Volunteer Wildfire Services has been assisting with the fires on Lions Head and Signal Hill but they now need donations of food and water.
Cape Town, South Africa – On Sunday afternoon, a fire broke out on Lion’s Head lower slope near Quarry Hill in Cape Town spread to Signal Hill and Sea Point. Shortly after sunset, cautious concern began to turn into panic as 5m flames became visible on Signal Hill through thick black smoke, threatening houses.
Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), a non-profit volunteer organisation, spent most of the evening fighting the dangerous fires on Lions Head.
“There is still a lot of work to be done as there are hot spot areas and smoldering stumps. Fire fighting Crews from Working on Fire, NCC Wildfires, VWS and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue remain on scene conducting mop up operations.” – Working on Fire
VWS is very greatful for all the support they have received, many people have already started dropping off donations and they go a long way to helping out the heroes that fight these fires. All donations can be dropped of at the Newlands base and will be ditributed to various firefighters.
“We would like to thank each and every member of the public & private organizations for their continued support during this and ever other fire!”
They need the following for their wildfire volunteers.
- Energy bars
- Peanuts
- Raisins
- Chocolate
- Sandwiches
- Fruit
- Energade/Powerade
Social media has been flooded with eyewitness accounts of the dangerous blaze. See some of the tweets below:
My previous post was a cropped image, here is the full image to give a better idea of the scene.
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Thankfully the fires were all extinguished by this morning, thanks in not small part to the efforts of our fire fighters and volunteers. #LionsHeadFire #Kloofnekfire #vws #CapeTown pic.twitter.com/wmV2zxlyZS— Rowan DM (@jimmyjinga) January 28, 2019
Another perspective from the air of the #LionsHeadFire that is still unfolding in Cape Town tonight. Due to the 2018 drought, Cape Town has never been drier. #capetownfire #SignalHillFire pic.twitter.com/4jBJpqFxnm
— Joseph Dana (@ibnezra) January 27, 2019
After one of the worst droughts in a hundred years and gale force winds, Lion’s Head went up in flames tonight in Cape Town. Fire is ongoing. These firefighters are heroes. #capetownfire #LionsHeadFire #SignalHillFire pic.twitter.com/zCAgekusUQ
— Joseph Dana (@ibnezra) January 27, 2019
Blazing flames carving up a trail. This wind wont seem to die down either. Hopeful thoughts go out to the firefighters and ER staff busy battling this #LionsHeadfire pic.twitter.com/ipV2iJz1km
— Shinji Akhirah (@shinji_akhirah) January 27, 2019
Watching from home, hard work being done but I'm sure still a long night ahead with this wind. Thoughts are with all the firefighters. Stay safe!! @vwsfires #KloofNekFire #LionsHeadFire #SignalHillFire pic.twitter.com/aRcl1wNJMN
— Sophie Birkett (@BirkettSoph) January 27, 2019
Despite reports residents close to Table Mountain National Park, Signal hill have not been asked to evacuate. Happy to wake up safely! #lionshead #LionsHeadFire pic.twitter.com/anJBteF6FA
— Marc (@Cyrus_Omerta) January 28, 2019
Fire on Signal Hill seems to all be out and just smoldering a little on this Monday morning. #capetownfire #SignalHillFire #LionsHeadFire Helicopters and water planes already in the air. Thank you to all the Fire Fighters #CapeTownFire #LionsHeadFire Cape Town is Awesome! pic.twitter.com/eJJf6EMFoc
— JG (Johan) van Zyl ✍ (@JGvanZyl_ZA) January 28, 2019
Huge terrifying wild fires scorch parts of Cape Town in #SouthAfrica over the weekend as firefighters continue to bring it under control on Monday. #capetownfire #SignalHillFire #LionsHeadFire #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/daCxKgyXKV
— Sri Lanka Global (@srilankaglobal) January 28, 2019
💔 #lionsheadfire thanking our brave firefighters 👨🚒👩🚒 right now pic.twitter.com/KIRYvrjXZv
— Feastfox (@feastfox) January 28, 2019
Fire fighters who worked tirelessly last night.
Thank You So Much…#southafrica #CapeFire #CapeTownFire #SignalHillFire #Fireman #LionsHeadFire #CapeTown@CityofCTAlerts @AFP @AFPAfrica @vwsfires @wo_fire @NCCwildfires pic.twitter.com/TzWmy49qjL— Suzette Steyn (@SuzetteSteyn1) January 28, 2019
Why should we have to abuse volunteer firefighters in Cape Town? We have a Fire Brigade. Surely we need to increase their permanent staff complement so that the city can be protected? Have we forgotten the Great Fire of London? Come on City Council, don’t wait until you have a huge catastrophe before you act. I thought we are a World Class City.