Cableway back in business
THE Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (TMACC) resumed operations yesterday after a devastating fire on the Kasteelpoort side of Table Mountain in Fountain Ravine.
The fire started on Friday and was contained by about 6pm on Saturday.
Fresh crews with 42 firefighters were deployed yesterday to conduct mop-up operations.
Firefighting efforts, including the assistance of aerial resources and water bombs, were carried out by a multitude of departments and organisations, including the Western Cape Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries’ Working on Fire (WOF), City Fire and Rescue, SANParks, NCC Wildfires and Volunteer Wildfire Services, as well as staff from Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company.
TMACC managing director Wahida Parker said the fire damaged parts of the wooden boardwalk at the upper cableway station, which was now closed to the public.
She said more information about the scope of the damage would be provided after further investigations, which were under way.
Parker said the company resumed operations at about 8am yesterday, but some pathways at the top remained inaccessible due to fire damage.
“We closely monitored the spread of the fire since it was first reported on Friday night. The events of the past two days involved incredible teamwork by all agencies and role-players, and we pay tribute to especially the firefighters who worked to bring the flames under control,” she said.
Parker said that at midday on Saturday, the company was compelled to suspend passenger operations and directed efforts to bring all visitors, including hikers, down to safety while taking firefighters to the top where they were deployed overnight.
Safety and security Mayco member JP Smith said that on Saturday, a group of 12 hikers became overwhelmed by the heavy smoke and had to be brought down from Platteklip Gorge.
“A female hiker was in a serious condition and needed to be airlifted for urgent medical attention. At 6.40pm on Saturday, the incident was declared closed,” Smith said
Table Mountain National Park fire manager Philip Prins said the fire burnt up the steep slopes of the mountain, along the western section of the upper cable station.
Smith said City Fire and Rescue teams placed crews down below on Camps Bay Drive to ensure the properties below were not at risk.
WOF programme spokesperson in the Western Cape, Limakatso Khalianyane, said a Huey helicopter and a control aircraft with an Aviation Support Vehicle responsible for refuelling were dispatched from George on Saturday to assist the firefighting efforts.