Swift Action Stops Fire in its tracks

Thabazimbi – What started as a blaze on Warmbad Road, near Obaro and en route to Marakele National Park, quickly turned into one of the biggest fires the area has seen this season. Thanks to the rapid teamwork of local emergency services, the flames were contained before they could spread.

On Wednesday, 20 August 2025, at around 14:00, emergency teams were alerted to a fire on Eskom’s property along Warmbad Road. Crews from Thaba Fire & Rescue, Wildmed Emergency Services, Thabazimbi Local Municipality (TLM)’s Waterberg District Fire Brigade, and Northam Platinum’s Fire & Rescue rushed to the scene. After nearly four hours of hard work, the fire was fully extinguished by 17:50.

“We were fortunate to stop the flames before they reached the buildings. No injuries or losses were reported,” confirmed Pierre Loots, director of Thaba Fire & Rescue.

Loots further appealed to the community: “Please report any fire — no matter how small — immediately. With the ongoing drought, extreme heat, and strong winds, a small spark can become a major wildfire in minutes.”

While smaller fires have been reported in recent weeks, this incident stood out as the most serious. Authorities continue to urge residents to stay vigilant during this dry season.

Main photo: Firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control.