Heroes keep flames at bay

Fighting exhaustion and record temperatures of more than 40°C, hundreds of firemen yesterday held off the raging blaze threatening homes in Clovelly and St James.

Today, they enter day four of their battle against a fire that has consumed about 4000 hectares since Sunday.

While some Noordhoek residents who were evacuated on Monday returned to their homes yesterday, residents in nearby Clovelly and St James were put on high alert last night as flames crept closer to their homes.

However, Table Mountain National Park integrated fire manager Philip Prins said the fire in Tokai forest was the biggest challenge.

"At the moment most of our fire- fighting efforts are focused on containing the blaze here. It is burning very fiercely because of the high temperatures and old, dried-out vegetation," he said.

"We have three helicopters water-bombing this huge area stretching from the Tokai Plantation right across to Constantia Nek."

He said firefighters had formed a defensive line to drive the flames back, but admitted that they were making slow progress.

In addition, fires continued to rage in inaccessible parts of the mountains in Hout Bay, along Chapman's Peak Drive.

"This fire is posing no immediate threat to lives and homes, but this could change at any moment."

Prins said residents were reporting smaller fires all over the affected area.

He dismissed reports of arson. "Only after a proper investigation has been done will we be able to say what caused the fire."

Theo Layne, spokesman for the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, said there had been overwhelming support from the public over the last few days.

He said people had donated so much food that they could "feed an army for a month".

About 250 firefighters from the city, Table Mountain National Park, Working on Fire and Volunteer Wildfire Services are battling the fires, alongside volunteers and ground crew.

By yesterday, the 65 pensioners who had been granted refuge at the NG Church in Fish Hoek after being evacuated from their home for the aged, had returned.

President Jacob Zuma said in a statement yesterday: "We praise the bravery and professionalism of all our firefighters who are attending to this raging fire to save lives and stop the damage to property and our prestigious natural environment." - Nashira Davids, Shanaaz Eggington, Reitumetse L Pitso, Tanya Farber and Jerome Cornelius

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