Emergency shelters activated in Simonstown
Emergency shelters have been activated in Simsonstown as a fire continues to rage out of control.
City of Cape Town spokesperson Charlotte Powell said evacuated residents were being provided with accommodation at the Simonstown and Fish Hoek municipal halls as well as the Simonstown country club.
The City’s fire services, National Parks, the SA Navy, City Biodiversity, Working on Fire, NSRI volunteers and Disaster Risk Management volunteers were battling the flames on Thursday evening.
Residents of Runciman Heights and Harbour Heights in Simonstown were evacuated on Thursday as firefighters battled to bring a mountain blaze under control.
The fire started on the mountain slopes above the coastal town on Wednesday night, and by late Thursday afternoon firefighters were still battling the flames as winds increased and changed direction.
City spokeswoman Charlotte Powell said two houses in Afrikander Road had been completely destroyed, while in Valley Road one house and a double garage had been razed to the ground. In Dorries Road, a house was damaged and another burnt to the ground.
Powell said six bungalows at the Oatlands Holiday Day Village were also damaged.
The City’s JP Smith, earlier on Thursday, said helicopters had been waterbombing the Klaver Valley while ten pumps and five water tenders were on the scene.
The Froggy Pond area, where there are about 200 houses, had already been evacuated while the road leading from Simonstown to Cape Point was closed between Boulders beach and Miller’s Point.
Powell said the road was only open to residents and she urged people “to keep the roadways clear to allow emergency vehicles to respond”.
Meanwhile, animals are also being evacuated. The SPCA has five vehicles on the scene, including a dog trailer, horse trailer, and ten personnel.
“Currently a few dogs and cats have been evacuated to a holding area. Staff are also nursing a burnt tortoise”, Powell said.