Cape Town fire largely contained as fire crews continue the battle

Posted by Anita Froneman on 20 April 2021

A wildfire that broke out on Table Mountain in Cape Town on Sunday, April 18 has been approximately 90% contained as of 9am on Tuesday. 

The blaze has caused irreparable damage to the fauna and flora on and around the mountain.

Cape Town fire largely contained, but firefighters still labour on

Here are the latest updates by SANParks:

– By midnight (April 19) the fire was still raging below and above Tafelberg Road. The M3 and Dewaal Road remain closed.

– The weather seems good enough for the aerial support to resume with fire extinguishing operations.

– Four helicopters will start the initially extinguishing areas close to the city edge. Three Huey helicopters and one Oryx from SA National Defence Force will be assisting with fire suppression in the Table Mountain National Park.

– Approximately 600 hectares have burned up to this far.

Credit: City of Cape Town

Multiple mop-up operations will follow in days to come.

‘Crews have worked tirelessly and the wind having died down considerably has given them some respite. Fresh crews and seasonal firefighters will be deployed to those hot spot areas at 9 am today,’ the City of Cape Town said.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said he is pleased that the police have arrested a suspect on a charge of arson in connection with the Table Mountain fires. He says the suspect is due to appear in court soon.

No fatalities have been reported.

Picture: Aslam Levy via SANParks






yoast-primary -
tcat - Travel news
tcat_slug - travel-news
tcat2 -
tcat2_slug -
tcat_final -