Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated across Cape Town last night with fire crackers being (legally) set off at various locations around the city. It seems however that one reveller may have taken things a bit too far…

Speculation abounds that a rogue firework started the Flamingo Vlei fire in the Tableview area, between SANCCOB and the Dolphin Beach Hotel, at around midnight last night. By this morning, the fire was still raging and causing quite a bit of traffic congestion on the R27 into town.

We’ve obviously got no proof at this stage that the fire was in fact started by a misplaced firework, but the fact that the fire is believed to have started just as Guy Fawkes celebrations were winding down seems a bit too coincidental.

Incidents like this do pose a very interesting question though:

Thankfully, firefighters have been on the scene since midnight.

Photography courtesy Jonathan Meyer and Twitter

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68 Comments
  • Clelland Kruger
    Clelland Kruger
    November 6, 2015 at 8:08 am

    How long until Guy Fawkes gets BANNED. It is bad for the environment and the animals. People don’t even know what the significance of the day is! It has nothing to do with south African culture or heritage.

  • Cape Town Etc
    Cape Town Etc
    November 6, 2015 at 8:09 am

    Couldn’t agree more. The city tries so hard to setup designated areas, but people just ignore the rules and now look…

  • Susan Blampied
    Susan Blampied
    November 6, 2015 at 8:13 am

    Fireworks should be Banned!

  • Leon Jethro Harvey
    Leon Jethro Harvey
    November 6, 2015 at 8:21 am

    As beautiful as they are, we need to stop using them for the sake of our animals as well as the environment. #banfireworks

  • Nicalene Coutts
    Nicalene Coutts
    November 6, 2015 at 8:26 am

    Problem is people let off Chinese lanterns which are then out of control disasters looking for a place to happen. #GuyFawkesMustFall

  • Clelland Kruger
    Clelland Kruger
    November 6, 2015 at 8:26 am

    Like your hashtag! Agree U0001f44d U0001f44d

  • Renay Paulse
    Renay Paulse
    November 6, 2015 at 8:29 am

    Guy Fawkes is just so unnecessary!

  • Rosalia Mosca
    Rosalia Mosca
    November 6, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Ban Guy Fawkes completely..whether controlled or otherwise….. dangerous to people, animals and property as well as being a waste of money that can be used for better causes!

  • Jess van Vuuren
    Jess van Vuuren
    November 6, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Drove past it this morning in tears, just so sad.

  • Wendy-Ann Maher
    Wendy-Ann Maher
    November 6, 2015 at 8:36 am

    I live 500 metres from the Vlei, this is not good 🙁

  • Anette Du Preez
    Anette Du Preez
    November 6, 2015 at 8:40 am

    time to put this 1605 ‘festival’ to rest – this proofs evolution is a myth – how long WILL it take to drop a 400+ year old ‘tradition’? >:( Start a petition to the City of Cape Town – ONLY on New Years and ONLY at the beach front – NO WHERE ELSE >:(

  • Meloney Knaap
    Meloney Knaap
    November 6, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Not might have been caused…was caused by a floating chinese lantern! Sancob evacuated, all the birds in the reserve that are breeding! Lets hope Sancob and no other houses or buildings are lost due to some ignorant idiots. The fire started before 8pm last night, not at midnight!

  • Jennifer Barley
    Jennifer Barley
    November 6, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Sad that we have to celebrate Guy Fawkes and Hallowe’en. Such followers Not SA at all

  • Meloney Knaap
    Meloney Knaap
    November 6, 2015 at 8:44 am

    It was on the beach front. Some idiots dont stick to rules and let off a chinese lantern. Should be banned all together

  • Wendy-Ann Maher
    Wendy-Ann Maher
    November 6, 2015 at 8:45 am

    Yes let’s ban this menace & madness! We don’t need it & even on calming meds my dogs were a mess. Now the Vlei is burning those poor birds. Hubby drove in to work through the smoke such a disgrace!

  • Anette Du Preez
    Anette Du Preez
    November 6, 2015 at 8:46 am

    if they did that then ban it completely

  • Varenke Muller
    Varenke Muller
    November 6, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Ban Fireworks! ! !

  • Ashika Kalan
    Ashika Kalan
    November 6, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Wian Jankowitz :-. See why I don’t like guy fawks!

  • Varenke Muller
    Varenke Muller
    November 6, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Close all shops that sell fireworks and give them a huge fine!

  • Mary Logan
    Mary Logan
    November 6, 2015 at 8:58 am

    Fireworks should be totally banned especially in view of the drought conditions at the moment. Mankind in general is so inherently selfish as regards the environment -something we will live to regret unless we make drastic changes immediately!

  • Kelly Page
    Kelly Page
    November 6, 2015 at 9:01 am

    it not about being banned…. its about it being controlled. this could be a beautiful yearly event if it was just handled propperly.if u ban it people will still do it ….but most likely in their gardens close to animals which is 10X worse.

