Authorities close off Cape areas worst affected by fires

THE Cape Peninsula fire – the largest vegetation fire in the Cape since 2000 – was just one of 7 597 vegetation fires Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service responded to in what has been a bumper fire season.

This was drastically up compared with the same period – November to March – the previous year, during which 5 153 vegetation fires were recorded.

“This fire season has been one of the busiest in a number of years and it has stretched our resources. However, in the event of veld fires, resources are pooled and the suppression of these incidents becomes a team effort involving firefighters from various volunteer organisations and different government agencies,” Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security J P Smith said.

The city was still assessing the financial impact of the fires and had teamed up with forensic expert David Klatzow to investigate what had caused them and if anyone could be held accountable. The Silvermine and Tokai areas remained closed to the public.

Table mountain spokeswoman Tarcia Hendricks said the area would be assessed this week and reopened only when considered safe. She said trees that had been damaged by the fire were dangerous as they continued to come down while burnt areas were sensitive as windblown seeds could be damaged and emerging plants could be killed by trampling.

“In the interest of public safety as well as for the protection of the environmental integrity of Table Mountain National Park, these two areas will remain closed until further notice,” Hendricks said. – Mercury Correspondent