Over the past 24 or so hours, South Africans have been avidly following the progress of a devastating wildfire raging across Cape Town’s Southern Peninsula. The massive blaze, which started in the early hours of Sunday morning, was fanned by strong winds, causing it to spread rapidly.
While initially the fire was contained to a section of Table Mountain National Park, it spread rapidly throughout the day and night eventually becoming a threat to a number of suburbs including Noordhoek, Muizenburg, Fish Hoek, and Tokai. As winds picked up throughout the course of Sunday and into the early hours of Monday morning, the efforts of those battling the blaze were severely hampered.
No ad to show here.
As well as spreading the flames, firefighting helicopters were unable to take off and fly, neutralising one of the biggest weapons in their arsenal. The fire even spread across Chapman’s Peak, one of Cape Town’s most popular tourist attractions.
At one stage in the early of hours of Monday morning, the fire was advancing in a line from the top of the peak right down to the ocean.
A number of homes in the affected suburbs have had to be evacuated, with some damaged. An old-age home in the area was also evacuated as a precautionary measure. Throughout the course of the fire, a number of people fighting and affected by it, have taken to Twitter to share photos of it.
The results underline the awesome, devastating power behind the blaze as well as the bravery of those battling against it.
#MuizenbergFire #CapeTownFire This property in Swaanswyk, Tokai, has been razed Pic: @AlettaGardner pic.twitter.com/Oc9qmFR7OF
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 4, 2015
“@SNkoala: All that is left of Wood Owl cottage in Tokai where SanParks guests were often accommodated #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/slsINvpSmX”#fb
— Gillian Rightford (@grightford) March 4, 2015
Where is that Nkandla fire pool when you need it? Strength to the firefighters & volunteers. #CTFires pic.twitter.com/Eulh5pWMvc
— David Potter (@DavidCOJ102) March 3, 2015
Ring of fire above #HoutBay as morning breaks. #CTFires pic.twitter.com/UcWcfOPDoT
— Penny Haw (@PennyHaw) March 3, 2015
Evac’ing on Zwaanswyk Rd. This is so sad on every and all levels. I don’t even know what to say anymore. #CapeFire pic.twitter.com/JxZfJBl8zM
— MyCityByNight (@MyCityByNight) March 4, 2015
#MuizenbergFire #CapeTownFire Another property in Tokai which was totally destroyed. Pic: @AlettaGardner pic.twitter.com/sYhYf3yqlj
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 4, 2015
RT @bb_aisha: Annie the music teacher fled with her pianos.Playing for evacuees #Noordhoek field. #CapeFire pic.twitter.com/WQZhYaY5Ax
— eNCA (@eNCAnews) March 4, 2015
Fire in the background in @CapeTown I took from one of the beaches, the smoke trail was huge #CapeTownFire pic.twitter.com/6sUjQERoOC
— AshleyIrvinRobertson (@BookOfAshleyrob) March 4, 2015
Apocalyptic. #capefires pic.twitter.com/x4KGbTCQJQ
— matt (@matthewbuckland) March 4, 2015
.@CapeTown airport water cannon here 2fight Tokai #capefire!THANK YOU!Reports of residents not evacing from Price Dr. pic.twitter.com/INq5J6ws0E
— MyCityByNight (@MyCityByNight) March 4, 2015
wow!! Photographer captures images of #CapeFire interrupting his Sunday lunch > http://t.co/Gky7BHux3y pic.twitter.com/MasbVSJnxc MT @eNCAnews
— Cape Town (@CapeTown) March 4, 2015
RT @JodiTocker: Incredible image captured of firefighter battling a mountain of fire – #CapeTownFire Heroes! pic.twitter.com/MQgHeRI3h8
— Communikay (@CommunikaySA) March 4, 2015
Level 4, Tokai. Supplies delivered to tired, hot & even wounded legends! They so grateful! Keep it coming! #CapeFire pic.twitter.com/ZV7xGfn2bj
— MyCityByNight (@MyCityByNight) March 3, 2015
@TaineMcLean Not bloody surprised. Steenberg: pic.twitter.com/bmPA4M9evh
— André van Rooyen (@andrevr) March 3, 2015
Hundreds of bats flying over Baviaanskloof as the #houtbayfire burns through their hideouts. pic.twitter.com/DFx4no4ssp
— Neil Lund (@Neil_Lund) March 3, 2015
