Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) NCC Environmental Services’ crews were dispatched in the early hours of Sunday morning to attend to a fire on Table Mountain and in the Cape Point section of the National Park.
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According to South African National Parks (SANParks), firefighting crews from the Cape of Good Hope main road have been redeployed to the fire currently situated above Skeleton Gorge and the Hely-Hutchinson Reservoir along the Back Table within the park.
NCC Wildfires reported that it was responding to the Skeleton fire on the Back Table, supported by Volunteer Wildfire Services’ (VWS) crews and aerial resources that were dispatched at first light.
‘Unfortunately, due to strong winds, aerial resources have stood down until it is deemed safe to conduct water bombing operations,’ added SANParks.
Meanwhile, in NCC Wildfires’ latest update, the fire in Cape Point Nature Reserve has been called contained. However, a large area is still very hot and the situation could change at any time due to the current weather conditions.
Community Facebook Group Hiking Cape Town’s admin Fatima Sait reported vegetation along the main road running down to Circular Drive was alight, with strong south-easter winds fanning the fire.
City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services as well as VWS also mobilized at the scene.
Circular Drive has also been closed as a precautionary measure.
The public is advised to avoid using any mountain areas that may be impacted by fires and refrain from being fire spectators.
Affected hiking areas:
Cape of Good Hope – hiking routes from Gifkommetjie to Circles Vlei and any trails originating from Olifantsbos, as well as Sirkelvlei hiking trail and Link Road cycling route have been closed until further notice in the Cape of Good Hope section
Back Table (Table Mountain) – All footpaths leading to the Back Table from Camp’s Bay side will be closed.
This comes after several fires were reported around the Western Cape yesterday, with some having been ignited by lightning strikes.
In the Cape Town area, these included Cecilia Forest, Silvermine and the Cape of Good Hop main road, all of which have been contained.
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Picture: Craig Harris / NCC Wildfires / Facebook
