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| Waves break at the Brass Bell in Kalk Bay as the fire near Castle Rock spreads to Simon's Town. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Daily Maverick) |
Firefighting efforts in Simon's Town, South Africa, continued Wednesday morning as flames spread across the mountain's eastern slopes. Five firefighters sustained injuries, and two were taken to the hospital. The fire began on Tuesday evening and edged near homes on Tuesday evening. Residents from Simonskloof and Harbour Heights were evacuating around 1 am on Wednesday. The City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre stated that evacuation is unnecessary, but staff closely monitor the situation.
An emergency vehicle was driving up and down the streets in Harbour Heights around 1 am with sirens wailing, urging residents to evacuate. Firefighters arrived in Seaforth Sound at 1.30 am on Wednesday to try to keep the fire at bay, and residents were expected to vacate. The road leading into Simon's Town has been closed to traffic at Red Hill Road, with access restricted to residents only.
On Wednesday morning, three helicopters were water-bombing the area while more than 300 staff were still on the ground. Only a single derelict building was damaged last night on the grounds of the SA Navy. The threat to houses on Victory, Horatio, and Barnard Streets was everted in the early hours of this morning. Animal welfare organisations were also on standby for the many animals, wild and domestic, who were likely to be injured. Three vehicles from the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa stood below Simonskloof on Tuesday night, waiting for the go-ahead to scour the ashes for wounded animals.
The fire began at about 7 am on Tuesday and moved swiftly up the ridge towards the SA Navy ammunition depot above Simon's Town. Nearly 30 firefighters, including crews from Table Mountain National Park and NCC, were on the scene. As the day wore on, more than 60 firefighters battled the flames, assisted by four helicopters and a spotter plane.
At dusk, a massive plume of smoke billowed over Cape Town's Deep South, with a fierce southeaster fanning the flames. When Daily Maverick returned to Simon's Town at 6 pm, the town's Main Road was crowded with residents and tourists, some wearing masks and most gazing at the inferno on the hillside.
