"Linkjie told us about the fire, which started at the bush camp at lunch time on Sunday [18 November 2007]. We informed the neighbours, who arrived quickly although it was a Sunday. We split in six groups and Steyn Marais from Jakkalsfontein was the fire co-ordinator. It was really good that we had just had wildfire fighting training the week before." With these words Grukie Thys began his report on the wildfire, which was caused by disposing barbecue coal in the bush next to the !Khwa ttu bush camp and destroyed seven hectares of 30-year old fynbos vegetation and Port Jackson trees.

A group of 50 well-equipped men from !Khwa ttu and neighbouring farms fought the wildfire for 7 hours. They were joined by the municipal and district fire service an hour after the fire had been reported. After the hotspots and flare ups had been brought under control a smaller group of men from !Khwa ttu continued to mop up the fire until the following evening while the neighbouring farmers were kept on alert.

"Our backs and arms were so sore from attacking the flames and carrying the backpack hand water pumps. Our bodies were paining terribly but we couldn't sleep although we were dead tired," reported Roman Ndeja a few days later. By that time a debriefing session with all parties had already taken place in which the safe disposal of barbecue ash, the usefulness of two-way radios and the firebreak maintenance programme were highlighted.

Grukie emphasised, "in the future we must help our neighbours just as much as they helped us."