It’s day four of the Cape fire and though the light rain we’re experiencing is helping matters, the blaze is far from any definition of ‘out’.

We’ve just learnt that Cape Point is on fire but that the area is contained:

 

According to Helen Zille, it could take until the weekend to control the blaze entirely. However she has said that the Cape Town Cycle Tour is likely to go ahead as planned, though the usually scenic route will now be one of ‘heart-wrenching devastation’.

She had more to say:

 

In a media statement released earlier today, the City of Cape Town says, ‘Currently, the firefighting efforts are focused on the following hotspots: Lower Constantia Nek and the upper Tokai area, Clovelly, Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, Hout Bay and Noordhoek. Boyes Drive, Chapman’s Peak Drive, and Clovelly Road remain closed to traffic, as well as Price Road and Schoenstatt (Groot Constantia) and Ou Wingerd Road.’

Though there has been extensive damage to property, not a single life has been lost to the fire, for which we can be grateful. One firefighter has been treated for burn wounds and is in hospital, and 52 frail-care residents of a Noordhoek retirement village were treated for smoke inhalation.

 

Though the calls for donations have stopped, City requests that those in areas not in danger from the fire use water sparingly:

 

Hats off to Dale Steyn, who kept it together for the Proteas halfway across the world in Australia even after hearing his house in Stonehurst, Westlake, was dangerously close to being burnt down. More on that here.

 

 

One thing is for sure: this will go down as the best documented natural tragedy in Cape Town’s history, with photographers out in full force to capture the violence and devastation of the blaze in order to raise awareness.

Cape Fire

Cape Fire

Cape-Fire-red-moon
A red moon rises over Cape Town
Cape Fire
Followed by a red sun
Cape Fire
The horizon has been obscured by smoke for days in some areas
Cape Fire
People in low-lying areas out of the fire’s path are still susceptible to smoke inhalation. Take care Cape Town!

Cape Fire

Photography Juliette Bisset/HSMimages.co.za

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