Update (7pm):
In its latest update, SANParks TMNP announced that the Clovelly (Trappieskop) fire has been deemed contained as at 4:20pm.
According to City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith, aerial support stood down just before 5pm as a result of unfavourable flying conditions.
‘Ground crews from TMNP, CapeNature and Volunteer Wildfire Services will remain on site to deal with hotspots,’ said Smith. ‘City of Cape Town fire crews will return at 8pm to inspect the fire area for possible flare-ups.’
There have been no reports of injuries or property damage, and the cause of the blaze has not yet been determined.
Having just spent the night dealing with flare-ups on Table Mountain, ground firefighting crews and aerial resources have been dispatched to battle a new blaze which broke out in the Clovelly mountainous area between Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek, reports Cape {town} Etc.
SANParks Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) is appealing to the public to ‘refrain from stopping along the road and let emergency vehicles pass’.
‘This is a combined effort between SANParks, NCC Wildfires, City of Cape Town Fire & Rescue Services, Working on Fire, Volunteer Wildfire Services, EVS, Enviro Wildfire Consultancy Pty Ltd and the Provincial Disaster Management Centre,’ added SANParks.
The latest update reports that the choppers will refuel and standby for approximately ten minutes to assess how the rain impacts the blaze.
According to community newsgroup Cape Town News & Traffic, the main road between Clovelly and Claivaux road has been closed, with no access to and from Fish Hoek or Kalk Bay via Main Road.
Traffic is being diverted to Muizenberg Main Road.
‘All traffic on Boyes or Main Road from Muizenberg will have to make a U-turn back to Muizenberg, as well as traffic from Fish Hoek to return to the same route,’ reported the newsgroup.
‘Residents of Capricorn Beach are urged to use Sunrise Boulevard down to Capricorn Pick n’ Pay when travelling to and from the estate.’
Motorists are also advised that there have been reports of queueing traffic on Ou Kaapseweg from Silvermine Road, direction Tokai, due to the road closure, as well as heavy congestion around Muizenburg Road and Beach, which is expected to spread to Prince George Drive and Military Road.
Additionally, Clovelly shark spotters are off-duty as a result of the Clovelly Mountain (Trappieskop) fire and the Fish Hoek barrier net has been retrieved due to dolphins moving towards the net in the area.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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Picture: Screenshot from video
