Camps Bay homes being evacuated

Some homes in Camps Bay were being evacuated due to a fire raging out of control on the slopes of Table Mountain, Cape Town's disaster management services said.

"We're evacuating some houses in Camps Bay. The fire is burning above Camps Bay and the front of Table Mountain. The cable station has been closed off, and quite a number of roads in the area are also closed off," John Brown, a disaster management spokesperson, said.

He said helicopters had been water-bombing the fire since 11am. Piet Smith, the chief fire officer, earlier appealed to hikers on the nearby mountains to leave the area.

"It's very hot and very strong winds are blowing, making it more difficult to fight the fires, which are jumping." - Sapa