Firefighters were on Tuesday still battling a raging runaway fire in Gordon’s Bay in Cape Town, the Disaster Risk Management Centre said.
”City firefighters have been busy with firefighting operations since 3am on Monday and throughout the night. They are still busy bringing the fire under control,” said spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.
The fire started in the Overberg District area and spread to the Streenbras Dam Catchment area.
Solomons-Johannes said two houses were damaged and one gutted by the blaze. Available standby and off-duty firefighters were called to help — bringing the number to 150.
Residents living along the Gordon’s Bay’s mountain slopes (Upper Watt, Suikerbossie, Valley and Kloof Streets) were evacuated by about 7pm on Monday.
Solomon-Johannes said 54 firefighting trucks and a contingent of law-enforcement officials were sent to the scene.
The South African Weather Service indicated that the current weather conditions were unlikely to change within the next 24 hours, which could hamper the efforts of firefighters.
”This situation once again illustrates the need for citizens to exercise extreme caution to reduce fire risk when such dry and windy conditions are being experienced,” said Solomons-Johannes.
Residents were urged to exercise caution in the vicinity of fires.
”We are keeping a watchful eye on all the fires … The South African National Defence and air force have been requested to be on standby to assist with aerial firefighting.”
Life-threatening emergencies could be reported to the city’s public emergency communications centre on 107 on a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. — Sapa