The larger part of Cape Town was blanketed in smoke yesterday afternoon, as a runaway veld fire burned on the slopes of Sir Lowry’s Pass above Gordon’s Bay.
At least four homes were lost to the fire on Tuesday afternoon, as emergency services battled to keep the encroaching flames away from the seaside suburb. Both the R44 and Sir Lowry’s Pass were closed to traffic.
So heartbreaking to see this. Smoke everywhere. Always sad about the animals ? #SirLowrysPassFire #GordonsBayFire pic.twitter.com/Kyv9mN0Ir2
— Basil Frank (@redtieguy) November 7, 2017
#SteenbrasFire IC (division Echo) update 21.45 7/11/17 Status: large parts of #wildfire under control, burnout on south side of N2 #goFPA pic.twitter.com/KIqXNDz9c6
— Greater Overberg FPA (@OverbergFPA) November 7, 2017
By Wednesday morning, large tracts of dark smoke could still be seen billowing from above Sir Lowry’s Pass. Emergency services on the scene endured a long and taxing night.
#GordonsBayFire This is where the fire started yesterday, along Sir Lowry’s Pass. Smoke from the scorched earth still hangs in the air. MM pic.twitter.com/WJILeZffw4
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 8, 2017
#GordonsBayFire Strong winds in Gordon’s Bay this morning.The air is filled with smoke from the fire on the mountain slopes.@MoniqueMortlock pic.twitter.com/VibgY0kjvo
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 8, 2017
#SirLowrysPassFire, this morning pic.twitter.com/PeFrUY5uhc
— Abu-Bakr Peer (@ABKR_PEER) November 8, 2017
The Gordon’s Bay / Sir Lowry’s Pass blaze is not the only fire to have broken out within the past day. Late last night, another call-out was received by emergency services to attend a veld fire at Klawer Valley near Simon’s Town, and this morning, personnel are still on scene battling the flames.
Several homes in Scarborough are under threat from the approaching Klawer Valley fire, where evacuation of parts of the village has already begun. Gusts of wind over 50 km/h are expected throughout the day.
#KlawarValleyFire Crews from @TableMountainNP, @vwsfires volunteers and @NCCwildfires remain hard at work as the wind makes it very difficult. pic.twitter.com/0DUf1ugXlM
— VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) November 8, 2017
Photography Unsplash