Rodger Bosch
Cape Town firefighters will keep a close eye on any possible flare-ups
over the next few days.
Eleven structures were damaged or destroyed.
Nine civilians were taken to hospital and six firefighters sustained
injuries.
A devastating veldfire on the slopes of Table Mountain has destroyed 650
hectares – and firefighters will be on standby throughout the night to prevent
any flare-ups.
SANParks fire chief, Philip Prins, said: More than 150
firefighters from Table Mountain National Park/contract wildfire crews (NCC
Wildfires), Working on Fire, Volunteer Wildfire Services and City of Cape Town
were deployed on the fire line, with assistance from five aerial support
Cape Town fire danger ânot entirely over just yet
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Cape Town - Despite the wildfire that broke out on the slopes of Table Mountain on Sunday morning having been largely contained, the danger has not entirely passed.
Anton Bredell, the local government MEC for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, warned that the danger was not entirely over just yet.
He said that overnight the wind dropped significantly, allowing helicopters to water-bomb the fire lines from early in the morning.
âOur first priority remains fully extinguishing all of the fire lines. Then, over the next few days, firefighters will continue to dampen down the affected areas and monitor for flare-ups until we are 100% sure the fire is out.
Firefighters and officials had a hellish Monday while fighting Cape Town fire iol.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from iol.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Firefighters and officials had a hellish Monday fighting Cape Town fire
By Shakirah Thebus
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Cape Town - The strong south-easterly winds fanned the flames of the devastating fire on Table Mountain on Monday making it impossible for helicopters to assist in dousing the flames.
The flames were making their way down the mountain towards Walmer Estate on Monday, and some Walmer Estate residents even helped to fight the flames making their way towards homes in Upper Melbourne Road.
They were later assisted by firefighters.
Resident Nazeem Ebrahim said: “When we saw the small fire on Sunday, we were already preparing. We know the wind, and we know the effects of the wind, and we won’t leave the community in the cold just like that, so the City’s Disaster Management should have trucks stationed here.”
Cape Town fire update: Mop-up operations underway, students receive local support
20 Apr 2021
April 20 2021 - Gift of the Givers donation drop-off centre at the Old Mutual in Pinelands. Following the devastating Table Mountain fire, around four thousand UCT students who had to be evacuated from their residences are now being housed by hospitality industry businesses & in hotels around the city with many other busineses donating essential goods & food to a central drop-off point at the Old Mutual Centre in Pinelands for distribution. (David Harrison/M&G)
For bystanders, it may seem as if Cape Town is getting back to normal as several roads that were closed since Sunday reopened and the dense layer of smoke covering the Mother City dissipated.