What is the name and location of the wildfires?
As of January 22, 2026, the Pearly Beach Fire and the Stanford Fire are the two active wildfire incidents impacting the Overstrand Municipality in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
The Pearly Beach Fire is burning along the southern coastline near the village of Pearly Beach, with fire activity extending toward Uilkraalsmond and Bluewater Bay.
The Stanford Fire is situated inland near the town of Stanford, affecting areas such as Witvoetskloof, Byeneskrans, and agricultural land near the R43 corridor.
These fires are occurring within a region characterized by fynbos vegetation, coastal terrain, and proximity to small towns and nature reserves, increasing risks to communities and infrastructure (1).
Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfires?
The cities and areas affected by the Pearly Beach and Stanford Fires include:
- Baardskeerdersbos
- Bluewater Bay
- Elim
- Eluxolweni
- Gansbaai
- Groeneweide
- Panorama
- Pearly Beach
- Stanford
- Standskloof
- Uilkraalsmond
- Voëlklip
What is the current containment status of the wildfires?
As of January 22, 2026, containment efforts for the Stanford Fire is still in progress, while the Pearly Beach Fire is in active containment. The Pearly Beach fire scorched more than 33,000 hectares, while the Stanford fire has affected just over 4,000 hectares across the Overstrand region.
Fire crews have made localized progress through backburning, aerial water drops, and aggressive mop-up operations, particularly along established firebreaks.
However, dense vegetation, shifting winds, and steep terrain continue to contribute to flare-ups and persistent hotspots. Authorities report that while certain fire lines have been temporarily contained, active burning and smoldering areas remain, requiring constant monitoring and continued firefighting operations (3).
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
Evacuation orders and precautionary alerts have been issued for several communities affected by the Pearly Beach and Stanford Fires.
Evacuations were implemented for residents in Eluxolweni, with the Eluxolweni Community Hall opened as an evacuation center. Additional shelters, including facilities at Uilkraalsmond Resort, were made available as a precaution (4)(5).
Residents in areas such as Panorama, Groeneweide, and Standskloof were urged to remain on high alert and be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsened. Emergency services continue to issue real-time alerts and stress compliance with official instructions to ensure public safety (6).
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
