Simon’s Town fire: Teams battle blaze on the front lines [pics]

The Castle Rock fire, which began on private property on Tuesday morning, spread into SANParks and Navy properties around Simon’s Town.

Firefighting teams have worked tirelessly around the clock with four Huey Helicopters, a spotter plane, plus firefighters and tankers from the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services.

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SIMON’S TOWN RESIDENTS EVACUATED

Early on Wednesday morning, residents from Simonskloof and Harbour Heights were evacuated as a precaution.

Three helicopters were water-bombing the area later on Wednesday morning, while more than 300 staff were still on the ground, according to City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue spokesperson Jermaine Carelse.

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“Only a single derelict building was damaged last night at around 8pm on the grounds of the SA Navy,” he told The Daily Maverick.

Five firefighters sustained injuries in the blaze, and two were taken to hospital, Carelse said. There were also reports of people being evacuated by ambulance for smoke inhalation.

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Working on Fire (WOF)-Kishugu Joint Venture ground and aerial resources are currently on the frontlines and are assisting partners, in collaboration with other firefighting agencies, and focusing on the hotspots.

This includes 46 WOF firefighters, four choppers and five pilots.

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FIRE THREATENS BABOON TROOPS

Animal welfare groups are also on standby for wild and domestic animals that are at risk of being injured.

Locals were particularly concerned about the baboon troops that live in the mountains above Smitswinkel, Seaforth and Simon’s Town.