Fire guts mill, UCT buildings
Rhodes Memorial Restaurant destroyed
SEVERAL University of Cape Town (UCT) buildings, the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and the historic Mostert’s Mill windmill in Mowbray were gutted by a blaze fanned by strong winds yesterday.
Smoke covered much of the Cape Town skyline, pointing to the out-ofcontrol fire that started on the slopes of Table Mountain.
Hikers in the Newlands and Rhodes Memorial area were warned to evacuate at about midday as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), part of SANParks, confirmed that the fire was reported at 9am, immediately above Philip Kgosana Drive/Hospital Bend.
TMNP fire manager Philip Prins said 129 firefighters from TMNP, NCC Wildfires, Working on Fire, the City’s Fire and Rescue Services and Volunteer Wildfire Services attempted to extinguish the blaze.
TMNP spokesperson Babalwa Dlangamandla said, “After the initial investigation, it is surmised that the origin of the fire is from a vacated vagrant fire. It should be noted that due to the extreme Fire Danger Index – Red (yesterday), with temperatures of 36°C noted and an extremely low relative humidity of under 10%, the fire spread rapidly in the direction of Rhodes Memorial.”
City Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said one firefighter was transported to hospital after sustaining burn wounds.
Fire services were alerted to the vegetation fire above Philip Kgosana Drive at about 8.45am.
“Fire crews were immediately dispatched to the scene, with the fire spreading from Rhodes Memorial towards UCT. A section of the tea room at Rhodes Memorial has been destroyed, and people are urged not to enter the area,” said Carelse.
Four helicopters were water bombing the area.
Working on Fire deployed 60 firefighters, four choppers and a spotter to assist in firefighting efforts.
After flying from 10am to 6pm, Working on Fire said its aerial resources had to descend while the fire was still raging.
The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant burnt down, with the fire spreading to the veld above UCT Upper Campus and to areas below the M3. At about 2pm, UCT said all its students had been evacuated by emergency services support staff.
UCT spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said: “We have taken them to predetermined locations. We will continue to work with and support SANParks and the City of Cape Town to extinguish the fire.”
In a statement last night, UCT said all academic programmes would be suspended for today and tomorrow with further announcements in due course.
Relief organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG) said it would be providing daily meals to the affected students for the week. Founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said GOTG would start feeding about 4 000 UCT students as of last night.
“The students have been evacuated from the residence due to the danger of smoke inhalation and the spread of fire.
“The UCT Higher Council has asked us if we could manage the process for the next six to seven days, providing three meals per day, which, of course, we have agreed.
“Corporates have been calling us to support us with items in kind, and also Old Mutual has made available one of their venues, where all the goods can be collected. This will be open from today.”
The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Charlotte Powell, said the City was working with UCT to co-ordinate alternative accommodation for the affected students.
“The City can confirm that property has been affected; however, our focus at the moment is on active firefighting efforts, and updates on affected properties will be provided when the information is available.”