Fire dep: Please put shallow bowls of water in your gardens for the fleeing animals! #MuizenbergFire #CapeTownFire pic.twitter.com/H8aObNajRy
— Shân Fischer (@ShanFischer_Art) March 2, 2015
Tortoise frozen by the blaze at Silvermine. #MuizenbergFire pic.twitter.com/21VQxKZiMX
— anton crone (@antoncrone) March 2, 2015
Apocalyptic scene of the mountain burning here in Hout Bay. #CapeFire #CapeTownFire #houtbayfire pic.twitter.com/F90XOi4gae
— Michael Gaylord (@mjgaylord) March 3, 2015
Ring of fire around Chapman’s Peak mountain, evening 2 #MuizenbergFire #CapeFire #noordhoekfire #noordhoek pic.twitter.com/PJ6SEC9aWZ — matt (@matthewbuckland) March 2, 2015
#MuizenbergFire still going strong, unfortunately. Here’s the scary view from my place… pic.twitter.com/1hZCBEuAaL — Ryan Bubear (@Ryan_Bubear) March 2, 2015
Tollgate at Chapman’s Peak #HoutBay. Pic by Charles Mercer via FB. #MuizenbergFire #Chappies pic.twitter.com/xlY4vnJcoO — Jane-Anne Hobbs (@Jane_Anne62) March 2, 2015
View from #HoutBay harbour. Pic by Charles Mercer via FB #MuizenbergFire #Chappies @clearchange pic.twitter.com/uF1mgiQlWN — Jane-Anne Hobbs (@Jane_Anne62) March 2, 2015
Chapman’s Peak burning from peak to sea. Pic courtesy @charleshbmercer via FB. #MuizenbergFire #Houtbay pic.twitter.com/8BRPfZHEuU — Jane-Anne Hobbs (@Jane_Anne62) March 2, 2015
#MuizenbergFire raging down mountain. Hope all firefighters and properties safe. #CapeFire @IanBredenkamp @945Kfm pic.twitter.com/uK6Vcn0fZf — Craig Reid (@CraigIanReid) March 1, 2015
UPDATE: Fires rage in Cape Town’s deep south http://t.co/ndVSNsB9BE #MuizenbergFire pic.twitter.com/scNlUH00A6 — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 2, 2015
More trees just gone up. Wind gusting. ou Kaapse Weg like Armageddon has hit. #capefire #MuizenbergFire pic.twitter.com/4cRa1lRZ7J — MyCityByNight (@MyCityByNight) March 2, 2015
#MuizenbergFire still raging. Hope everyone is okay! @CapeTalk567 @945Kfm pic.twitter.com/1GymrBavUD — Candice King (@candiceking1984) March 1, 2015
“@SEOandM: Muizenberg Mountain Fire #firefightersrule #bushfire pic.twitter.com/uFx7xec3Jl” — VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) March 1, 2015
Another one of Noordhoek Mountain fire close to the houses early hours this morning. #MuizenbergFire @vwsfires pic.twitter.com/VtQNWOqDs6 — StephenC Photography (@stephencphotog) March 2, 2015
A large tree explodes. Noordhoek mountain early hours of this morning. #MuizenbergFire @vwsfires pic.twitter.com/MZJu34R4am — StephenC Photography (@stephencphotog) March 2, 2015
Sprinklers on thatch roofs. Trees cracking, smoke getting thicker. SE still pumps. Noordhoek. 2:55am @945Kfm pic.twitter.com/dYVEceeWtU — Deon Bing (@deon_bing) March 2, 2015
Thanks to everyone from @vwsfires who gave their time to battle the #MuizenbergFire. I hope it isn’t a long night. pic.twitter.com/NqYBJAEm7d — Simon (@complexsimon) March 1, 2015
#Muizenberg #wildfires @vwsfires waterbombing above naval base. pic.twitter.com/WpQIGhVO74 — Nicky Schmidt (@NickySchmidt1) March 1, 2015
#MuizenbergFire Panoramic view from Chapman’s Peak of the fire speeding over the mountain. Pic: @AlettaGardner pic.twitter.com/ZOk89tJbuW — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 2, 2015
Updated pictures of #MuizenbergFire from @CityofCT JP Smith on Chapman’s Peak. pic.twitter.com/LyAcBxBFzL — CapeTalk (@CapeTalk567) March 2, 2015
#MuizenbergFire An incredible aerial perspective on the scale right now pic.twitter.com/kIRcKBeveO — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 2, 2015
That’s quite a big fire. pic.twitter.com/oORna5ZTcc — Jerm (@mynameisjerm) March 2, 2015
Arrial views of #capefire @945Kfm @RyanOConnorSA @ewnupdates Photos credit: Anel VD Spuy on #Facebook via @vwsfires pic.twitter.com/VroUvz6ROH — Marion Thomas (@marionthomas) March 2, 2015
#MuizenbergFire The fire has covered a huge area which you can only appreciate from the air. Pic: @AlettaGardner pic.twitter.com/l4A9GAFczd — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 2, 2015
