[imagesource: Twitter / @KMijlof]
Yesterday, Cape Town firefighters fought two separate blazes, with fire season well and truly underway.
When we wrote earlier in the week about the great work done by those who battle the fires on our behalf, especially in and around Table Mountain National Park, we hoped it would be a while before another fire story.
That’s not the case, so let’s start with the Camps Bay fire, before moving on to the fire that tore through Masiphumelele.
The Camps Bay fire started yesterday afternoon at around 2:42PM, with alerts going out just after 3PM:
#Wildfire Alert
: A new wildfire started in Bakoven / Oudekraal area near Camps Bay. @cptfrs and @TableMountainNP are on scene. Please be careful if driving on Victoria Drive. pic.twitter.com/UYf7Rbhgv9
— VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) December 17, 2020
Huge fire in Camps Bay above Camps Bay Drive. Winds strong enough to darken the sea a km away. It’s nasty. pic.twitter.com/9BXnBdW6MX
— alistair king (@ALsparkles) December 17, 2020
Fire on the slopes of Table Mountain near Camps Bay @CityofCT pic.twitter.com/DI5AiRY7ho
— Mathias Eick (@MatEick) December 17, 2020
#fire Camps Bay fire raging out of control. Fire fighters are battling in strong winds to contain fire.. @BOSBEER2006 @1SecondLater @MARIUSBROODRYK @News24 @CityofCT @CityofCTAlerts pic.twitter.com/b3ry0CMJzn
— BOSBEER.COM (@BOSBEER2006) December 17, 2020
A News24 story, published yesterday afternoon, quoted Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse as saying that eight firefighting appliances and 45 staff members were at the scene.
He went on to say that two choppers and a spotter plane were water bombing the area, and “no property is in danger at this stage”.
WC Fire Alert
#BakovenFire – Table Mountain
The two choppers and a spotter that had been dispatched this afternoon, have been stood down due to strong wind.
The fire continues.
Chopper leaves Newlands Base to fight the Bakoven Fire.@CityofCTAlerts pic.twitter.com/s93AVsJEd0
— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) December 17, 2020
More from social media, as users worried about the safety of homes and residents in the area:
UPDATE: Looks like winds are keeping the fires going. Flames are easily visible from Clifton (NOTE: The fire is above Bakoven on the far side of Camps Bay) pic.twitter.com/wL2sps89CY
— Stephen Rooke (@srookejd) December 17, 2020
Camps Bay fire is still blazing, wind seems to be swinging a bit too.
Can see the wall of orange flames creeping a bit closer to the valley and houses.
#CapeFire#CampsBay pic.twitter.com/TjYcE3w8GL
— Dylan Moore (@MrCPT) December 17, 2020
The fire in Camps Bay is so close to the houses, firefighters are battling to keep it under control due to the strong M/City wind. If you need a place to stay, please reach out and I will refer you to someone who can assist. My thoughts are with the emergency teams and residents.
— JC MacFarlane (@Macfarlane123) December 17, 2020
17.12.20 – camps bay fires 11pm. Firefighters are still working hard while some residence are evacuating as the fires inch closer to homes#campsbayfire #capetownwildfire #bakovenfire #campsbay #cityofcapetown #cityofcapetownfireandrescue #fireandrescue pic.twitter.com/VoZhqZY3c0
— Adi Marcus Wilson (@adiwilsonnnnn) December 17, 2020
Thankfully, Carelse, speaking with Cape Town Etc, said the fire has been contained, and that fresh crews will monitor the area this morning to ensure there are no flare ups.
All roads in the area, including Victoria Road, have been reopened.
Tragically, the fire in Masiphumelele, a township located in the area between Noordhoek and Kommetjie, is estimated to have destroyed around 1 000 homes.
Authorities were alerted to the fire at around 4PM, with Carelse saying that strong winds led to “spreading at an alarming rate”.
According to the Daily Maverick, Carelse said police were called “to control an unruly crowd who were interfering in the firefighters’ efforts to contain the blaze”.
Living Hope, an NGO that provides community development, social and health programmes in the area, put out an appeal for help on social media:
“We do not yet know how many homes have been lost, but the damage is already devastating. Many people in Masiphumelele are standing on the roofs of their neighbours’ [homes] watching their homes burn”…
Living Hope appealed to people for donations of “tinned food, dried food goods, hygiene items, kitchen items and mattresses/bedding”, which can be brought to Living Hope’s offices, located in Kommetjie Road.
You can find details on Living Hope here.
Donations can also be made to Living Hope’s Disaster Relief account:
- Bank: FNB
- Branch: 202309
- Account number: Disaster Appeal account
- Account number: 62672419267
Some video footage from the Masiphumelele fire:
Fire earlier today in Site 5 (Masiphumelele) Fish Hoek in the W/Cape pic.twitter.com/4avaP5cr5Y
—
★
S’thembiso
A chopper is assisting with water bombing at the Masiphumelele fire in Cape Town.
Video: City’s Fire and Rescue Services pic.twitter.com/pEB5ItkgFj
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) December 17, 2020
Living Hope also shared some video footage:
Footage from this morning shows the scale of the destruction:
Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato intends to declare a local disaster shortly, whereafter funds for further emergency relief material will be accessible.
[sources:news24&capetownetc&dailymav]
