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#DeerParkFire, Table Mountain on fire, Cape Town. Photo supplied

Home » Evacuations as Fire Rages on Table Mountain, Cape Town

Evacuations as Fire Rages on Table Mountain, Cape Town

The City of Cape Town says Disaster Management staff and volunteers are assisting residents to evacuate in Bridle, Molteno and Glencoe Roads, Oranjezicht as fire continues to rage in strong winds on Table Mountain, South Africa, tonight. The fire, above Deer Park Drive – #DeerParkFire – was first spotted late on Saturday afternoon, with witnesses […]

By SAPeople
01-11-20 00:51
in Eish!
table mountain on fire fire-table-mountain-deer-park
#DeerParkFire, Table Mountain on fire, Cape Town. Photo supplied

The City of Cape Town says Disaster Management staff and volunteers are assisting residents to evacuate in Bridle, Molteno and Glencoe Roads, Oranjezicht as fire continues to rage in strong winds on Table Mountain, South Africa, tonight.

table mountain on fire deer park fire cape town table mountain
#DeerParkFire continues to burn tonight. Photo: Mike Roberts

The fire, above Deer Park Drive – #DeerParkFire – was first spotted late on Saturday afternoon, with witnesses telling SAPeople the smoke kept changing direction as strong winds of 74km/hour fanned flames.

SANParks said: “The fire is currrently fanned by a strong south easterly wind making the situation difficult at this time.”

The City’s Fire and Rescue services, along with Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) and others have been battling the flames since this afternoon. Earlier this evening there were still more than 50 firefighters from Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and VWS on the scene. According to Philip Prins, TMNP Fire Manager, additional crews from NCC Wildfires were also en route to assist throughout the evening. Tomorrow another two firefighting crews from Working on Fire, on request from TMNP, will be deployed at first light.

#DeerParkFire Evacuations – Important Info for Residents

Tonight at around 22h30, the City of Cape Town issued an alert that evacuations were necessary due to homes being “smoke-logged”.

The City said: “At this stage no deaths or injuries have been reported. If evacuation is ordered, residents are requested to make use of wet towels or rags wrapped around their mouth and nose.

“Evacuate immediately if you are told to do so and remember to take along your chronic medication, I.D., passports, cash, cellphones, bottled water, non-perishable food, a set of clothing, blankets and toiletries.”

table mountain on fire deer park fire cape town
table mountain on fire – Deer Park Fire, Cape Town. Photo supplied

Support for #DeerParkFireFighters on Table Mountain Tonight

If you would like to support the brave firefighters on the mountain tonight, VWS says “crews would appreciate snack bars, rtd electrolyte drinks, etc to be dropped off at our Newlands Fire Base off Union Ave. These will be distributed to the crews still on the #DeerParkFire line!”

SANParks TMNP said: “Our thoughts are with our firefighters. Stay strong team as Cape Town stands behind you tonight.”

The below photos, taken a couple of weeks ago by Cape Town resident Mike Roberts, show the pine forest area, in the vicinity of the flames, which may be affected by tonight’s fire.

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No Aerial Support But Confidence in Firefighters on Table Mountain

SANParks says there is no aerial support as the choppers will only be arriving in the coming weeks, ahead of the 2020/2021 fire season, which is set to begin from 1 December.

“We have confidence in our ground crews to suppress this fire,” said SANParks.

#DeerParkFire Photos on Twitter

#DeerParkFire began on Saturday Afternoon: