Cause of Hangberg fire under investigation
The cause of a fire that scorched 14 hectares of mountain fynbos along a Hangberg mountainside last Thursday is under investigation, says South African National Parks (SANParks).
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service received a call at approximately 3pm reporting mountain slopes alight in Hangberg, according to spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse.
“City firefighters, with eight fire engines and four water tankers, attended to the fire with crews from Table Mountain National Park and the Volunteer Wildfire Services.
“We used water from the fire resources on scene as well as the aerial support that water bombed the inaccessible areas. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.”
No injuries were reported nor were there any homes affected by the fire, Mr Carelse added.
SANParks spokesperson JP Louw confirms the fire’s cause is still under investigation.
“The fire burnt approximately 14 hectares of mountain fynbos. Services were alerted about the fire at 3pm and dispatched ground crew and aerial support.”
Local Hangberg resident, Ricardo Phillips said: “Luckily no homes were affected by the fire which was spread all the way up the mountains and behind it.”
Ward Councillor Roberto Quintas expressed a special thanks towards all the firemen who assisted on the day.
“A massive thank you to the City of Cape Town and Table Mountain National Park Fire Services for combating and containing this blaze yesterday early evening.
“Unbelievable work and coordinated response which prevented a vegetation fire becoming a human habitation disaster. Helicopters and ground crew contained the blaze and ensured that residents were able to breathe a sigh of relief by nightfall.”
- The City of Cape Town confirmed this week that their Biodiversity Management Branch staff and partners will be conducting ecological burns at various nature reserves in February, March and April.
The City said the recommended ecological burns areas for this season include: Meadowridge Common Conservation Area (1.5 ha northern block), Muizenberg East Private Conservation Area (3 ha), Westlake Conservation Centre (1,66 ha) and Uitkamp Wetland Nature Reserve – (8.12 ha).
For more information, email Biodiversity@capetown.gov.za
