Cape Town - Eight homes were damaged and 300 people evacuated as firefighters battled in the southern peninsula mountains where a fire broke out at the weekend, Cape Town Disaster Risk Management said on Wednesday.
“Since the early hours of this morning eight houses were damaged, three were badly damaged. One in Noordhoek, two in Tokai, one in the Steenberg Golf Estate and four in Klein Constantia,” said spokeswoman Charlotte Powell.
“At this stage approximately 300 people were evacuated and no injuries reported.”
Powell said the evacuations were in Tokai, Noordhoek and Chapman's Peak.
“The hotspots where firefighters are trying to contain the fire are Clovelly, Klein Constantia and Tokai,” she said.
Roads that remain closed were Boyes Road, Chapman's Peak and Clovelly Road.
She said about 300 firefighters were working around the clock, from various places including Working on Fire, City of Cape Town and Table Mountain National Parks.
Various rescue crews worked overnight to try and contain the fire.
On Monday, the City of Cape Town said that three helicopters water-bombed Hout Bay and Tokai until sunset.
The fire started on Sunday but was contained and started again just after 2am on Monday in Muizenberg above Boyes Drive and was fanned by strong winds.
It spread to Ou Kaapse Weg, Chapman's Peak, Hout Bay and Tokai.
One city firefighter had been admitted to hospital after sustaining burn wounds while 52 frail-care residents from the Noordhoek retirement village were treated for smoke inhalation.
Five homes had been destroyed along Silvermine in Noordhoek.
There was also some damage to parts of Tintswalo Lodge at the foot of Chapman's Peak.
Sapa