Fresh firefighters dispatched to Table Mountain

Fresh firefighting crews have been dispatched to try and contain the blazes on the slopes of Table Mountain. The blaze has already claimed the life of one person, and has damaged several houses. SA National Parks spokesperson Fiona Kalk says the fire is still burning at four points. Kalk said that three helicopters are water bombing the flames, while the SA National Defence Force also has helicopters on standby. Windy conditions that fuelled the fire on Thursday have died down, and fire fighters are hoping to use this to their advantage before the strong south easterly picks up later today as forecast.

Meanwhile, Kalk could not confirm speculation that several people are believed to be trapped on the mountain. She says there has been some concern about unclaimed vehicles near the mountain’s access points, but adds that the owners could have left the area by other means.