Firefighters in South Africa’s Western Cape province are battling multiple wildfires, with strong winds complicating containment efforts in several regions, including Table Mountain National Park and the Cape Winelands.
According to South African National Parks (SANParks), a fire in the Newlands Ravine, which flared up on Tuesday morning, remains inaccessible to ground crews.
As a result, all trails in Newlands, Devil’s Peak and Maclear’s Beacon have been closed until further notice due to fire damage and rockfalls.
Meanwhile, another fire on the Red Hill, also within Table Mountain National Park, is being fought by both ground crews and aerial resources in collaboration with the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services.
“A key concern at this stage is the wind forecast for this evening, which could significantly impact the Red Hill to Da Gama Park section of Table Mountain National Park,” SANParks spokesperson Charles Phahlane told the media.
Further inland, firefighters are also battling fires in the Cape Winelands, with teams from the District Municipality’s Fire Services, CapeNature and the Winelands Fire Protection Association responding to multiple blazes in the Witzenberg area.
A new fire was reported in Lateganskop, just before Bainskloof, where crews are focusing on property protection.
Firefighters are also working to contain active fires along three flanks of the Tulbagh Mountains in the same region.
JN/APA