City of Cape Town deploys 90 firefighters to battle flare-ups on Table Mountain

CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town has deployed 90 firefighters to battle flare-ups on Table Mountain, after a blaze that first broke out on Friday reignited this morning.

Crews have been sent to several areas, including Noordhoek, Steenberg Estate, Ou Kaapse Weg, and Clovelly.

In Muizenberg, Boyes Drive has been closed in both directions between Main Road and Clairvaux Road.

Authorities say the Noordhoek retirement village has been evacuated as a safety precaution.

READ: Two out of three fires contained in Table Mountain National Park - SANParks

Table Mountain National Park Manager Megan Taplin said that evacuations are also underway on the Silvermine hiking trails.

 “There were three fires that were deliberately started, we believe, we’re still investigating it, and this particular fire then was contained, but because of a change in wind direction and also the wind getting very strong, the fire has flared up and it’s burning towards Silvermine Dam.”

She said that more resources are being requested as the fire continues to grow.

 “We do have ground teams on the ground, as well as three helicopters that are currently fighting the fire from the air and we’re trying to see if we can get any other helicopter or a fourth helicopter to join but those three helicopters are the only ones in the western cape at the moment that we are using on the fire.”