Cape Town wildfire: Smoke engulfs Cape Town – LATEST

South African National Parks (SANParks) has provided an update into the ongoing fight against the wildfires in the Constantiaberg mountains.

On Monday night, a flare-up started above Boyes Drive and is slowly burning down towards the road above Lakeside.

Another flare-up occurred in Chapman’s Peak around the early hours of the morning and is burning towards Hout Bay.

Four helicopters were once again launched on Tuesday morning and will focus on containing these two areas.

The fireline above Tokai is being managed well with much of the active fire from last night extinguished.

Crews remain in the area to ensure flare is addressed swiftly if it occurs.

Thus far, about 3 000 hectares of vegetation has burnt.

Members of the community who were evacuated on Sunday as a precaution have now returned to their homes.

The public are urged to strictly adhere to all hiking and mountain bike trail closures and to avoid the Silvermine, Tokai and Boyes Drive areas of Table Mountain National Park for their own safety and to allow easy access for firefighters.

Further updates will be provided in the course of the day.

Continued presence of cyclists

It’s scarcely believable therefore that SANParks has confirmed that there is a continued concern regarding the presence of cyclists in areas that have been closed off due to fire damage and ongoing firefighting operations.

Those cyclists – and the public in general – is urged to comply with all trail closures to ensure their safety.

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Earlier …

SANParks confirmed in its latest update on Monday evening that fire crews from various agencies, including aerial support, have been actively working throughout the day to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby communities, including Tokai, Zwaanswyk, Noordhoek, and Clovelly.

While fire conditions in the Zwaanswyk, Ou Kaapse Weg, Silvermine, and Noordhoek areas are reported to be under control, crews are continuously monitoring for flare-ups.

Early this morning, four helicopters began water bombing operations to assist ground crews in their efforts.

Fortunately, there has been no structural damage reported, although approximately 2 600 hectares of vegetation have been impacted by the fire.

All available resources from the Table Mountain National Park Fire Management, NCC Environmental Services and Volunteer Wildfire Services, Working on Fire, Provincial Disaster Management, Enviro Wildfire Services, Cape Peninsula Fire Protection Services, City Biodiversity Management and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services are actively on-site.

Road closures, SPCA on the scene

Ou Kaapse Weg is now open to the public.

However, SANParks has asked everyone not to stop and hike into the burnt areas.

Some spots are still hot, and people have already attempted to access closed sections of the park.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and other welfare organisations are already on site, monitoring the animals that have been impacted by the fire.

As a precaution, the following areas will remain closed until further notice:

– Tokai and Silvermine, both east and west hiking trails will remain closed to the public.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and will issue further updates as conditions change.

Donations

The City of Cape Town has issued a call for public support, asking for donations to sustain the firefighters working under extreme conditions.

The immediate needs for the crews include:

• Bottled water
• Nutritional drinks such as Energade and Powerade
• Energy bars
• Saline-based eye drops to alleviate discomfort caused by smoke and ash

Officials emphasised the importance of keeping firefighters hydrated and energised as they face gruelling conditions on the fire lines.

Those wishing to assist are asked to deliver donations to designated collection points set up by the City.

Those donation points include:

• Newlands Fire Base
• Lakeside fire station
• Hair Gallery – 41 Tokai Road
• Pick n Pay Steenberg Village

What do you think possesses a cyclist – or anyone for that matter – to enter restricted areas?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

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