Firefighters have successfully battled a raging vegetation fire near Steenbras Dam outside Gordon’s Bay.
According to Edward Bosch, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, the blaze was extinguished at 12:32 earlier today (Friday 4 April). This after crews were called into firefighting action for the fire which broke out near the facility along the N2 on Wednesday (2 April).
Bosch confirmed that an emergency call was received around 14:30 on Wednesday and a fire engine from Sir Lowry’s Pass Fire Station was initially dispatched to the scene, where an extensive vegetation fire was raging while being fanned towards dense inaccessible vegetation. Bosch said despite initial concerns about the gusts of wind potentially spreading the fire, helicopter support and ground crews successfully contained and extinguished the inferno.
“The fire has been extinguished. However, due to the terrain and size of the fire, regular checks are done by the City’s Fire and Rescue Service crews, while biodiversity and bulk water department staff ensure that there are no flare-ups,” Bosch explained, adding that a City off-road fire tender is doing two-hourly inspections.
He also confirmed that no road closures or evacuations were required. Furthermore, no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
Addressing concerns over immediate risks to the dam’s infrastructure and water quality, Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee member for Water and Sanitation, said neither have been affected by the fire and assured that further inspections will be conducted.
According to Alderman Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, around 400 hectares of veld, including Elgin Shale fynbos and young veld that previously burned in 2021, were affected. While the fynbos vegetation is fire-adapted and the veld was mature enough to burn, Andrews stated that no damage to the ecosystem occurred.
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