CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – Firefighters on Tuesday largely contained a wildfire on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town, while the city began inflicting damage by what officials described as one of the worst flames in the area. in years.
About 90% of the fire was contained, Table Mountain National Park Authority said, but only after firefighters worked through the night again and fought the flames for a third day.
The firefighters faced “extreme conditions” overnight, says the Working on Fire organization, which specializes in dealing with wildfires and helping the city’s fire department. The operation on Table Mountain has now reached the “mop-up” stage, Working on Fire said.
Firefighting helicopters dropped water on areas where the fire was still smoldering and smoking on the rocky peaks of Table Mountain. South African army hijackers joined the operation to support the fire brigade after the helicopters were all on the ground on Monday due to the strong wind.
The wind eased, but there was still smoke hanging over the city and firefighters flared up.
“Our first priority is to completely extinguish all the fire lines,” said Anton Bredell, local official. ‘Then firefighters will continue for the next few days to dampen and monitor the affected areas for flare-ups until we are 100% sure the fire is out.
“Once the fire has been extinguished, the cause of the fire will be investigated.”
Wildfires are fairly common in the mountains and peaks around Cape Town during the hot, dry summer months and become especially dangerous and unpredictable when fueled by strong coastal winds.
They sometimes sparkle due to the heat and the dry ground, and other times are the result of fires being blown out of control by people.
This fire started early Sunday and, fueled by strong winds, tore across the slopes of the mountain in the direction of residential areas overlooking the city center of Cape Town.
Neighborhoods have been evacuated while firefighters mostly keep the flames at a distance and away from homes – sometimes with only a few feet left. About 250 firefighters were mobilized.
A total of 11 buildings were destroyed, six firefighters were injured while fighting the fire and nine other people were treated for breathing problems due to smoke inhalation, city authorities said.
The University of Cape Town campus was one of the first sites to be hit and apparently suffered the most damage. Numerous buildings at the university burned down, including part of a nearly 100-year-old library containing rare books and manuscripts on African studies. The university said some of the “priceless” works had been lost, but that was still unclear.
Other historic buildings in the area, including a 225-year-old windmill and a well-known restaurant and tea room near a memorial to British colonial politician Cecil Rhodes, also burned down.
At the tea room, plates and half-full cups sat on charred tables between the ruins, showing how customers and staff were forced to flee suddenly. Small fires were still burning in the nearby forest.
The South African government said a house owned by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was completely destroyed by the fire. The house was empty at the time, but relatives of a national minister and two deputy ministers had to be evacuated from their nearby homes. The government is also approaching the residence of South African Deputy President David Mabuza in Cape Town.
The government of Table Mountain National Park burned about 600 acres (1,482 acres) of land.