Spike in fires and alcohol seizures marks December in Cape Town

The festive season in Cape Town is often associated with merriment and celebration, but this past December brought with it significant challenges for the city’s Safety and Security Directorate.

According to the latest statistics released, incidents responded to by the Fire and Rescue Service showed a noticeable increase, while alcohol confiscations surged markedly compared to the previous year.

The Law Enforcement Liquor Pound reported receiving an astonishing 12,595 units of alcohol confiscated between 1 December 2025 and 1 January 2026, equating to more than 5,673 litres.

This marks a sharp increase from the 7,434 bottles confiscated over the same period in 2024, a volume that was just under 3,500 litres. This dramatic rise in confiscated alcohol coincided with a reported 35% increase in drunk driving arrests, underscoring concerns about public safety during the festive period.

However, amidst the concerning surge in alcohol-related incidents, the Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded notable decreases in several critical categories.

Assault cases, domestic violence incidents, and road accidents saw reductions of between 20% and nearly 30%. The Fire and Rescue Service mirrored this trend, showing a drop in responses to road accidents and trauma cases, even as vegetation and residential fires rose considerably.

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Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith has reflected on the statistics, acknowledging the dedicated efforts of staff across various departments.

‘The statistics offer a glimpse into the work that was done across the Safety and Security Directorate over the festive season. What it doesn’t do is highlight the many lives saved through proactive enforcement, education and awareness, and visible patrols across the many priority areas in our city,’ he stated.

‘While alcohol confiscation is usually a hot topic, no one can deny that the thousands of litres in the pound represent lives saved,’

December statistics detailed a series of alarming figures resulting from various emergency services. The Fire and Rescue Service responded to a total of 3,969 emergency incidents in December, an increase from 3,546 the year prior. Among these incidents were 2,501 vegetation fires and troubling fatalities, including 14 lives lost as a consequence of fires.

The PECC noted that 34% of their calls were for medical assistance, while notable complaints related to assault and domestic violence were more prevalent than in the past year.

In an effort to address the fire risks associated with the excessive heat during summer, the Disaster Risk Management Centre coordinated responses to 129 informal settlement fires, with some significant incidents leading to displacement and fatalities.

This year saw particular tragedies in Langa and Hout Bay, which suffered multiple casualties and significant damage.

As the statistics reveal mixed outcomes, personal accountability becomes paramount. ‘There is a constant need to do even more, and for everyone to take accountability for their actions and personal safety,‘ Smithy said.