Frontier Fire Assist

11/05/2026

The strong winds our crews battled against while fighting today’s fire — thankfully the blaze has been extinguished, but the wind is still gusting hard across Makhanda tonight.

Conditions like these are exactly why vegetation fires can become dangerous so quickly.

11/05/2026

Frontier Fire Assist | Fire Response – 11 May 2026

Just before midday today our Makhanda crew responded to a fast-moving vegetation fire on the outskirts of Makhanda. Extremely windy conditions created dangerous and challenging circumstances, with nearby homes and structures quickly becoming the main priority while crews worked to contain the fire line before conditions worsened further.

Additional Makhanda crew members later joined the operation alongside our Port Alfred crew, with teams working together well into the evening to battle the blaze.

After several hours on scene, the fire was successfully brought under control and extinguished.

Incidents like these are a reminder of just how quickly conditions can change when strong winds are involved, and how important coordinated teamwork and rapid response are in protecting both property and surrounding areas.

We are incredibly grateful to every crew member who responded and assisted under difficult conditions. Thankfully, all crews returned safely with no injuries reported.

11/05/2026

Frontier Fire Assist Port Alfred | Search & Rescue

This morning our team responded to a different kind of call — assisting in the search for an individual following a structural fire.

Calls like these are always deeply difficult for our crews. They are moments filled with urgency, uncertainty, and hope for a positive outcome.

Sadly, this was not the outcome anyone had hoped for. The matter was handed over to SAPS.

Our sincere condolences are with the family, loved ones, and all those affected during this heartbreaking time.

07/05/2026

Port Alfred FFA Team News | Standing Together in Difficult Times

The last 72 hours have caused severe upheaval across our province, leaving many communities in need of assistance.

Yesterday, our Port Alfred team of dedicated volunteers answered the call and headed out to assist with mop-up operations and support where it was needed most.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible team for your dedication, willingness to serve, and commitment to helping others during difficult times. Your efforts truly make a difference. 🚒❤️

04/05/2026

International Firefighters’ Day

Today we honour the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of those who run toward danger when others must run away.

On International Firefighters’ Day, Frontier Fire Assist extends our deepest gratitude to our incredible volunteers — the men and women who stand strong in the face of fire, who answer the call without hesitation, and who show up for their communities in moments of greatest need. Your bravery and selflessness do not go unnoticed. You are the heartbeat of what we do.

To our donors — thank you for believing in our mission. Your support makes it possible for us to equip, train, and stand ready. You are an essential part of every life touched, every fire fought, and every moment of hope restored.

Today, and every day, we honour you all. 🔥

01/05/2026

Training for the moments that matter most 🔥

At Frontier Fire Assist, readiness isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Our teams regularly undergo live fire training in full kit, ensuring they are not only physically prepared, but mentally sharp and confident under real pressure. These drills simulate the intensity, unpredictability, and heat of real-life fire scenarios — because when the call comes, there’s no room for hesitation.

From handling high-risk fuel fires to perfecting coordinated response techniques, every training session is about building skill, trust, and resilience.

🔥 Full gear.
🔥 Real flames.
🔥 Real preparation.

We train hard so that when it matters most, we respond with precision, professionalism, and purpose.

17/03/2026

Big News! Frontier Fire Assist Expands to Port Alfred

There are moments when a community steps forward—and something powerful begins.

We’re incredibly proud to share that Frontier Fire Assist is expanding, with the establishment of a satellite unit in Port Alfred. What started in Grahamstown is growing into something bigger than us—driven by people willing to stand up, step in, and serve.

Our first intake of eight trainee volunteers has already begun their wildfire training journey, putting in the hours on the ground and preparing for the realities of the fireline.

To our new volunteers—welcome to the Frontier Fire Assist family.

You didn’t have to raise your hand… but you did. You chose courage. You chose service. You chose to stand between danger and your community. That choice matters. And we are proud to stand beside you.

This milestone has been shaped by true collaboration. Our sincere thanks to the Disaster Management pupils from Stenden South Africa, who, alongside Working on Fire teams, built fire beaters as part of their practical training. These have been generously donated and will play a vital role in equipping our Port Alfred crew.

To the Port Alfred community—thank you. Your support, your belief, and your willingness to come together are what make this possible. This is what resilience looks like.

We look forward to working closely with LifeFirst and other local role players as we build, train, and strengthen wildfire preparedness in the region—together.

If you feel the call to be part of something bigger, to serve, to protect, to stand—join us.

29/01/2026

Thank you so much to the Sarah Baartman East FPA for this incredibly generous donation and for your continued support of Frontier Fire Assist. We are truly grateful for the partnership we’ve shared over the past two years, and these firefighting blowers will make a meaningful difference in helping us serve our community more effectively.

A special thank you to Mervyn Sauls for the handover.

The Sarah Baartman East FPA (SBEFPA) has been assisted by the FFA (Frontier Fire Assist) volunteer group, who work with the Makana Fire Department, for the past two years.

As a token of thanks for all their volunteer work, the SBEFPA have donated two firefighting blowers to the FFA to help them keep up the good work.

The SBEFPA's FPO, Mervyn Sauls, handed over the blowers on behalf of the FPA.

25/01/2026

A glimpse at the severity of the fire we responded to yesterday. 🔥

25/01/2026

Makhanda Fire 🔥

Well done to our incredible team of volunteers who stepped away from other commitments to urgently respond to this fire. Conditions were tough and challenging, but as always, you made it work with courage, teamwork and determination.

Thank you for serving our community — and its furry four-legged friends — with such heart. 🐾❤️🔥