Haarlem · Langkloof · Southern CapeSaturday 24 October 2026Developing story · Updated 17:54 SAST

Fire at Haarlem Secondary: a town that put it out itself

With no fire engine of its own, Haarlem fought the blaze at its high school with farm tractors, orchard sprayers and bare hands. No one was hurt, but a classroom block is gutted for the second time in fifteen years. Within two hours, the town's WhatsApp group had one word for what it had seen.

Smoke pours over the face-brick classroom block as residents and farm tractors gather on the school grounds this afternoon. Video shared in the community group at 16:03.
No injuriesNo injuries or deaths were reported.
Extensive damageA classroom block lost its roof; desks and roof sheeting lie in the courtyard.
Second timeThe same block burned in an arson attack more than 15 years ago and was rebuilt.
Farm equipmentTractors and a sprayer tank from a local farm carried water to the fire.

The first message landed in the Haarlem community WhatsApp group at 15:45 this afternoon: "Fire at the school, people." Within minutes smoke was rolling over Haarlem Secondary School, the high school beneath the mountain at the western gateway to the Langkloof, under the blue entrance sign that reads Kom om te leer (Come to learn).

Haarlem has no fire station. So the town did what it could with what it had. Local farmer Ricardo, known to most as Oom Ricky, sent his tractors. A blue Landini orchard tractor and a green mist-blower sprayer, the kind used on the Langkloof's fruit orchards, became a water carrier. Mr du Preez, his sons and their team worked alongside the men of Haarlem, while neighbours, parents and pupils lined the paving to watch and help.

A green orchard sprayer tank towed by a tractor at the gate of Haarlem Secondary School, with smoke visible behind the building
An orchard sprayer, normally used on fruit trees, is towed in to carry water.
A blue Landini tractor driving across the school's paved forecourt
One of the farm tractors on the school forecourt.
Community members stand in a courtyard looking at a red-brick classroom block whose roof has collapsed, with smoke still rising and burnt desks in the foreground
The aftermath: the roof of the classroom block has caved in, and burnt desks and roof sheeting lie in the courtyard as smoke still rises.

The fire was put out. Nobody was hurt. But the damage is extensive, and it comes at the worst time for the school's matric class, who are heading into their final examinations.

Anger, then gratitude

The group chat this afternoon moved through every emotion a small town can feel in two hours. First alarm. Then frustration that, once again, Haarlem had to fend for itself. Clibo reminded everyone that residents pay for fire services every month on their municipal rates. Dawn said Haarlem always has to "drink from the hind teat," an Afrikaans way of saying it always gets what is left over. Patricia summed up outside help in four words: mostert na die maal, mustard after the meal, help that only arrives once it is no longer needed.

Then grief. Jeanette, whom others in the group address as Juffrou (teacher), remembered that the same block had been burnt down by arson more than fifteen years ago and rebuilt, only to burn again. She sent a prayer to the matriculants: keep your courage, stand strong through any setback, and study for good results.

And then, message after message, thanks. To Ricardo for the tractors. To Mr du Preez, his sons and their team. To the men of Haarlem who, in Regine's words, "think on your feet." As Nellie Claasen put it: "Together we make a team. It could have been much worse."

Haarlem =Resilience

An hour earlier, Chester had posted the town's frustration in capitals: Haarlem desperately needs its own fire brigade. At 17:39 he posted its answer. No fire engine came in time, so the town became one. Farmers lent their machines, neighbours carried water, teachers prayed, and the group chat filled with thanks. Fifteen years ago this block was rebuilt after a fire. Haarlem has done this before, and today it showed it will stand together again.

Chester (Haarlem) · 17:39 · "Look how every Haarlemmer stands together today ❤️"

The thread, translated

The conversation so far from the Haarlem community WhatsApp group, translated from Afrikaans into English. Each message shows the original underneath.

The alarm 15:45 – 15:50

  1. Isaackayster

    Fire at the school, people 😍

    Brand baby skool mnse

  2. matthysrenaldo21

    ?

    ?

  3. Christopher McLune

    Afternoon. He means there's a fire at the school.

    Middag Hy bedoel dt brand bydi skool

Frustration 16:35 – 16:59

  1. Clibo (Lionel-Clark) Macka

    I've been pleading and begging for a long time. Just ask Johan du Preez.

    Ek smeek en soebat lankal vra maar by johan du preez

  2. Chester (Haarlem)

    HAARLEM DESPERATELY NEEDS ITS OWN FIRE BRIGADE ‼️‼️‼️‼️

    HAARLEM HET SY EIE BRANDWEER BROOD NODIG ‼️‼️‼️‼️

  3. Dawn (Haarlem)

    Really, Chessy. Haarlem always has to drink from the hind teat. People's eyes must be opened.

