[imagesource:twitter/@TableMountainNP]

Everyone has been freaking out about the massive flames licking at Table Mountain this morning, Wednesday, March 29.

Thankfully, it is just a controlled fire prescribed by SANParks in order to prevent actual wildfires in the future.

The fire was scheduled for 2AM this morning along Tafelberg Road above the city and is apparently set to take place for four hours or so.

Everyone looking out their window mid-snooze might have been alarmed, along with those waking up to sniff that dreaded smell of smoke in the air.

Cape Town ETC noted that prescribed burns are scheduled once the weather conditions are favourable, AKA the temperature needs to be under 25°C, winds need to be moderate and less than 20 kilometres/hour, and light rain needs to have fallen two to three days prior to ensure the fires don’t become wild and spread out of control.

🔥Table Mountain National Park prescribed burn currently taking place below Tafelberg Road 🔥

For more information ➡️ https://t.co/9e9ESNVFWu@sanparks #Sanparks #LiveYourWild #Fire #TafelbergRoadBurn https://t.co/B8ZyyOVXuf

— SANParks TMNP (@TableMountainNP) March 29, 2023

SANParks released a statement to inform everyone that the flames were very much under control:

“Although we appreciate that such burning is a source of concern to many Cape Town residents, it must be stated that wildfires will occur and an uncontrolled fire or wildfire could pose a huge risk to life and property on the urban edge. The removal of dry, flammable material by means of a prescribed burn will reduce the likelihood of future uncontrolled wildfires,” the statement reads.

That didn’t stop everyone from panicking all over Twitter:

Table Mountain on fire this morning 🔥 😵😦 pic.twitter.com/87lPcZprfl

— Nicola Wade (@Nixiljuice) March 29, 2023

Table Mountain fire at 6am this morning! pic.twitter.com/U1d59AD2kK

— Nicole (@issawholenicole) March 29, 2023

@CityofCTAlerts @CityofCT @ewnupdates @CapeTalk fire by table mountain.. pic.twitter.com/4nTSm2oRji

— Busi Mqingwana (@BusiMqingwana) March 29, 2023

At exactly 02:30am Wednesday morning I was looking out my hotel window and saw a huge explosion 💥🔥 on Table Mountain by the Cable Way. Fires been spreading and out of control for 30mins now. pic.twitter.com/4l22G4uooK

— Brandon Lorenzo (@BrandonLorenzo) March 29, 2023

Fire on Table Mountain @News24 pic.twitter.com/EvEXOoH8vV

— Levi Silman (@LeviSilman) March 29, 2023

Huge fire on Table Mountain this morning #tablemountainfire pic.twitter.com/5zgODCb8k1

— Sam Linsell 🍑🍋🥒🍅 (@drizzleanddip) March 29, 2023

The prescribed burn taking place along Tafelberg road this morning covers 36 hectares of velt.
You may still see flames/smoke in the area this morning, but Table Mountain National Park fire management and @NCCWildfires remain on scene. #SANParks #TableMountain #Fire pic.twitter.com/foS0G46C34

— DPV Watch (@dpvwatch) March 29, 2023

Prescribed burns form an integral part of the ecological management of the park as fynbos vegetation is both fire-prone and fire-adapted:

TMNP Fire Management Department, together with the SANParks Cape Research Centre, has developed a scientifically prescribed burning plan for the entire park – this plan determines and prioritizes areas for prescribed burning, taking into consideration veld age, rare and endangered species, alien clearing, biodiversity as well as protection of properties, etc.

Prescribed burns essentially help to reduce fire hazards by reducing the unnecessary ‘fuel’ accumulated in the field as a result of Alien Plant Clearing operations; to rejuvenate the fire-adapted and fire-dependent fynbos vegetation; and to control and eliminating invasive alien plants.

Some residents are rightfully sour that they weren’t informed about the burn, but SANParks advises that park management will do its best to minimise any possible inconvenience to adjacent households during the preparatory work and burning operations.

At least now we all know.

[source:capetownetc]