PHOTOS: Fish Hoek fire flares up again
Updated | By ANA
Some Fish Hoek and Sunny Cove residents were evacuated in the early hours of Saturday morning after a large vegetation fire in the area flared up overnight.
However, the fire had again been brought under control by about 8am, eyewitnesses said on Saturday morning.
Residents on the mountainside above Fish Hoek and Sunny Cove were woken around midnight by fire crews and urged to leave their homes after the fire, contained earlier, flared up and spread further down the Elsie’s Peak mountainside.
According to eyewitnesses, about 80 firefighters and eight fire engines battled throughout the early hours of the morning while panicked residents, many of them elderly, left their homes taking valuables and sentimental treasures such as photo albums along with them.
Others remained, waiting with their vehicles loaded with children and animals ready for a quick escape.
But by about 8am fire crews said the blaze was again under control as helicopters water bombed the flames.
Residents were being allowed to return to their homes but were asked to remain vigilant and ready to evacuate as the danger had not yet passed.
Highway Road resident Uli Glunk, 77, said said his neighbour woke him at about 1am.
“Our houses were surrounded by flames. There were fire trucks and hoses snaking all over the gardens and the roads; shouting everywhere, above the roar of the flames,” he said.
On Thursday night, the City of Cape Town said the fire had been brought under control.
Late on Thursday afternoon, several Fish Hoek residents were evacuated and moved to a community hall. By 8pm, the city’s executive director for safety and security Richard Bosman reported they had returned home as the fire was “well under control”.
Three helicopters had been flying over the area throughout the day on Thursday to water bomb the fire.
City firefighters were assisted by staff from Table Mountain National Parks, Working on Fire, the navy, disaster management, traffic, metro police, and the military.
According to media reports on Saturday, firefighters were also battling a fire in the Newlands Forest. Helicopters were also water bombing the flames. The fire was expected to be contained soon. - ANA
#FishHoekFire thank you pic.twitter.com/EGdN3Savrb
— Charlie Murray (@charlie6307) January 23, 2016
Choppers filling up on Sea water to fight smoldering #FishHoekFire pic.twitter.com/wqqaL8vzZM
— Gavin Jones (@GJones_CPT) January 23, 2016
Fire flaring up on #FishHoek mountain #FishHoekFire pic.twitter.com/lzRSfnSScu
— Bronwen d'Oliveira (@bronnitee) January 22, 2016
#Fire in #FishHoek today #Capefire #FishHoekFire #SouthAfrica #HappeningNow pic.twitter.com/G1eza8GSDc
— Sylvia T (@sylviatra) January 21, 2016
Earlier today and the wind was just not helping #FishHoekFire pic.twitter.com/G4Dl5BeVPY
— Moz (@Twaloh) January 21, 2016
Jinne. #FishHoekFire pic.twitter.com/C1YB8GqgTv
— Thomas Moola $$$ (@Peterchosenwhan) January 21, 2016
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