    Rerig wuh Chessy Haarlem moet alewig aan die agterspèen drink die mense se oe moet oopgaan"Drinking from the hind teat" means always getting the leftovers, last in line.

  4. Patricia, Haarlem Guesthouse

    Mustard after the meal.

    Mostert na die maal.An idiom for help that arrives too late to be of use.

  5. Clibo (Lionel-Clark) Macka

    Remember, people, we pay for fire services every month.

    Onthou mense ons betaal elke maand vir brandweer dienste

  6. Dawn (Haarlem)

    Where is that supposed to come from, Clibo?

    Wat waar van daan af moet kom Clibo

  7. Clibo (Lionel-Clark) Macka

    Look at your rates statement. Services are deducted.

    Kyk jou belasting staat dienste word afgetrek

Grief and prayer 17:04 – 17:21

  1. Jeanette

    Sooo sorry 😭😢 More than 15 years ago this same block was burnt down by arson and built up again, and now again 😡!!! I'm sooo sorry for our matriculants. Keep your courage, children. We all pray that through any setback you will still stand strong and study for good results. Our children, we love you!! ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻✝️✝️😢❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻

    Sooo jammer😭😢+15jaar gelede was dieselfde blok deur brandstigting afgebrand en opgebou nou weer😡!!! Ek sooo jammer vir ons matriekulante moed hou kinders ons almal bid dat julle deur enige teespoed nogtans sterk staan en leer vir goeie uitslae ons kinders lief vir julle!!

  2. Roschne

    It's true, teacher. We must stand together.

    Is waar juffrou ons moet sam staan

  3. Dawn (Haarlem)

    Thank you Ricky. No, really, teacher, it could have been worse. People must stand together. Now what still has to happen before something gets done?

    Dankie Ricky nee rerig Juffrou dt kon erger gewees ht mense moet saamstaan nou wat moet nounog gebeur voor da iets gedoen wrd

  4. Nobody

    Oh dear, I hope the damage isn't too bad.

    Ai toggie hoop die skade darem nie te erg nie

Gratitude 17:23 – 17:38

  1. Jeanette

    Thank you Ricky for the tractors and the help to put out the fire. What a wonderful gesture! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💪✝️

    Dankie Ricky vir die trekkers en hulp om die brand te help blus wat n wonderlike gebaar!

  2. Nellie Claasen (Haarlem)

    True, teacher. It's all thanks to Mr du Preez, his sons and team, and the community too. Together we make a team. It could have been much worse.

    Waarheid juf Al's te danke an MNR du Preez sy seuns en span asook gemeenskap saam mk ons n span DT kn veel erger gewees ht

  3. Dawn (Haarlem)

    Now you see, teacher, the people of Haarlem can stand together. I salute you all. Once again, thank you Ricardo. May God bless you 🙏🏼

    Nou si3n Juffrou die Haarlemmers kan saamstaan x salute julle weereens dankie Ricardo Mag God jou seen

  4. Kenna

    Yes, many thanks to Uncle Ricky and his team. It is truly appreciated. As a community we are lucky to have such men among us.

    Ja baie dnki aan oom ricky en span dit word waardeur ons as gemeenskap is gelukig om sulke mane in ons geneenskap te he

  5. Regine

    Yes, thank you very much, Ricardo. Haarlem is grateful that you sent your tractors to help with the fire. May the Lord bless you so that your farm goes from strength to strength. It could have been so different if you had not jumped in to help. To the men of Haarlem, thank you very much for your help. You think on your feet.

    Ja baie dankie Ricardo. Haarlem is dankbaar dat jy jou trekkers gestuur ht om te help mt die brand. Mag die Here jou seen dat jou plaas van krag tot krag sal gaan. Dit kon so anders gewees ht as jy nie ingespring om te help nie. Die mans van Haarlem baie dankie vir julle hulp Julle dink op julle voete

Resilience 17:39

  1. Chester (Haarlem)

    HAARLEM = RESILIENCE. LOOK HOW EVERY HAARLEMMER STANDS TOGETHER TODAY ❤️❤️❤️

    HAARLEM = RESILIENCE. KYK HOE STAAN AL WAT N HAARLEMMER IS SAAM VANDAG

What Haarlem is asking for

The fire is out, but the question in the group chat remains. Haarlem sits at the start of a valley more than 100 km long, and its residents say they pay for fire services on their rates without having a fire service close enough to help. Dawn asked it plainly: "What still has to happen before something gets done?"

For now, the school must count its losses, the matric class must prepare for exams with a classroom block in ruins, and the town will rebuild once more. It has done so before.