Cape Town - The South African National Parks (SANParks) said they remain concerned about the continued presence of hikers in areas that have been closed off due to fire damage and active fire operations.
This, after raging wild fires which firefighters had been battling in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).In a statement SANParks Head of communications and spokesperson JP Louw said: “Due to a change in wind conditions and strong gusting winds overnight, the Newlands Ravine fire has since spread toward Tafelberg Road and Vredehoek.
“All available resources from the TMNP fire management team, NCC Wildfires, Volunteer Wildfire Services, Working on Fire, Provincial Disaster Management, Enviro Wildfire Services, and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services have been diverted to various sections along Tafelberg Road, Red Hill and its surrounding areas to contain the fire.
“All available aerial resources will be deployed at first light to the City Bowl and Red Hill as a priority.” He added that the fire in Red Hill is still active, burning south of Ocean View toward Kommetjie. Firefighting efforts are ongoing.
As a precaution, the following areas will remain closed until further notice:
- Front Table trails: From Platteklip Gorge to Newlands, including Maclear’s Beacon.
- Tafelberg Road closed to the public,
- Kirstenbosch and Rhodes Memorial Estate: Active fire lines remain close to Kirstenbosch. Newlands Forest remains closed.
- Red Hill trails: Access from Red Hill, Slangkop, Ocean View, Jonkersdam, and Kleinplaas Dam is restricted.
“We urge the public to strictly adhere to all trail closures for their safety,” concluded Louw.
Selma Hercules, executive director for the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company said: “Due to smoke in and around the area, the fire department has closed Tafelberg Road.
@capeargus_news 📹 Firefighters continue to battle the Newlands Ravine fire that broke out on Sunday morning and flared up again on Tuesday. Firefighting crews have now been deployed in Vredehoek and along Table Mountain road as the fire approaches homes. Strong winds have spread the flames over Devil’s Peak and the fire can be seen from the city bowl. Currently no buildings are at risk and no evacuation orders are in place. #tablemountainfire #news #capetown ♬ War Hammer - Noise Candy Music
“As a result, the Table Mountain Cableway is not operational today until further notice. We’ll provide updates as soon as we have more information. Stay safe, and thank you for your understanding.”