Firefighters battled the blaze on the slopes of the national park for days, and it spread overnight into Cape Town's central business district.
Firefighters in Cape Town were battling a bushfire that broke out in Table Mountain National Park and spread towards the city overnight on Wednesday, authorities said.
The bushfire had been burning in the Newlands area, high on the park's mountain slopes, but was pushed towards Cape Town's central business district by strong gusty winds overnight, firefighters and park officials said.
The extent of the fire and the extent of potential property damage are still being determined, said Edward Bosch, a spokesman for Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service. But he described the fire as “extensive.” He said there was no threat to the city center as of Wednesday morning, but noted that the situation could change depending on wind and other factors throughout the day.
Trails in Table Mountain National Park, a popular hiking destination for residents and tourists, have been closed after a fire broke out earlier this week. The fire had burned at least 148 acres as of Monday, according to the authority responsible for managing the national park, which said Monday it was concerned about the “continued presence of tourists in closed areas.”
A second fire, in the Red Hill area of the park, also broke out Wednesday morning.
Mr Bosch said no evacuations had been ordered. Two helicopters had been dropping water on the fire since dawn on Wednesday, he said, and a third helicopter was on its way from the nearby town of Stellenbosch.
“If conditions are favorable today, then by today the situation should be under control,” he said.
Park officials said more than 80 firefighters from various agencies had been dispatched to battle the blaze. Operators of the cable car that runs from Table Mountain to the central region said in a social media post Wednesday that it would be closed until further notice due to smoke from the bushfires.
The Western Cape has seen several major mountain fires in recent years. Cape Town residents living near the foothills are particularly concerned. Environmentalists have called on national parks officials to carry out more prescribed vegetation burns to stop uncontrolled bushfires.
Isabella Kwai is a Times reporter based in London, covering breaking news and other trends. More about Isabella Kwai
