With Botswana’s fire season officially underway, Chobe District has recorded four bushfire incidents between 13 and 15 June this year. The country’s fire season runs from May to November, a period when most of the vegetation dries out, creating highly combustible conditions.
According to the district’s Senior Forest and Range Resources Officer, Seanneng Kenyaditswe, the first incident occurred in Mabele village on 13 June 2026, while three other outbreaks were recorded in Pandamatenga between 14 and 15 June 2026.
Kenyaditswe confirmed that the bushfires have since been brought under control following coordinated suppression efforts. He revealed that no loss of human life, livestock, or property damage was recorded.
He indicated that bushfires in the district are usually human-induced, often caused by farmers engaging in agricultural practices such as burning crop stubble, clearing land, and managing firebreaks.
In an effort to sensitise community members about veld fires, Kenyaditswe said his office conducts Kgotla meetings to equip the public with actionable prevention strategies.
He advised members of the public to construct firebreaks to reduce the spread and intensity of any veld fires that might enter their properties. He also encouraged the public to report outbreaks early, allowing emergency responders to contain fires while they are still small.
Kenyaditswe further urged the public to remain vigilant, citing that fuel loads are at their peak due to recent rainfall, creating highly volatile conditions for veld fires.
Meanwhile, the Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR) issued a statement this week announcing the official commencement of the national fire season.
According to the DFRR, satellite monitoring has detected multiple ignitions across the Chobe, Central, North East, Southern, and Kgalagadi districts, confirming widespread fire activity.
Several outbreaks have been reported since the beginning of May 2026. While some were contained on the same day—largely because green vegetation reduced the initial fuel load and eased suppression efforts—others remain active and are under close surveillance.
Providing an update on the current situation, the department stated that other affected areas include Jwaneng Township, where a fire incident was reported on 13 June 2026, roughly 15 kilometres from Jwaneng and 5 kilometres from Kaduwe. That fire was successfully contained the same night using direct attack methods. Another incident was recorded in the Mabutsane area, where satellite imagery detected a fresh ignition.
As part of further interventions, prescribed burning operations are underway in collaboration with the department’s partners to safeguard vulnerable regions from seasonal harm. Prescribed burning will be employed extensively throughout the districts to ensure fires are effectively managed.
Major suppression techniques, including counterattacks and back-burning, will be deployed as necessary. The department strongly encourages communities to stay vigilant, report any ignitions immediately, and cooperate fully with firefighting teams. Fires must be managed with the utmost caution, particularly as the grass dries and fuel loads peak following the recent rainy season.
