Following restoration and clean-up efforts after the devastating fire that razed 2 386 ha of the Helderberg Nature Reserve in June, the popular local outdoor attraction is set to reopen to the public next Monday (1 August).
The wildfire broke out on the mountain slopes above Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West on Wednesday 8 June and quickly spread, leaving a trail of destruction. Several homes in Silverboomkloof Road were gutted, two firefighters were hospitalised with serious burns and many animals died (“Raging wildfire contained”, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 15 June).
Fanned by strong winds, the raging inferno jumped over to Stellenbosch and blazed on for five days down the slopes towards Somerset West before being successfully extinguished on the evening of Sunday 12 June.
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, said the cause of the fire is still undetermined.
Koos Jordaan, Lourensford Properties general manager, on enquiry this week, said it was suspected the fire had started high up on an exit plantation. “There was no fire or lighting on the estate, and forensic and insurance investigations have revealed the cause was most probably human negligence.”
In the wake of the destruction and following a full assessment by the City’s biodiversity management team, the City decided to close all access to the reserve (“Nature reserve closed until August owing to danger”, 29 June). Extensive damage to hiking footpaths saw reserve management declare the area too dangerous for public access.
Now, following an intense month-long mop-up and restoration process, sections of the reserve are likely to open to the public next week.
According to the municipality the closure allowed its biodiversity team and volunteers of the Friends of the Helderberg Nature Reserve to attend to the “most urgent” erosion work and secure infrastructure such as fences and picnic areas safe for public use.
“We thank residents for their understanding while our staff undertook the most urgent reinstatement work,” said Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment. “We have scheduled the reopening of the reserve for 1 August as we believe our teams would be able to get the area to a point where the public can be safely permitted to access certain sections of the mountain.”
However, certain sections of the reserve will be accessible once the facility are reopened as restoration work to other parts continue. “Most of the trails on the lower slopes within the reserve should be accessible to the public and the reserve teams will continue with the replacement of water bars and steps to preserve the trails throughout the year,” the City said in a statement.
“Temporary trail markers have been placed along routes, which have been deemed safe for public use. These routes have been cleared of debris and burned out infrastructure.”
Since the closure of the reserve members of the Friends of the Helderberg Nature Reserve have ploughed hundreds of hours into assisting City officials in the refurbishment process. The organisation also constantly kept residents informed of the progress of the restoration project via its Facebook page.
Andrews made special mention of the role of local volunteers in the project. “We would also like to thank the Friends of Helderberg members, who have contributed many hours and helping hands to assist with the various clean-up and restoration tasks that were needed.
“We urge visitors to only walk the trails identified for use and not wander onto old exposed trails into the veld.
“Keeping off popular trails that will still be closed when the reserve reopens will allow our teams to continue to work on these routes uninterrupted so that they can be available for everyone to enjoy safely once ready.”
