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Table Mountain fire ‘largely contained’ as alleged arsonist arrested

Table Mountain fire ‘largely contained’ as alleged arsonist arrested
The fire on Table Mountain was contained on Sunday evening. (Photo: SANParks)
Ethan van Diemen
By Ethan van Diemen
30 Dec 2024
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The City of Cape Town has confirmed that a suspect has been arrested in connection with a fire on Table Mountain over the weekend.

A suspect has been apprehended for allegedly starting a fire which burnt along the front face of Table Mountain on Sunday. 

The fire had been contained by Sunday night. 

The arrest followed a coordinated effort between SANParks rangers and the City’s law enforcement officers.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith wrote that by about 7.50 pm on Sunday the fire had been contained and “choppers have been grounded but will remain on standby, from first light”. 

Three suspects had been seen “leaving the area of ignition” on Sunday afternoon. 

“Upon being sighted, they fled from the Parks Ranger. Additional Law Enforcement resources were called in and a perimeter boundary was established. One suspect was found hiding behind a rock and was taken into custody.”

SANParks said “a suspect has been detained and charged with arson in connection with the fire currently under way around the Platteklip Gorge at Table Mountain National Park”. 

Table Mountain fire A chopper fights the blaze on Table Mountain on Sunday. (Photo: SANParks)



Daily Maverick asked the South African Police Service for more information about the arrest but none had been received by the time of publication.

Daily Maverick reported in February that the Western Cape provincial government had budgeted R16-million for wildfire responses this year – an increase from R14.5-million the previous year. This excluded the budgets from municipalities and other entities, Western Cape local government MEC Anton Bredell told reporters last November.

Read more: Taking stock — staggering scale of Western Cape wildfires as fire season continues to rage

On 17 January, the provincial government announced that it would increase its wildfire budget from R16-million to R19-million, after it had all but dried up. (The R19-million fire budget only refers to aerial firefighting.) The additional R3-million was exhausted by the end of the month.



Sunday’s fire prompted the closure of popular hiking routes, including Platteklip Gorge and the Contour Path. SANParks – Table Mountain National Park advised visitors to avoid the area entirely at the time:

“The Aerial Cable Way is open, but we request the public to respect the closure of Platteklip Hiking Trail as there is still a risk of flare-ups with the prevailing wind from the North East.”

The fire on Table Mountain was contained on Sunday evening. (Photo: SANParks)



A City firefighter had been injured during operations and had to be airlifted to safety. Details of the firefighter’s condition have not been disclosed. “One wildland firefighter from NCC fell and sustained injuries,” Smith said in his social media post on Sunday. 

In an update on Monday, SANParks said that “approximately nine hectares of land were burnt before containment. Importantly, there have been no injuries or damage to property reported other than a firefighter who was airlifted yesterday.” 

Fire season in Cape Town spans November to May, with dry and windy conditions creating a high risk for wildfires.

Kalk Bay fire


No sooner had the flames on Table Mountain been contained when another wildfire broke out in Cape Town, prompting a 72-person response from the City’s Fire and Rescue Service. 

The fire broke out on the slopes above Kalk Bay on Monday at about 12.25pm and triggered alarm bells after multiple emergency calls flooded in, reporting flames climbing the slopes above Kalk Bay.

In a statement, Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that several fire crews were dispatched immediately, with the affected area having been divided into three divisions to ensure comprehensive coverage and protect nearby properties.

The fire is high up on the slopes, Carelse explained. To bolster firefighting efforts, aerial support was quickly mobilised, with two helicopters and a spotter plane working in tandem to contain the blaze. A third helicopter was deployed to reinforce water bombing operations aimed at halting the fire’s advance.

In total, 72 city firefighters were on the ground, supported by additional ground crews from Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and Volunteer Wildfire Services.

Carelse reported at the time that no property had been damaged. The situation remains fluid, but authorities remain hopeful that the combined efforts on the ground and in the air will bring the blaze under control.

The fire comes a day before the start of the New Year’s festivities, with large crowds of revellers expected to gather at locations near or by TMNP for celebrations. South African National Parks (SANParks) is urging the public to be mindful of fire risks in the park and “not to set off fireworks along the park, especially around Signal Hill and Tafelberg roads”.

In a statement, SANParks explained that “Fynbos ecology at TMNP is prone to fires that can spark uncontrolled wildfires in the park. This means fireworks could be a cause of fire due to its nature when ignited.” DM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REeWvTRUpMk

 

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