Cape Town Fire/Smoke Alert Thread

[saor]

Something going down...
(Pic from Ndabeni toward mountain)

 

[ld13]

Took me forever to find this thread. Why is the basin under smoke again @gordonsbay?

 

[Gordon_R]

Took me forever to find this thread. Why is the basin under smoke again @gordonsbay?

There was a fire above Gordon's Bay yesterday, and overnight. Seems to be in the Steenbras valley. The wind direction has changed today, so smoke is being blown offshore. I can see this from Kenilworth today, but visibility was poor yesterday.

P.S. Incredible thread necro! Previous fires have been posted under the CT rain and storm thread: https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/rain-and-storm-for-cpt-pt-2.1296127/

 

[Gordon_R]

I see smoke in the Constantia Valley area this morning (Mon 7th). I can't see the source, and there is a NW wind blowing today. Any news, or is it a controlled burn?

 

[Gordon_R]

A large fire is burning this morning (Sun 27th) in the Tokai Forest/Silvermine/Ou Kaapse Weg area. Temperatures are warm and the wind was relatively calm earlier, but is now becoming fresh NW, with the smoke plume blowing over False Bay. Limited rain is predicted in the near future.

This is the view from my building in Kenilworth, about 10km away:


N.B. This thread is posted under Off Topic, which is not indexed by Google search...

 

[Gordon_R]

Multiple fires started yesterday, probably arson:

Suspected arson sparks multiple fires in Upper Tokai

Multiple wildfires, believed to have been deliberately started, have burned through sections of Upper Tokai and along the Constantiaberg overnight. The Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) Fire Department and other emergency crews have been on the scene since late Friday evening.

www.capetownetc.com

 

[Gordon_R]

Update this morning, many closures:

Tokai fire update: Blaze contained but areas remain volatile and hazardous

Firefighters are currently engaged in an intense battle against the Tokai mountain fire, with over 90 brave firefighters deployed across five critical fronts — Noordhoek, Steenberg Estate, Ou Kaapse Weg, Clovelly, and Noordhoek.

www.capetownetc.com

No structures threatened at this stage.

‘The current operation includes three helicopters, a spotter plane, and ground firefighting teams from Table Mountain National Park, with support from the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and Volunteer Wildfire Services,’ SanPark said.

Fire status, yesterday afternoon:

 

[Gordon_R]

Update: Ou Kaapse Weg is closed, as the fire has jumped the road. Still burning fiercely towards the eastern part of Silvermine:

Tokai fire update: Blaze contained but areas remain volatile and hazardous

Firefighters are currently engaged in an intense battle against the Tokai mountain fire, with over 90 brave firefighters deployed across five critical fronts — Noordhoek, Steenberg Estate, Ou Kaapse Weg, Clovelly, and Noordhoek.

www.capetownetc.com

The City has reported that it has committed substantial resources to the effort, including twelve major pumper fire engines, five strike teams, and five water tankers all working tirelessly to suppress the flames and protect local communities.

As a precaution, the Noordhoek retirement village has been evacuated to ensure the safety of its residents amid the ongoing crisis.

As wildfires rage in, emergency services Southern Cape have been called in to assist to combat the blazing inferno that is perilously close to the suburban area of Zwaanswyk.

The situation escalated quickly, leading to the closure of Ou Kaapse Weg in both directions from Steenberg to the Sun Valley side, where thick smoke and reduced visibility render the route perilous for motorists

 

[Sinbad]

Silvermine lake car park.
I was there less than a week ago.

 

[Gordon_R]

Silvermine lake car park.
I was there less than a week ago.

Should have evacuated hours earlier!? Maybe they were 'escorted' out via a different route, and told to abandon their vehicles??

 

[capd]

Currently

 

[capd]

Current

 

[blaaislaai]

Live camera from Kalkbay side:

 

[Gordon_R]

Currently

Cape Point vineyards in the foreground. Went to a wedding there 18 months ago. Magical place, but hard up against the mountain slopes. Lots of alien pines when I was there...

 

[capd]

Currently. Radio mast?

 

[Gordon_R]

Google maps is showing a satellite view of the approximate burn area in the TMNP and surrounds:

Table Mountain National Park wildfires

Updated 13 minutes ago

www.google.com

 

[Heisenborg]

Im just a mybb expit.

But this seems pretty bad?

 

[Syphonx]

Im just a mybb expit.

But this seems pretty bad?

Seems bad, but then again not really. It's not particularly windy and tomorrow is supposed to be quite cool.

The fire will burn to the urban edge and be stopped. Some roads might be closed for a few days. Then everyone will forget about it and carry on. So far it looks like two cars were burnt at Silvermine dam.

 

[Grant]

Seems bad, but then again not really. It's not particularly windy and tomorrow is supposed to be quite cool.

The fire will burn to the urban edge and be stopped. Some roads might be closed for a few roads. Then everyone will forget about it and carry on. So far it looks like two cars were burnt at Silvermine dam.

looks bad at kalk bay

 

[Syphonx]

looks bad at kalk bay
View attachment 1816312

That camera has poor quality for night images which is making it seem worse that it probably is. But the fire is burning downhill and Boyes Drive is a great place to stop it. I would not be worried if I was a Kalk Bay resident (unless significant NW wind picks up). Plus previous burns in that area have created zones which will not burn.