Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) witnessed a notable increase in fire incidents this season, with firefighters responding to a total of 22 fires from 1 January to 18 January.
A concerning pattern has emerged with the majority of recent fires occurring in the southern section of the TMNP, namely in the Kalk Bay, Oceanview and Redhill areas, as well as in the north of the park, in the Signal Hill and Pipe Track areas.
Also read: South African Weather Service issues a fire warning for the Western Cape
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these great offers inspire you and fuel your imagination! Get them here.
Fires in these areas can pose a significant risk to communities living adjacent to the park, particularly with the hot temperatures and strong wind conditions currently being experienced.
SANParks firefighting teams, comprised of contracted crews from NCC Wildfires, Working on Fire and Volunteer Wildfire Services along with the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, have demonstrated swift response and effective containment of fires.
A concerning trend in the cause of these fires has surfaced, with the majority attributed to deliberate malicious intent.
Following investigations into the fires by Enviro Wildfire Pty Ltd – Western Cape, it is suspected that the three major fires were started with malicious intent.
Kalk Bay Fire – Arson
The fire above Boyes Drive in Kalk Bay, which started on 17 January 2024, burnt approximately 73 hectares of bush and was contained at 9:45pm with the collaborative efforts of over 115 firefighters, management staff, three Huey Helicopters, an AT 802 air tractor bomber, and a spotter plane.
Firefighters are still busy dealing with flare-ups from hotspots in this fire area.
Slangkop (Ocean View) Fire – Arson
A wildfire erupted in the Ocean View area at approximately 5:15pm on 18 January 2024. Preliminary reports suggest the use of dry-cut alien vegetation, potentially ignited with a cigarette lighter.
Pinehaven Fire – Arson
This fire started between Pinehaven and Da Gama and spread towards Scarborough at approximately 11:30pm on 18 January 2024. Current indicators strongly suggest that the Pinehaven fire was ignited with malicious intent.
Further investigation is underway.
SANParks’ dedicated crews, supported by NCC Wildfires and VWS, are on standby throughout the season and prepared for immediate deployment upon activation to ensure a robust response to emergent situations.
A strong partnership with the City of Cape Town and Provincial Disaster Management ensures a joint response to fires of consequence. Efforts are underway to increase patrols in the south, where many fires have occurred.
Further appreciation is conveyed to the public for their support, the Checkers group for their donation of goods and to Mustadafin Foundation, Spur Steak Ranches and Nando’s for sponsoring meals for firefighters.
South African National Parks encourages the public to continue to be vigilant and report any fires or suspicious activity immediately.
Information in the form of pin locations, photographs and/or video clips of the early stages of any fire occurring within the park is very valuable for an investigation into the cause of the fire and for investigators to reconstruct the sequence of events on behalf of South African National Parks.
The public is urged not to make fires, even in designated areas when wind conditions are very strong, due to the risk of fires spreading.
Fires and illegal activity in Table Mountain National Park can be reported to the emergency number on 086 110 021 or the Newlands Fire Base on 021 689 7438.
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Western Cape boosts wildfire defence budget during intense fire season