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.