Additional support for Simon’s Town and Glencairn wildfires.
Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning today confirmed that additional support will be made available to battle the wildfires in Simon’s Town and Glencairn in Cape Town. Minister Bredell thanked fire stations from the West Coast District, Cape Winelands District, and Overberg District Municipalities, as well as Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Swartland, and Overstrand Municipalities, who will be sending firefighters and equipment to support this operation.
“Several firefighting units have been working hard to control a wildfire that started burning outside Simon’s Town on Tuesday. Strong winds have been making this difficult, and as of last night, a second fire was reported in Glencairn, burning towards Stonehaven and Evergreen Estate. At this stage we estimate about 2400 hectares of veld has been burned, but fortunately no infrastructure of loss of life has been reported,” Minister Bredell said.
As precautionary safety measures, 15 people were evacuated from the Good Hope Nursery yesterday, and last night, residents of Stonehaven Estate were relocated. Scarborough was also evacuated late last night due to heavy smoke. There was no damage to structures, and people from Scarborough were allowed to return home in the early hours this morning.
A Unified Command Centre has been established under the leadership of the City of Cape Town and SANParks, and additional resources are being made available from neighbouring municipalities under Mutual Aid Agreements that exists in the Western Cape.
Since early this morning the ground crews have been supported by 6 helicopters who are conducting waterbombing on the fire lines at Scarborough and Glencairn.
The Glencairn Expressway in both directions between Kommetjie Main Road and Birkenhead Road are currently closed. In Simon’s Town, the Main Road is closed between Rocklands Road and the entrance to the Cape Point Nature Reserve.
The following numbers can be contacted to report any fire sightings:
City of Cape Town: 107 or 021 480 7700 from a cell phone
Overberg: 028 425 1690
West Coast: 022 433 8700
Garden Route: 044 805 5071
Central Karoo: 023 414 2603
Cape Winelands: 021 887 4446
Media enquiries:
Wouter Kriel
Spokesperson for Minister Anton Bredell
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Cell: 079 694 3085
E-mail: Wouter.kriel@westerncape.gov.za
