Wildfire in Oudtshoorn area, provincial dam level update

A wildfire is currently active in the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipal area, near the Raubenheimer dam. The wildfire was reported at around 13h25 yesterday.

The difficult terrain makes firefighting efforts more tricky but resources are on the ground and are currently being supported by several aircraft doing water bombings.

Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, says the current fires will not affect the quality of the drinking water for Oudtshoorn.

“The Raubenheimer dam is the major source for drinking water for Oudtshoorn. The Oudtshoorn technical team says the fire is mostly below the catchment area and not considered to be a threat to the water supply.”

No structural damages have been reported to date. The George Municipality has also joined the fire fighting efforts, sending reinforcements earlier today.

Dam levels

The latest average dam level for dams in the Western Cape is 49.4% (2020: 37.8%) while the latest average level for dams providing water to the City of Cape Town, is 68.6% (2020: 55.2%).

Major Dam statistics

Voëlvlei dam – 60.7% full this week (2020: 52.6%. Last week: 62.2%)

Bergriver Dam 70.5% full this week (2020: 66.6%. Last week: 71.5%).

Theewaterskloof dam – 73.3% full this week (2020: 51.4%. Last week: 74.3%)

Garden Route dam – 100% full this week (2020: 91%. Last Week: 100%)

Clanwilliam Dam 17.2%. (2020: 6.7%. Last week: 20.3%)