Go-Bag Backpack (25–50 L)
Go-Bag Backpack (25–50 L)
One packed bag by the door: documents, medication, chargers, water. Leave in two minutes, not twenty.
See price on AliExpressPrepare Your Home for Heat, Fire & Emergencies
Discover practical equipment for household preparedness and evacuation planning.
Summer in South Africa means heat waves, load-shedding and veld and mountain fires, especially from November to March in the Western Cape and in the dry winter months inland. Fire services ask households to do two simple things: keep a cleared space around the house, and be able to leave quickly with the things you cannot replace. This page covers the second part.
Affiliate disclosure: the product buttons on this page link to AliExpress. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not sell these products, we do not control stock, prices, delivery or import charges, and none of them is certified life-safety equipment. Buying equipment does not guarantee protection; follow the instructions of your local emergency services.
Six practical items
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Document Pouch (fire-resistant fabric)
Document Pouch (fire-resistant fabric)
Passports, IDs, certificates and cash in one grab-and-go pouch. Not waterproof on its own: keep it inside the dry bag.
See price on AliExpressRechargeable Sensor Headlamp
Rechargeable Sensor Headlamp
Hands-free light; the motion sensor switch works with wet hands.
See price on AliExpressSlim Power Bank (20,000 mAh)
Slim Power Bank (20,000 mAh)
Keeps phones alive for alerts, banking and family calls during a long outage. Charge it from the wall first.
See price on AliExpressCollapsible Water Container (5–10 L)
Collapsible Water Container (5–10 L)
Drinking water in the shade for heat waves and water cuts; keep one in the car in fire season.
See price on AliExpressCompact First-Aid Kit
Compact First-Aid Kit
Plasters, bandages and gloves for the small injuries of clearing up. Add your own medication.
See price on AliExpressFire-season checklist
- Clear dead leaves, dry grass and firewood from around the house and out of the gutters; keep a gap between vegetation and walls.
- Pack the go-bag now: IDs, a week of medication, chargers, water, a change of clothes, pet leads and vaccination cards.
- Scan important documents to a USB drive and to cloud storage; keep the originals in the pouch, in the bag.
- Agree two ways out of the neighbourhood and a meeting point; drive them once.
- Check the SAWS fire danger index and heat warnings before braais, burning or outdoor work.
- Save your municipal fire service number and 112 in every phone; report any sign of fire immediately.
- If you are told to evacuate, go early. Do not stay to defend property.
Official information
City of Cape Town — Wildfires: how to prepare your home
South African Weather Service — Fire Danger Index
South African Weather Service — current warnings
South African Red Cross Society
Read more on Fire Water Proof
Wildfire evacuation checklist for families
Emergency go-bag checklist
How to prepare for a power outage
The products above help you leave quickly and stay connected. They do not fight fires and do not replace evacuation orders from the authorities.