Firefighters have brought the raging fire on Table Mountain under control. (@wo_fire/X)
- A fire on Table Mountain is being brought under control, authorities say.
- The fire started above the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens at the weekend.
- A number of trails remain closed, and hikers have been asked to remain vigilant.
A fire that has burnt on Table Mountain since the weekend has largely been contained.
The fire in Skeleton Gorge broke out on Sunday morning after a lightning strike, causing the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden to be temporarily closed.
Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) said light rain and mist on Wednesday had helped contain the fire from spreading on the Back Table. However, isolated hot spots, smouldering stumps, as well as falling trees and rockfalls, remained a concern.
“Following an assessment conducted by TMNP’s conservation and fire management teams, hiking trails along Constantia Nek and Newlands, as well as trails along the Back Table between Camps Bay, Hout Bay, and Orangekloof, have been reopened. However, Skeleton Gorge and the contour path between Fernwood and Cecilia Forest remain closed,” TMNP said.
The fire has destroyed more than 280 hectares of vegetation.
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More than 40 firefighters were still actively engaged in various areas along the fireline, carrying out mop-up operations.
TMNP warned hikers on Thursday of berg-like wind conditions that may exacerbate a fire in the northern sections of the park.
“We ask hikers to be very vigilant and move to safe areas if they see or smell smoke while hiking. The priority remains the safety of residents, hikers, and firefighters,” it said.
In a social media post on Wednesday night, City of Cape Town Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said that firefighters from different agencies had fought the blaze for three days as it burnt its way around the upper peaks of the Table Mountain reserve.
“City of Cape Town firefighters have worked tirelessly alongside partner agencies, from Volunteer Wildfire Services and those contracted to SANParks. Our smaller, specialised, all terrain firefighting appliances again showed their tenacity, pushing both our vehicles and the firefighting crews, to their limits,” he said.
Smith thanked the Volunteer Wildfire Services for working on the fireline.
He said:
These volunteers are the true heroes – they rely on the physical approach, using hand tools, to literally beat the fire out.
“Often we are not able to assist SANParks and Table Mountain National Park, by lugging heavy equipment and hoses up steep inclines, but these volunteers, they can be seen by their telltale yellow jackets. They hike their way up steep, rough terrain, then intercept an approaching fireline by repeatedly swatting away at the flames, until the line is broken and burns dead.”