"We Need Civilian Firefighters": Timelapse Video of How Mossel Bay Fire Started to Hellish Aftermath
- Mossel Bay residents are grappling with a devastating fire, leaving homes destroyed and families displaced
- A TikTok video captures the fire's destruction, igniting community prayers and support for affected families
- Calls for improved wildfire preparedness and community action emerge online in response to the tragedy
As the country eases out of the festive season and tries to regain its footing, Mossel Bay residents are forced to pick up the pieces after a devastating fire tore through parts of the town on the 5th of January 2025, leaving homes destroyed and families displaced.
Source: TikTok
A TikTok time-lapse showing the devastating fire from its beginnings to the hellish aftermath has left Mzansi shocked.
The clip, shared by user @leanne.viljoen, begins showing smoke rising in the distance. Within moments, adverse weather conditions, including gale-force winds, contributed to the dramatic spread of the flames into the night, engulfing houses and vehicles in a matter of hours.
The TikTokker @leanne.viljoen used the post to thank the firefighters who battled the flames and the community members who opened their homes to families left without shelter.
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The video also sparked discussions about how preventable the fire might have been and the urgent need for better preparedness, as fires in the Western Cape are an every-year occurrence.
Watch the TikTok video below:
Messages of support flood in for Mossel Bay residents
TikTok responded, with South Africans from various corners of the country expressing prayers and messages of support to everyone affected, with many shocked by the scale of the destruction and moved by the bravery of those who risked everything to help others.
@S.K.Y.L.A.H🍒 shared:
“George is praying for you guys, we hope everyone is safe and healthy and that nobody got hurt from that fire. May God be with you and protect those who lost their homes. ❤️🩹✝️”
@The Big K commented:
“I hope the people in Mossel Bay are alright. 🙏”
@God,s own added:
“Praying for you all.🔥📖🙏🙌”
@Miss A wrote:
“So sad. You are in our prayers 🙏 from Cape Town. Mossel Bay is the place to be every year 🙏 😢”
@internationalstrategy commented:
“The world needs trained reserve civilian firefighters. 100s and thousands. We also need to create artificial water holding places every few blocks with a powerful pump and hose. It's going to get hotter every year. This is not a time to be funding wars. We must have funds for natural disasters and recovery. We must also invest in large scale carbon removal.”
@sizwe_13 wrote:
“Awww, so sorry for what the people of Mossel Bay had to endure especially just after the festive season. You are in my prayers.”
@MyMilah said:
“People driving cars throwing burning cigarettes out their windows, it infuriates me! If you witness it, please hoot, flash your lights at them. Do something, and if you are one of them, reading this, then stop!”
Source: TikTok
3 Briefly News Mossel Bay fire-related articles
- In another article, Briefly News reported that a wildfire ravaged Mossel Bay, leaving ten homes lost and families displaced in chaos.
- A video showing the Mossel Bay fire closing in on homes startled Mzansi, with residents urged to pray for miracle rain.
- The Mossel Bay fire destroyed homes and cars, and social media called for the spirit of Ubuntu to help those who lost everything.
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Source: Briefly News
