World

Fire breaks out on Table Mountain

by Miriam Mannak | March 17, 2009 at 06:59 pm

2098 views | 67 Recommendations | 9 comments

By Miriam Mannak

The massive fire that broke out on Devil's Peak, the left shoulder of Table Mountain, in the evening of March 17, 2009 kept hundreds of firefighters busy all through the night.

As fierce wind fueled the flames and moved the fire closer to town, residents of the suburb of Vredehoek, situated at the foot of Devil's Peak were asked to leave their homes.

Seven people were hurt in the blaze, including five fire fighters and a homeless couple. The man and the woman sustained serious third degree burns and were transferred to a local hospital. "Their skin was coming loose when we picked them up," an exhausted fire fighter recalls.

Three years ago, Table Mountain went up in flames after a British national dropped a cigarette bud. A woman from the UK died in the blaze, which cost the city of Cape Town many millions of dollars.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

amyjudd

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 19:14 on March 17th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member Miriam Mannak who was on the scene.

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Amy Judd

at 19:14 on March 17th, 2009

Wow, amazing photos as well.

Miriam Mannak

at 23:34 on March 17th, 2009

Thanks - Took them from my balcony. the fire is out but assessing what happened

azzayindia

at 02:13 on March 18th, 2009

Is the fire incontrol now

Ravi Dixit

at 03:00 on March 18th, 2009

Nice eyewitness account, from the pictures looks like you are at a safe distance! Take care.

Miriam Mannak

at 05:03 on March 18th, 2009

Thanks everyone for their comments. The fire is under control, but fire fighters are keeping a close eye as the wind is due to pick up.

Miriam Mannak

at 05:03 on March 18th, 2009

Thanks everyone for their comments. The fire is under control, but fire fighters are keeping a close eye as the wind is due to pick up.

AlvarezGalloso

at 08:40 on March 18th, 2009

Thank You for this story. I hope the fire is under control.

jazzyzazzy

at 14:25 on March 18th, 2009

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE,i have a friend who lives near the mountain and she goes jogging there every day.I hope they can keep it under control.!think i will give her a call now just to check she is ok.thanks for this one.

Miriam Mannak

at 02:30 on March 19th, 2009

Apart from some minor flare ups, the fire can be considered extinguished. There are still some smoldering bits and pieces, but that is nothing compared to what it was. The sight of a blackened mountain remains sad though. on Another sad news update is that one of the homeless men, which were admitted to hospital with 3rd degree burns,has passed away yesterday afternoon :(