PHOTOS: Simonstown residents evacuated as fire rages
Updated | By ANA
Residents of Runciman Heights and Harbour Heights in Simonstown were evacuated on Thursday as the City of Cape Town’s disaster management 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 of Cape Town spokesperson 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”. - ANA
Fire still going in Simonstown. pic.twitter.com/xVU72BX1ix
— Laetitia (@llpot) November 19, 2015
#SIMONSTOWNFIRE not looking good as westerly wind picks up over #simonstown 3 choppers #sharon photo pic.twitter.com/lUzrDX9dTs
— CapeHolidays.Info (@capeholidays) November 19, 2015
#Simonstownfire residents getting worried at Africander Road #simonstown photo at froggy farm by friend Sharon pic.twitter.com/KEgdZFknrk
— CapeHolidays.Info (@capeholidays) November 19, 2015
Fire raging in Simonstown @The_New_Age @News24 @QueenKing_SA pic.twitter.com/lky8mjG0hy
— I am Tsitsi (@Lebogang_twit) November 19, 2015
Fires in Simonstown pic.twitter.com/rBAwpjg30f
— Pancras Malani (@MalaniPancras) November 19, 2015
@Scott_Tait Murdoch Valley effected
— Elize (@ElizetaylorMia) November 19, 2015
Oaklands #simonstown #capefire #capenews @CapeTown pic.twitter.com/svL7W783kf
— Scotty (@Scott_Tait) November 19, 2015
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