Simon’s Town fire: Early-morning evacuations
More than 300 firefighters and the crews of three choppers are still fighting the fire.
Firefighting bodies continue to battle the inferno that has been blazing in Simon’s Town for more than 24 hours.
The fire started on private property and spread into SANParks and SA Navy properties on the mountain slopes surrounding the Cape Peninsula town early yesterday morning.
This morning, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse commended all those involved in fighting the fire, including volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the night.
He said that three choppers were still water-bombing the area and more than 300 staff were on the ground.
“Only a single derelict building was damaged last night at around 20:00 on the grounds of the SA Navy. The threat to the houses in Victory, Horatio and Barnard streets was averted in the early hours of this morning. Residents of Harbour Heights were evacuated as a precaution just before 01:00,” he said.
“Five firefighters sustained injuries and two were taken to the hospital.
“Officials are assessing the situation, while Disaster Risk Management volunteers are assisting on the frontline with their skid units.”
⚠️UPDATE ON SIMON’S TOWN FIRE by Fire & Rescue Services Spokesperson, Jermain Carelse
We would like to commend the firefighting efforts of not only our City staff but those from TMNP, NCC, WOF, VWS and DRM volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the night.#CTNews pic.twitter.com/9yw7QOio4E
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 20, 2023
Early today, SANParks said four helicopters, a Blackhawk, and an SANDF Oryx were deployed at first light to tackle approximately 9km of fire line.
Ground crews were scheduled to join the monitoring efforts by 08:00.
“Fortunately, no houses have been lost behind Simon’s Town, though one building at Signal School sustained damage.
“Resource deployment includes a crew from the NCC Wildfires working on the left flank, Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) ground crews approaching from Smits, and Working on Fire deployment from Plateau Road into Klawer.
“Our resources on the ground consist of five firefighting tankers, one skid unit, 58 Working on Fire firefighters, 12 NCC Wildfires firefighters, 13 VWS firefighters, and Table Mountain National Park management team,” said Justin Buchman, the integrated fire manager at Table Mountain National Park.
Fire timeline, as posted on the City of Cape Town’s X (formerly Twitter) feed.
Additional City resources have been dispatched – on the ground currently are 15 fire engines, 7 water tankers and more than 90 City firefighters, along with crews from TMNP, NCC and the VWS.
No properties have been affected. pic.twitter.com/GI6qVgaJ5V
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 19, 2023
⚠️UPDATE ON SIMON’S TOWN FIRE by Fire & Rescue Services Spokesperson, Jermain Carelse
The wind is still fanning the fire, which is moving towards Simon’s Town.
Incident Management Team 3 is activated, with an incident command post set up at Simon’s Town Fire Station.#CTNews pic.twitter.com/WpVwiYcMrF
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 19, 2023
Helicopters, fiery orange flames, thick smoke. The #Simonstown #wildfire is still raging – but the @CityofCT firefighters are amazing. pic.twitter.com/afF63u31Cd
— Kerry Cullinan (@kerrycullinan11) December 19, 2023
The City advises residents against dropping refreshments on the fire line, for their own safety.
Anyone who wishes to make donations can drop these at the Simon’s Town Fire Station on Long Beach Road.
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 19, 2023
⚠️UPDATE ON SIMON’S TOWN FIRE
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre has set up a mobile JOC in Simon’s Town.
Officials are assessing the situation, while DRM volunteers are assisting on the frontline with their skid units.#CTNews pic.twitter.com/aSB9YuK2Mt
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 19, 2023
The threat to the houses on Victory, Horatio and Barnard Streets was everted in the early hours of this morning. The residents of Harbour Heights were evacuated as a precaution just before 01:00. Five firefighters sustained injuries and two were taken to the hospital.
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 20, 2023
⚠️UPDATE ON SIMON’S TOWN FIRE by Fire & Rescue Services Spokesperson, Jermain Carelse
We would like to commend the firefighting efforts of not only our City staff but those from TMNP, NCC, WOF, VWS and DRM volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the night.#CTNews pic.twitter.com/9yw7QOio4E
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) December 20, 2023
Sea Cow Lake fire
In another fire on Monday, fire departments from around Durban were fighting a building fire on Sea Cow Lake Road in Durban North.
As reported by Northglen News on Monday, the fire broke out at about 15:00 and people were safely evacuated.
No injuries were reported.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
