CAPE TOWN – A veld fire on the slopes of Table Mountain in South Africa forced students from the University of Cape Town to evacuate on Sunday, as runaway flames ignited several campus buildings and firefighters used helicopters to water the area.
One firefighter sustained burns and was taken to hospital for treatment, officials said.
The fire broke out early Sunday near a memorial to politician Cecil Rhodes, located on Devils Peak, another part of Cape Town’s mountainous backdrop, before spreading rapidly down the slopes.
Heavy smoke could be seen miles away, some roads were closed and fire alarms were sent to mountaineers.
“All UCT students have been evacuated by campus emergency services,” the university said in a statement.
The university, which is considered among the best on the continent, was largely built on the slopes of Devil’s Peak and is close to the place where the fire broke out.
On social media, students were shown grinding around on the highway amid undulating smoke blowing through strong winds. Another video, tweeted by the local government, showed flames burning inside an old building with columns as plumes of smoke rose from its roof.
City officials said they had not asked residents in the popular suburb of Rondesbosch and vicinity to evacuate.
“The situation is being monitored and staff will go from door to door if evacuation is needed,” officials said.