A fire that broke out in Peck Valley, Muizenberg, yesterday was fanned by an unforgiving South Easter and spread across Silvermine to Noordhoek, Hout Bay and even Elephant’s Eye above Steenberg Golf Estate.
Firefighters and Volunteer Wildfire Services were battling throughout the night to keep the rapidly spreading blaze contained. By this morning, dozens of firefighters were still lining Ou Kaapse Weg.
Forty families have been evacuated from their homes in Stonehurst Estate in Westlake and several homes in the San Michel and Noordhoek areas were being evacuated. Residents of the ‘deep south’ are calling this the worst local fire in years.
The fire continues to rage at the peak of the mountain. At least 3 000 ha are still currently affected, while Boyes Drive and Ou Kaapse Weg remain closed. At 8 am, Cape Town Fire Services’ Peter Eksteen confirmed that 60% of the blaze had been contained. No injuries have been reported.
Help out where you can – donations, food and refreshments for firefighters will be graciously accepted!
#MuizenbergFire Video of the Flames on Chapman’s Peak now moving fast towards Hout Bay AG pic.twitter.com/IEAMDT1I4v
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 2, 2015
Newlands Fire Base @newlandsforest is running & any donations of food / refreshment for firefighters would be really appreciated. @945kfm — VWS Wildfires (@vwsfires) March 2, 2015
The smokey and shouldering #mountain. #capefire #MuizenbergFire #CapeTown #fire A photo posted by MyCityByNight (@mycitybynight) on
Tollgate at Chapman’s Peak #HoutBay. Pic by Charles Mercer via FB. #MuizenbergFire #Chappies pic.twitter.com/xlY4vnJcoO — Jane-Anne Hobbs (@Jane_Anne62) March 2, 2015
#NoFilter needed. The #capefire #MuizenbergFire on ou kaapse weg. Estates evacuated. Saw 1 house thach roof on fire and roads closed. #fire #VWFS A photo posted by MyCityByNight (@mycitybynight) on
View from #HoutBay harbour. Pic by Charles Mercer via FB #MuizenbergFire #Chappies @clearchange pic.twitter.com/uF1mgiQlWN — Jane-Anne Hobbs (@Jane_Anne62) March 2, 2015
Fire spreading west below OuKaapseweg at about 03h00 #Muizenbergfire #wildfire @vwsfires @CapeTalk567 pic.twitter.com/TIwxVoITO5 — Nicky Schmidt (@NickySchmidt1) March 2, 2015
Sprinklers on thatch roofs. Trees cracking, smoke getting thicker. SE still pumps. Noordhoek. 2:55am @945Kfm pic.twitter.com/dYVEceeWtU — Deon Bing (@deon_bing) March 2, 2015
My dad filming the extent of the #fire… #Chapmanspeak #Muizenberg #Steenberg #mountains #helicopter #wind #danger #death #hazard #rescue #scary #invasion #smoke #nature #naturaldisaster #instashot #nocrop A video posted by Kathryn Swain (@kathrynswainsinger) on
Muizenberg mountain on fire today 🙁 #muizenbergmountain #hike #fire #muizenberg #kfm
A video posted by Jean Mbuyamba (@snow_jean) on
A video posted by Chad Mac Donald (@serial1610) on
CapeTownEtc vwsfires We’re very proud of Cape’s Fire Fighters. They’ve been doing stellar work all summer.
Taken from bottom of Oukaapse/End of M3
CapeTownEtc thewineacademy WineNymphUK so sad knowing we drove through there #SA #beautiful