringle Bay small holdings.
2014 (between Dec 2013 & Dec 2014) – Fynbos round the Rooiels Vodacom Tower.