Firemen fighting raging Table Bay mountain fires

A fire which started in Camps Bay and spread around Table Mountain is raging out of control

A fire which started in Camps Bay and spread around the side of Table Mountain to Tafelberg road and the cable station is raging out of control, Cape Town Metro fire department reported this afternoon.

Piet Smith, the chief fire officer, said an appeal has been made to hikers on the nearby mountains to leave the area. "We have 20 fire ground crew and 16 national park volunteers assisting at various places to put the fire out. About 16 fire appliances, including tankers and four helicopters, and six water tankers are also being used."

He said the lower Table Mountain cable station had already been evacuated after the fires started this morning. "It's very hot and very strong winds are blowing, making it more difficult to fight the fires, which are jumping." Smith said firefighters managed to avert the fire from spreading to nearby properties. - Sapa