A FIRE that has been blazing on top of Table Mountain since Friday, 28 October evening has been contained.
Residents who live on the foot of the mountain said they saw flames and smoke around the tourist’s favourite area. Two years ago, a fire that started from Table Mountain led to devastating consequences as it destroyed the University of Cape Town’s infrastructure including a library.
44 Winks, executive support officer in the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate, said they received a call at 7.22pm alerting them about the fire at the upper slopes of Table Mountain in Fountain Ravine, above Camps Bay.
Fire engines were dispatched from both Roeland Street and Seapoint fire stations.
“Upon arrival, teams established the fire was high up and inaccessible from the road. Table Mountain National Park was alerted, and its firefighting teams deployed. Table Mountain National Park response teams arrived at about 9pm and made use of the cableway to gain access to the top slopes. Since the location was still inaccessible, teams remained on the mountain during the night, monitoring the spread while CCT Fire & Rescue placed crews down below on Camps Bay Drive to ensure the properties below were not at risk,” said Winks.
SANParks spokeswoman Lauren Howard-Clayton said 12 hikers were rescued from Plattekloof Gorge on Saturday evening when they were overwhelmed by dense smoke.
Howard-Clayton said the fire has been contained.
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“On Saturday evening at about 6pm, the fire was declared 100% contained. A team of 20 firefighters remained on the scene working throughout the evening battling a number of flare-ups, which occurred as the area is still very volatile. Fresh crews were deployed this morning and we currently have 42 firefighters from NCC Wildfires who are on the scene conducting mop-up operations along the fire line.”
