Firefighters Battle Against Cape Town Mountain Blaze

More than 300 firefighters tirelessly confronted a relentless blaze on the slopes near Cape Town for a second consecutive day, intensifying efforts to contain the wildfire that threatened the picturesque seaside town of Simon’s Town, situated approximately 25 miles south of the city.

The inferno, which ignited on Tuesday, resulted in five firefighters sustaining injuries, with two requiring hospitalisation, confirmed Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for Cape Town Emergency Services.

Prompt emergency responses prevented the flames from reaching local residences, although as a precaution, residents from the area most vulnerable to the fire were evacuated around 1 am on Wednesday.

To combat the blaze, emergency services deployed a fleet of three helicopters, engaging in a relentless effort to extract seawater and douse the raging flames.

While the number of firefighters was scaled back to approximately 200 by Wednesday afternoon, the battle against the fire persisted. City authorities reported significant progress in controlling the blaze, yet efforts to fully extinguish it remained ongoing.

Throughout the night, the fire illuminated vast sections of the mountain overlooking Simon’s Town, a serene resort town hosting South Africa’s primary naval base. The blaze resulted in damage to a derelict building within the nearby South African navy premises.

Cape Town – FIRE in the Simon's Town area #CastleRock pic.twitter.com/UVTIQntLaI

— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) December 19, 2023

Wildfires pose a recurrent threat to the mountainous slopes encompassing Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, particularly during the scorching, arid months from November to April. These fires escalate in peril and unpredictability when exacerbated by powerful coastal winds, a contributing factor to the severity of the Simon’s Town fire, according to city officials.

Just last month a fire was contained not too far from where this is currently underway.

In 2021, a massive wildfire ravaged Cape Town’s renowned Table Mountain for several days, wreaking havoc by destroying nearly a dozen structures, including historically significant buildings at the University of Cape Town.

Simons Town Cape Town Fire currently pic.twitter.com/EAImf0efn8

— Denver Jordaan 🇿🇦🚒🚑🚔 (@denverjordaan) December 19, 2023

As the current fire encroaches further down Millers Point, Rocklands, and Plateau Road, road closures have been implemented, prompting warnings for motorists to steer clear of the area.

The unwavering dedication of over 300 firefighters epitomises the ongoing struggle against wildfires in this region, underscoring the challenges posed by these recurring incidents.

Get hourly updates from local Cape Town news outlet: cape{town}etc