  • Suzanne En Lawrence
    Suzanne En Lawrence
    November 6, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Let’s arrange a march to parliament guys: BAN FIREWORKS!

  • Kobus du Plessis
    Kobus du Plessis
    November 6, 2015 at 9:07 am

    I agree fireworks should be banned. Not just guy fawkes. Here in KZN we have Dewali an Indian festival where they shoot fireworks for 7 days. It is much worse.

  • Drikus Le Roux
    Drikus Le Roux
    November 6, 2015 at 9:08 am

    Fire was rampant and in full force at 9:30pm last night when I drove past there.

  • Michele Wallis
    Michele Wallis
    November 6, 2015 at 9:18 am

    That is not cool at all !!!

  • Wendy-Ann Maher
    Wendy-Ann Maher
    November 6, 2015 at 9:22 am

    A full on ban must be implemented with NO concessions asap!

  • Anette Du Preez
    Anette Du Preez
    November 6, 2015 at 9:29 am

    they can watch fireworks on YouTube >:(

  • Britt Milne
    Britt Milne
    November 6, 2015 at 9:34 am

    It is right by Kirst too.

  • Danielle Abigail Yon
    Danielle Abigail Yon
    November 6, 2015 at 9:35 am

    I wish media could just get their facts correct before publishing. That fire was going before 10pm last night and could have even started at 8pm when fire brigades left the firework display to attend to the fire.

  • Gillian Welch
    Gillian Welch
    November 6, 2015 at 10:01 am

    There is no reason to use fireworks, no matter how beautiful we perceive them to be. They frighten animals, cause fires and have hurt and permanently maimed too many people (who don’t seem to understand that they’re explosives) to mention. Ban fireworks altogether!

  • Jacqueline Botes
    Jacqueline Botes
    November 6, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Guy Fawkes should be banned. People dont have money for food but they buy fire works. Sick.

  • Philippa McRae
    Philippa McRae
    November 6, 2015 at 10:14 am

    We saw some fool releasing a Chinese lantern from Dolphin beach at about 8pm.

  • Cape Town Etc
    Cape Town Etc
    November 6, 2015 at 10:29 am

    That might’ve been it 🙁

  • Philippa McRae
    Philippa McRae
    November 6, 2015 at 10:31 am

    I have reported it so let’s see if that helps track them down.

  • Cape Town Etc
    Cape Town Etc
    November 6, 2015 at 10:31 am

    Hi Danielle, we put the post up with the information we had at hand this morning. New information is coming to light all the time, but thanks for keeping us on our toes.

  • Danielle Abigail Yon
    Danielle Abigail Yon
    November 6, 2015 at 10:34 am

    Thank you U0001f44d just tired of people jumping to conclusions as to what causes fires and it would happen on a night of fireworks..

  • Elizabeth Betty Arendse
    Elizabeth Betty Arendse
    November 6, 2015 at 10:38 am

    BAN GUY FAWKES , HALLOWEEN ALTOGETHER WE DONT NEED IT !!!!!!!!

  • LaurenMichelleDornbrack
    LaurenMichelleDornbrack
    November 6, 2015 at 10:58 am

    Fire began at about 8pm when we drove past. It was in the middle of the vlei. No one was in the vicinity at the time. I heard that a chinese lantern was the cause though. We were all warned before the time against using lanterns and flares as it is a security and fire hazzard!

  • Iris Biccard Dames
    Iris Biccard Dames
    November 6, 2015 at 11:00 am

    Ban Guy Fawkes in these areas- animals are badly affected and the beaches are a mess again ! #banfireworks

  • Caroline Knight
    Caroline Knight
    November 6, 2015 at 11:02 am

    did u see this Ashton Lunt

  • Andy Robinson
    Andy Robinson
    November 6, 2015 at 11:04 am

    Thank you COCT

  • André Leon Potgieter
    André Leon Potgieter
    November 6, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    So many “maybe’s”…..

  • Susan Joubert
    Susan Joubert
    November 6, 2015 at 12:07 pm

    Stad Kaapstad moet dit totaal en al verban om vuurwerke te skiet. Iemand moet begin veranwoording aanvaar vir die skade om nie eers te praat van al die arme diere wat verbrand nie!

  • Keith Weyers
    Keith Weyers
    November 6, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    I drove through that smoke this morning on my way to work and it was not a pretty site. What gets me is that 5th November is not a traditional thing in this country, so why is it allowed

  • Andre Cronje
    Andre Cronje
    November 6, 2015 at 2:20 pm

    Die ergste van als is dat die helfte van die mense wat so baie geld spandeer aan klappers……is die 1ste om te kla dat hulle kry so swaar want alles het so duur geraak.

  • Nabeelah Adams
    Nabeelah Adams
    November 6, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    God!!! This is so annoying ! People wont ever learn !!!

