Cape fire rages on slopes near ANC’s birthday party

CAPE Town firefighters were battling a vegetation fire near the Cape Town stadium in Green Point yesterday, where thousands of people have gathered for the ANC’s 103rd birthday celebrations.

City of Cape Town spokesman Theo Layne said the fire was rapidly spreading towards the urban fringe along Ocean View Drive and Carreg Crescent below Signal Hill and Lion’s Head. Around 11am yesterday it was reported to be at High Level Road.

Three helicopters are helping to douse the flames in areas inaccessible to firefighters.

City officials said on Friday that there had been 4 338 vegetation fires between December 1 and January 4, or an average of more than 100 fires a day, far more than the 1 600 vegetation fires that firefighters were called out to battle during the same period last year. Strong winds and high temperatures are blamed for the increase.