Firefighters from the City of Cape Town remain on high alert as efforts to contain a wildfire burning across Table Mountain continued into Monday, following its outbreak in Tokai late last week.
According to Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, no flare-ups were reported overnight, offering some respite after days of intense operations. Air support, including helicopters, was scheduled to be deployed following a fresh morning assessment. One firefighter sustained injuries during the response and has been hospitalised.
By Sunday evening, flames were advancing steadily down Boyes Drive towards Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek, while on the Ou Kaapse Weg side, the fire pushed closer to Noordhoek. Ground crews remained stationed throughout the night, working to contain the fire’s spread under challenging conditions.
Authorities have urged residents and visitors to avoid the affected areas for their own safety. A Type 3 Incident Management Team has been activated to oversee firefighting efforts, operating on a 12-hour rotational basis to ensure a coordinated response.
Road closures remain in effect across parts of the South Peninsula, including:
- Main Road and Boyes Drive
- Main Road near Lakeside
- Main Road and Clairvaux intersection
- Noordhoek and Old Kaapse Weg/Boyes Drive junction
- Steenberg and Tokai Road close to the Circle
Carelse confirmed that fire operations have been divided into five sectors to maximise resources and respond dynamically to the prevailing wind conditions.
Precautionary evacuations have also been implemented. Disaster Risk Management teams assisted in relocating 198 households from Noordhoek Manor, among them 48 frail care residents. Residents of Barnyard and Silwersteen communities voluntarily evacuated as the fire edged closer.
Cape Town authorities have called on the public to support emergency teams by donating bottled water, energy drinks, snack bars, and non-perishable food. Donations can be delivered to the Lakeside Fire Station to assist crews battling the mountain fire.
The City continues to monitor the situation closely as firefighting efforts intensify to bring the blaze under control.