Cape Town - Firefighting efforts were being scaled back in Cape Town with the focus now shifting to mopping up operations and damage assessment, the City of Cape Town said on Thursday.
The City’s mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said: “The next few days will include mopping up activities and an assessment of the total damages and cost of the operations. The City will also be procuring the services of forensic investigators to determine, where possible, the cause of the fires.”
Smith said firefighters were continuing to monitor hotspots for flare-ups in the South Peninsula after a fire that started in Muizenberg above Boyes Drive on Sunday, spread to a number of areas including Ou Kaapse Weg, Noordhoek, Chapman’s Peak, Tokai, Constantia and Clovelly.
“Currently, 10 ground crews continue to manage the situation in Constantia,” Smith said. “A few ground crews are also on duty in Clovelly and along Boyes Drive, between Lakeside and Kalk Bay. A stop/go system is in place on Boyes Drive, while Chapman’s Peak Drive remains closed as it is unsafe for road users at this time.”
The City of Cape Town’s Fire Safety Division confirmed on Wednesday that 13 properties had been affected by the fire, including the Tintswalo Lodge at the foot of Chapman’s Peak. Three of the properties have been completely destroyed - two in Constantia and one in Noordhoek.
Smith said the City of Cape Town firefighter who sustained burn wounds to his hands and face on Monday was recovering in hospital, and was due to be discharged on Friday to recuperate further at home. Another firefighter had twisted his ankle, while a volunteer from Working On Fire had suffered a broken arm.
“I want to wish these staff members a speedy recovery and thank them and their colleagues for what has been a truly Herculean effort - from those staff members on the frontlines to staff behind the scenes coordinating resources and helping us communicate with the public,” Smith said.
“Also, we’re enormously grateful to the residents of Cape Town for their support and encouragement as well as the volunteers who signed up in their numbers to help out.”
A number of agencies have been involved in the firefighting effort, including the City’s Fire and Rescue Service, Disaster Risk Management and Environmental Resource Management staff and volunteers, along with Table Mountain National Park, Working On Fire volunteers, Wild Land Fire Services and Volunteer Wildfire Services.
ANA