A fire broke out on the mountain slopes behind Simon’s Town in Cape Town on Monday. Photograph: Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services
Cape Town Fire: Now helicopters water bomb mountain slopes
Firefighters spent hours battling the latest Cape Town fire that flared up during the early hours of Monday on the slopes near Simon’s Town.
A fire broke out on the mountain slopes behind Simon’s Town in Cape Town on Monday. Photograph: Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services
Cape Town’s fire and rescue service has managed to get the fire in the Simons Town area under control and is currently monitoring the situation for any potential flare ups.
According to City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse the department received a call reporting that the mountain slopes in the area were on fire at around 5.55am.
Carelse said ten fire engines and 50 fire fighters had desponded to the latest scene of the fire to battle the blazes, assisted by Table Mountain National Park and a crew from the South African Navy.
“Two Oryx helicopters were requested from Ysterplaat Air Force base to assist with water bombing. The choppers water bombed the area for about two hours and we started downscaling until after 1pm. We currently still have two fire engines at the scene to watch for any flare ups,” he said.
Fire and rescue emergency workers had to evacuate Cape Town residents two weeks ago when as a huge fire raged along Table Mountain for several days.
The University of Cape Town’s historic library was severely damaged and a restaurant was destroyed in the blaze. Strong winds fanned the fire as some 250 fire fighters tirelessly battled the blaze as helicopters water bombed the area.
