CAPE TOWN – A vegetation fire that spread across Hout Bay Valley and slopes above Llandudno has been contained after an intensive firefighting operation involving helicopter water-bombing, with one home damaged and no injuries reported.
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said the blaze was first reported at approximately 13:15 on Wednesday as vegetation alight in the Hout Bay Valley. “Later, we were alerted to slopes alight above Llandudno,” he said.
Three helicopters were deployed to water-bomb the head of the fire above Llandudno, with two remaining active until last light. An incident command post was established at the Hout Bay Fire Station, with ground operations coordinated by the Incident management team.
“This was a very fluid situation, with the wind proving challenging,” Carelse said.
Operations conclude
City firefighting resources withdrew from the Hout Bay and Llandudno areas at approximately 02:00 on Thursday morning.
“In terms of property damage, only one home was affected,” Carelse confirmed. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fires remained unknown.
Firefighting crews will conduct inspections every three to four hours on Thursday to monitor for any flare-ups.
Suspect arrested for theft
During operations, a firefighter apprehended a suspect who was found on the affected property, allegedly attempting to steal items.
The suspect was taken into custody by the police.