  • Heather Craemer
    Heather Craemer
    November 6, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Ban the crackers!!

  • Heather Craemer
    Heather Craemer
    November 6, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Cape Town Etc start fining heavily!!

  • Kelly Seymour
    Kelly Seymour
    November 6, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    What idiots would even set off fireworks with the wind blowing like it did last night?……

  • Lindiwe Sakayi
    Lindiwe Sakayi
    November 6, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Very unnecessary acts indeed.

  • Hilda Van der Merwe
    Hilda Van der Merwe
    November 6, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    Please ban any fireworks. Stop it now

  • Pat Leonard
    Pat Leonard
    November 6, 2015 at 5:49 pm

    Cape Town is the best run city in SA and forward thinking. Perhaps it’s time for the DA to grow a pair and just ban sale of fireworks to anyone other than registered pyrotechnic operators. ( maybe after the elections?)

  • Mignon Sharon
    Mignon Sharon
    November 6, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    HATE fireworks- BAN IT!!!

  • May Petersen
    May Petersen
    November 6, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    Why does South Africa even celebrate Guy Fawkes. Nothing to do with SA. BAN FIREWORKS !!!@

  • Jason Westaway
    Jason Westaway
    November 6, 2015 at 7:42 pm

    BAN!!!! Fireworks – Enough said!!
    Have SAFE places to go to where you pay an ENTRANCE fee.

  • Sharon Lee Martin
    Sharon Lee Martin
    November 6, 2015 at 9:28 pm

    THEY RELEASED FIRE LANTERNS (I heard) is that something any sane person would do?

  • Isabella Sherman
    Isabella Sherman
    November 6, 2015 at 9:47 pm

    Oh nooooo! That is so sad to hear!

  • Jacob Jokazi
    Jacob Jokazi
    November 6, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    I don’t like it

  • Linda Newby
    Linda Newby
    November 6, 2015 at 11:00 pm

    There was an eye witness who saw the lantern drift from the beach and land in the vlei…

  • Eugene Maritz
    Eugene Maritz
    November 7, 2015 at 4:49 am

    I never knew that SA did Guy Fawkes fireworks, as it is a British tradition and apart of Britain’s history. Not that there’s anything wrong with it being celebrated across the globe. U0001f609

  • Linda Coetzee
    Linda Coetzee
    November 7, 2015 at 7:56 am

    When are you going to ban this event which is not ours to celebrate Cape Town??? We love our beautiful city and natural areas as well as our animals. It’s shocking that it had to get to SANCOB having to evacuate birds and penguins, not to mention past injuries, lives lost, homes lost, animals lost and money wasted because of Guy Fawkes. Ban it once and for all!!

  • Lynette Wambach
    Lynette Wambach
    November 7, 2015 at 8:04 am

    Haloween is just innocent fun. No fireworks, no harm to anyone. Fireworks are not to blame….it is the idiots that do their own thing in areas where it is not allowed. As far as I know, no incidents happened at beachfront which was the designated area… It should be banned to the general public and only pyrotechs should have a valid licence to get it. These events should then ONLY be done by them , if they have to happen at all…. Fine shops selling it to the public! I saw big signs on Chinese shop advertising it…. Why are they allowed to sell it. I do not see it in our supermarkets at all!! Oh yes….Zuma loves the Chinese so they can do as they please. There is a nice rhyme to that..

  • Rouline Combrinck
    Rouline Combrinck
    November 7, 2015 at 9:53 am

    We were on Blouberg beach and saw a man lit a Chinese Lantern just when it got dark probably past 19H00 – after it already had flown away they reprimanded him and announced that lighting Chinese lanterns would not be allowed. From the designated fireworks area the wind blew towards Flamingo Vlei. In my opinion, it was not the fireworks that started that fire. All the fireworks were shot towards the ocean. 3 Flairs were halso shot up, and the Police threatened to arrest the perpetrators. The evening was well organised and it was safe for everyone and there were enough medical, police and fire brigade staff. I would rather suggest that they control the types of things people decide to lit up on such an occasion that might cause actual fires.

  • Gillian Welch
    Gillian Welch
    November 7, 2015 at 10:00 am

    What on earth does Halloween have to do with the price of eggs? You do know that it’s a religious festival for some, don’t you? Fireworks are not associated with Halloween, just a little fyi.

  • Gillian Welch
    Gillian Welch
    November 7, 2015 at 10:05 am

    If the sale of fireworks is banned, there wouldn’t be much of a problem, would there?

  • Kelly Page
    Kelly Page
    November 7, 2015 at 10:08 am

    Same applies to guns then

  • Kelly Page
    Kelly Page
    November 7, 2015 at 10:10 am

    They should have something that is controlled and done by professionals

  • Elizabeth Betty Arendse
    Elizabeth Betty Arendse
    November 7, 2015 at 10:56 am

    Halloween? Foreing god? Guyfawkes destroy everything in the path with fire!!!!

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