- Cape Point has been closed as firefighters battle a massive blaze in Simon’s Town and along the Glencairn Expressway.
- The wildfire in Simon’s Town has been fuelled by strong winds that spread the flames over Misty Cliffs and Scarborough.
- More than 90 households had to be evacuated on Thursday night.
Cape Point Nature Reserve, with its pristine beaches and hiking trails, has been closed as firefighters continue to battle the massive blaze on the slopes of Simon’s Town and Glencairn.
Table Mountain National Park’s management said on Friday that the fire might pose a danger to visitors’ safety and decided to “close the Cape of Good Hope/Cape Point section of the park on Friday morning as a precautionary measure”.
“To ensure public safety, road closures have been enforced along the Simon’s Town main road and Plateau Road, affecting access to this area of the park in both directions,” said Megan Taplin from the Table Mountain National Park management.
“We strongly advise all visitors and tour operators to adhere to these closures until an official announcement regarding the Cape Point gate’s reopening is made.”
WATCH | Simon’s Town inferno: Firefighters battle second fire above Glencairn, residents evacuated
Taplin said the safety of visitors was a priority and recommended avoiding the Simon’s Town area as much as possible.
“We will reevaluate the situation to determine whether Cape Point can be opened again.”
Firefighters have been battling the blaze since Tuesday morning. By Thursday evening, the fire had spread over the mountain to Misty Cliffs and Scarborough, fuelled by strong winds.
At least 97 households in Stonehaven Estate had to be evacuated overnight.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said firefighters were continuing their efforts to douse the flames in Simon’s Town and surrounds, as well as Glencairn.
Scenes from Glencairn Heights in Simon’s Town.
“There has been some respite from the wind this morning and we are hoping the reprieve lasts, although the wind does tend to pick up as the day progresses. We still have six aerial support craft doing water-bombing in the affected areas to support the tireless efforts of ground crews,” he said
Carelse added that there had been no reported damage to property or injuries to any member of the public.
“Road closures remain in place between Simon’s Town and Cape Point, as well as the Glencairn Expressway,” he said.
The Disaster Risk Management Centre reminds residents in these areas to please keep their doors and windows closed, to limit the amount of smoke entering their homes and to mitigate against any potential health impacts.
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 22, 2023
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town has activated an agreement with neighbouring municipalities to secure assistance from the Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Cape Winelands, Overstrand and West Coast fire services.
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