The City of Cape Town has been battling fires since last week.
- The City of Cape Town’s firefighters are stretched to the limit as they continue to battle fires raging across the Cape Peninsula.
- The city’s fire services issued a code red for all additional resources to be deployed to assist.
- Although the wildfires in Simon’s Town and Glencairn were extinguished, Glencairn flared up again on Christmas Day.
The City of Cape Town’s fire services issued a code red for all additional resources and off-duty firefighters to be deployed on Christmas Day as firefighters continued to battle several fires fuelled by strong winds across the Cape Peninsula.
The city’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said on Monday that resources were stretched to the limit, leading to the fire chief issuing the code red notice.
Three informal settlements went up in flames on Sunday and Monday morning, leaving 900 people without homes.
The city’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said 135 structures were destroyed in Seawinds, 60 in Jim se Bos and 45 in Wallacedene.
“The city, supported by non-profit organisations Gift of the Givers and Islamic Relief SA, will provide mattresses, hot meals, blankets, baby care packs, clothing and toiletry packs to those affected,” Powell said.
Carelse said although the wildfires in Simon’s Town and Glencairn, which raged for most of last week, had been extinguished, Glencairn flared up again on Christmas Day.
“This fire over the mountain threatened homes in the area when it started last Thursday. It flared up again this afternoon [Monday], but a chopper is waterbombing the area,” Carelse said.
He also said they were battling a fire on the mountain slopes close to the Imizamo Yethu informal settlement.
Furthermore, there are vegetation fires along the M5 between Ottery and Kenilworth, as well as on the R27 near Melkbosstrand, which may place properties at risk.
Aerial support was also deployed to Silverstream, where a massive vegetation fire is raging.
The fire on the mountain slope close to Imizamo Yethu informal settlement.
Carelse said the wind was “extremely bad”.
“I don’t think we’ve had this kind of weather or this type of wind for such a prolonged period, coupled with dry, hot conditions [that are] conducive for runaway fires.”
According to a warning issued by the SA Weather Service, the damaging winds will continue into Tuesday.
Carelse added that three firefighters had been injured on Sunday while fighting the Seawinds fire. Two were taken to hospital with burn wounds.
He urged residents to be alert about the increased risk of fire, particularly when working with open flames or flammable substances.
Residents must report anything that resembles a fire and not assume that someone has already done so.
The City of Cape Town’s emergency communication centre can be contacted at 021 480 7700 from a cell phone or 107 from a landline.
Officials from the Electricity Department, Informal Settlements Management, Water and Sanitation, and Solid Waste Management will do on-site assessments to ascertain the extent of infrastructure damage caused by the fires as soon as they are all under control.
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