Brad Geyser, NSRI Cape Town Regional Director, said; “At 04h00, Monday, 02 February, NSRI Hout Bay were activated to go on alert for a Fire that had swept over Silvermine and heading towards Chapmans Peak and Hout Bay during the night.
“At 06h00 No. 1 Chapmans Peak Drive was evacuated as a precautionary measure, and the NSRI sea rescue base in Hout Bay harbour was turned into the JOC (Joint Operations Control) with City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management setting up camp at the base, assisted by NSRI Hout Bay volunteers and manned by Emergency Services from Disaster Management, the SA Police Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue, Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch, ER24 ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS, NSRI Hout Bay, and being used as a Control Point for evacuations and a distribution point for food and refreshment for firemen and emergency services workers rotating shifts.
“The sea rescue base in Hout Bay will continue to be used as the JOC and a mustering point for evacuees, fire shift rotations, and a control point for the emergency services throughout the day.
“Tintswalo Atlantic Guest Lodge, a luxury Guesthouse below Chapmans Peak, was threatened by fire during the night and evacuated at 03h00 and although only a little scorched has been spared but appears to again be under threat as the fire has jumped the Chapmans Peak Drive and the Chapmans Peak toll gate was threatened by fire during the night but has also been spared.
“Baviaanskloof residents, above Hout Bay, are on stand-by to be evacuated if necessary.
“The WOF (Working on Fire) helicopters have joined the effort to contain the blaze between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.”
Cape Town Image: Rusky Musky