[Update] Cape Town’s burning, again: #DeerParkFire trends on social media

Update: 17 January, 9am SAST: Last night’s #DeerParkFire is all but extinguished on Devil’s Peak, after firefighters worked throughout the night to quell the blaze.

Residents this morning could see choppers water-bombing areas of the mountain, behind Disa Park. Capetonians also woke to thick smoke and, closer to the affected area, a thick film of ash and soot.

Everything’s dirty and stinks so bad but we are safe and that’s all that matters 🙏🏻 #DeerParkFire pic.twitter.com/mH6rUyAGnl

— Leandri (@Leandriii) January 17, 2017

After very hard night, crew of #VWS volunteers stands down from the #DeerParkFire and head to their day jobs. #ThankYou. @KFMza @CapeTalk pic.twitter.com/OF8hSdVhvc

— VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) January 17, 2017

🖕🏼🔥@capetown #capetownfire #deerparkfire pic.twitter.com/nSfngcHzSK

— hi 👋🏼 (@KayliVee) January 17, 2017

#DeerParkFire I thought war is on Helicopters left right early in the Morning none stop!!! Fire fighters did Best! Cape Town x pic.twitter.com/UIZzSYJC5f

— Purple Uyanda Dancer (@Mizzpurple01) January 17, 2017

CBD smoky as heck from the #DeerParkFire in #Vredehoek#capetownfire #fireseason #firewatch pic.twitter.com/iWVQA2cYJu

— Leah Gharbaharan (@typetigrrr) January 17, 2017

Original article: We wish that we didn’t have to write another story about our city burning, but Cape Town is on fire yet again. This time, a fire that seemingly started near Dear Park at the base of Table Mountain, is slowly creeping up Devil’s Peak.

Smoke was first spotted rising from Deer Park on Monday around 7pm SAST. By 10pm, the blaze was clearly visible as a red streak from the city centre.

Hi @vwsfires, @wo_fire, just a heads up. There’s smoke coming what seems to be Deer Park in Vredehoek. #capefire https://t.co/hkciRxyTzK pic.twitter.com/pETpixsFao

— Miriam Mannak (@miriammannak) January 16, 2017

According to reports, emergency services are currently on the scene, while social media is inundated by citizen journalists capturing the scene.

The blaze is currently (Tuesday 1am SAST) tracking its way behind the Disa Towers (affectionately known by some as the Pepper Pots), filling central Cape Town with smoke.

While some residents have evacuated voluntarily, there has been no official notice from officials of a mandatory evacuation at the time of writing. Additionally, there has been no reported damage to property.

Another fire in Cape Town. Looks like deerpark / above Vredehoek. #deerparkfire pic.twitter.com/n8hVtcPHro

— JduP (@Jduplessis003) January 16, 2017

View from Tafelberg road #deerparkfire in #Vredehoek being spread by the wind. @cptfrs, @vwsfires trying to take control. pic.twitter.com/0fg9yT2HAD

— Community Medics (@ComMedics) January 16, 2017

#deerparkfire getting out of control – slopes of table mountain. Flared up in last 20 mins pic.twitter.com/GrRuwYal4r

— John Ziniades (@johnziniades) January 16, 2017

At the time of writing, the #DeerParkFire is slowly creeping up Devil’s Peak with strong winds fanning the blaze

#deerparkfire @vwsfires appears to not be calming down at all. #vredehoek cars racing away to safety. Standing by with our plans but safe pic.twitter.com/dl7vcaqpi7

— Rob Weidner (@Rob_Weidner) January 16, 2017

Two more pics taken of the #DevilsPeak fire, from my flat in Gardens. Stay safe @vwsfires , @wo_fire and @TableMountainNP crews #capefire pic.twitter.com/c2tWrvKDsF

— Miriam Mannak (@miriammannak) January 16, 2017

#DeerParkFire tonight being fanned by strong winds #Vredehoek #CapeTown pic.twitter.com/lv7KeGWzim

— PropertyWheel (@PropertyWheel) January 16, 2017

View of the #DeerParkFire from #WembleySquare – looks like the fire is getting very close to the middle tower #DisaPark #Vredehoek pic.twitter.com/v4YEiA9ZhX

— PropertyWheel (@PropertyWheel) January 16, 2017

Fire raging on Table Mountain. Photo by David de Bruyn. #TableMountain #CapeTown #DeerParkFire pic.twitter.com/sar8l0ito5

— jack_webb (@jack_webb) January 16, 2017

Massive fire in Deer Park now. The flames are big, hoping everyone is okay. #deerparkfire #vredehoek #tablemountain @EnviroWildfires pic.twitter.com/J4DsRSxTPU

— Drifter Brewing Co. (@DrifterBrewing) January 16, 2017

Fire above Vredehoek from our house, hectic wind makes it very scary #capefire pic.twitter.com/r1t9cDtiCN

— Karen Mara Moss (@STEPS_SA) January 16, 2017

#deerparkfire pic.twitter.com/8k3TBYE9ia

— PJ Curtis™ (@Michail_hanslo) January 16, 2017

#DeerParkFire 12.00 midnight. pic.twitter.com/5NoqfdDTiJ

— Steve Leeson (@leesonsteve) January 16, 2017

The #DeerParkFire #Vredehoek photo taken from La Montagne complex. Good luck responders @cptfrs @vwsfires @TableMountainNP #CapeTown #Fire pic.twitter.com/unCZbudOpn

— Sarka Svoboda (@SarkaSvoboda) January 16, 2017

Last Friday, a blaze broke out on Cape Town’s Signal Hill, which also became one of the weekend’s biggest social media talking points for Capetonians. A 14-year-old was identified as a suspect in a case of arson.

At present, there’s no indication from authorities that arson is to blame for the Deer Park fire.

Earlier this month, a fire also broke out in Somerset West.

Developing story…

Live updates:

Follow live update from users and authorities on Twitter of the fire below:

Tweets about #DeerParkFire OR #Vredehoek OR #DevilsPeakFire OR #DevilsPeak OR #CapeFire

Feature image: Miriam Mannak via Twitter