Lion’s Head closed, firefighters hurt, cars burnt out — but blaze is contained

Injured firefighters were taken to hospital. and a firefighting vehicle was destroyed.
Image: Sunday Times/Esa Alexander

Table Mountain National Park has appointed Enviro Wildfire Services to investigate the cause of the wildfire being contained on the slopes of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head on Monday.

The efforts of 230 firefighters who battled the blaze on the slopes of Table Mountain since Sunday afternoon paid off on Monday morning when they were able to contain it.

The national park requested emergency reinforcements to help contain the blaze which burnt through 60ha of vegetation,  including fynbos and disused pine plantation stands.

The extra reinforcements will form part of a 100-person staff on standby in case of flare-ups amid unpredictable weather conditions.

The city of Cape Town said some firefighting staff were taken to hospital after being injured. One firefighting appliance was damaged by the fire.

Amid strong winds the fire, which started just below Tafelberg Road at noon on Sunday, quickly jumped across Kloofnek Road, setting alight vegetation on the lower slopes around Lion’s Head and Signal Hill.

Several vehicles parked at the entrance to the Lion’s Head walking route were destroyed or damaged.

All footpaths around Lion’s Head and The Glen were also closed on Monday until further notice.

Smoke billows over Lion’s Head on Sunday afternoon.
Image: Anthony Molyneax

On Sunday some of the country’s most expensive real estate was threatened by the fire along Nettleton Road above Clifton.

The city made emergency shelter available at the Clifton Community Hall on Sunday evening.

Up to 30 firefighting vehicles had earlier battled to contain the blaze along Tafelberg Road, between Kloofnek Road and Signal Hill, Lion’s Head towards Nettleton Road and in The Glen.

Several roads were closed but that did not deter some residents from bringing food and refreshments to the firefighters.

Read more of the story on TimesLIVE

BY: ARON HYMAN

SOURCE: TMG DIGITAL

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