Cape Town – Fire crews are still battling an extensive area of mountain slips alight above the R44, but only in the mountainous area above Kogel Bay.
This was stated on Tuesday afternoon by the City's Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Theo Layne, who said the R44 will remain closed for the remainder of the day.
Layne said helicopters are waterbombing areas that are inaccessible to ground crews, with a strong wind still hampering firefighting efforts. He gave the assurance that there is no danger to property or it reaching Gordon's Bay.
Meanwhile, the man accused of starting the blaze that devastated the Overstrand is expected to apply for bail next week. Shelton April, 34, appeared in the Caledon Magistrate's Court on Monday, where the case was postponed for a week.
He faces a charge of contravening the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act for allegedly causing a fire, discarding a burning object in a place where it could start a fire, and acting in a manner likely to cause fire, Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said on Tuesday, News24 reported.
The fire has devastated areas close to Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay, Hangklip and Rooi Els. It is understood that a flare set off in Betty's Bay on New Year's Day sparked the fire.
The fire has burnt at least 7 000ha of land and most of the critically endangered vegetation that was burnt falls within the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.
Cobie Rossouw, 59, died as a result of suspected smoke inhalation in Pringle Bay last Thursday, Netwerk24 reported. It is not yet clear whether prosecutors will add a charge related to this death.
On Sunday, the fire spread to the upper slopes of the mountain at Kogel Bay. Holidaymakers at Kogel Bay Resort were evacuated as a precaution.