THORNHILL – Woodridge College remained safe after a veld fire in the surrounding area came dangerously close to the campus yesterday, 10 January 2026, prompting precautionary safety measures but no evacuation.
According to information shared by school representatives Luke Hartley and Cliff Reed yesterday, 10 January 2026, only water trucks were permitted access to the Woodridge campus as firefighting efforts continued. Children and horses were safely removed from the school grounds, and relief organisation Gift of the Givers was present on site.
No aerial firefighting support was deployed due to thick smoke conditions and the danger posed by nearby power lines, authorities confirmed.
The fire posed a serious threat to the campus, which previously burned down in 2017 and was later rebuilt. The school again faced the risk of destruction as the fire advanced from a neighbouring property.
Authorities later confirmed that the fire on the adjacent property was brought under control and is being closely monitored, with no evacuation required at this stage.
As an added precaution, all horses were relocated off campus, while pupils attending the High Performance Sports Camp were transported to the Ferry Hotel, where they remained under supervision and in safe conditions.
Approximately one hour after the initial update, Woodridge shared a further statement expressing gratitude to the community, emergency services and neighbouring properties for their swift response, confirming that the campus remains safe.
Safety measures remain in place as authorities continue to monitor the situation.
