In a swift and coordinated response, firefighters successfully extinguished a fire along Tafelberg Road on Table Mountain after reports emerged early in the afternoon. The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, confirmed that the fire originated from a bank of lithium batteries that caught alight just after 1:00 pm.
“The fire has been extinguished, but staff remain on site to ensure that the batteries do not reignite and that the area is safe,”
Carelse stated, underlining the measures taken to prevent any flare-ups.
The fire posed significant challenges at the lower cableway station of Table Mountain, where approximately 400 visitors were stranded as a result. However, due to the prompt action by the fire services, the visitors were safely returned from the mountain’s summit later in the day.
Wahida Parker, Managing Director of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC), reported that the fire impacted the parking area of the lower station building, where back-up lithium batteries used for cable car operations caught fire.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation,”
Parker remarked, noting that although the fire had affected the parking facility, it was quickly contained and the cable cars were operational shortly afterward.
She explained how the TMACC’s emergency protocols and the fire suppression system immediately activated to bring the flames under control, while assistance from the City’s Fire Services proved vital.
“Our fire-suppression system immediately activated to bring the flames under control, while our emergency-response plan kicked into action. The City of Cape Town’s Fire Services arrived to assist. Our focus is to ensure the safety of all visitors, and we thank them for their cooperation,”
she said.
With road closures on Tafelberg Road, TMACC responded promptly to address the stranded visitors’ needs at the summit, providing food and water to ensure their comfort until they could safely descend.
“While visitors were stuck at the top after the fire was reported, we assisted them with food and water to keep them as comfortable as possible. We also alerted our colleagues at Cape Town Tourism to activate the Band-Aid project, which assists tourists,”
Parker added.
In addition, Parker confirmed that there were no injuries among visitors or staff, expressing her gratitude to all involved for their understanding and cooperation.
“We thank all visitors and members of the public for their understanding as we worked with authorities to bring the fire under control. We also express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the role players – Cape Town Fire Services, Cape Town Tourism, Table Mountain National Parks, Traffic Services, and all our other partners,”
she said.
While firefighters were dealing with the Table Mountain blaze, a separate fire ignited along Signal Hill. According to Carelse, the Signal Hill fire, primarily a vegetation fire, was brought under control by early afternoon, with crews conducting mop-up operations and monitoring for any signs of reignition.
“A vegetation fire there was contained by 1 pm and has since been extinguished. Crews are conducting mop-up operations and monitoring for any potential flare-ups,”
he reported.
Simultaneously, the Cape Winelands District Municipality Fire Services responded to yet another fire, this time in the Slanghoek/Goudini Spa area. The municipality clarified that this fire began when unexpected wind conditions escalated what had been a planned, controlled burn in the region.
The Cape Winelands District Municipality issued a statement regarding the incident, noting that firefighters from the Worcester and Robertson bases had been dispatched, joined by two contracted ground teams and Breede Valley Municipality’s fire services.
“At this stage, firefighters and ground teams from Cape Winelands District Municipality Worcester and Robertson bases are on scene, assisted by two contracted ground teams and the fire services of Breede Valley Municipality,”
the statement read, outlining the extensive resources deployed to contain the blaze.
The recent fires highlight the heightened risk during dry, windy conditions across the Cape region. Authorities and firefighting teams remain on alert, ready to respond swiftly to prevent fires from spreading in the mountainous and densely vegetated areas around Cape Town and surrounding regions.
