Contributing

Is the fire in Franschhoek still burning?

Is the fire in Franschhoek still burning?

The fire, which broke out in the Overberg a few days ago and made its way into the Cape Winelands area on Tuesday, is being fuelled by dense vegetation. It is currently situated in the Banhoek and Bergriver Dam vicinity and continues to burn out of control, according to the municipality.

How did Franschhoek fire start?

The fire, which started last Monday, has been fuelled by the wind and alien vegetation. It has destroyed 6 800 hectares of vegetation, including fynbos. The Western Cape mountains are the natural plant habitat of fynbos, which also forms part of the Cape floral kingdom.

Is Franschhoek pass open or closed?

The pass remains closed until further notice,” said Department of Transport and Public Works spokesperson, Jandre Bakker. Franschhoek Pass is one of the more scenic routes, with views of the surrounding valleys, gorges and mountains, particularly the drop down to the Franschhoek River from the summit.

Where is it burning in Stellenbosch?

A fire is raging in Banhoek and the Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch. The fire started after strong winds picked up on Thursday. More than 100 firefighters were still battling the flames by Friday afternoon.

Where is the fire in Cape Town?

The fire burned about 600 hectares of land within the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), buildings on the UCT’s upper campus and some neighbouring properties on April 18, 2021.

How high is Franschhoek Pass?

Project Overview. Located 60 km east of Cape Town, Franschhoek Pass (R45) is one of South Africa’s iconic mountain passes. In 2013, unseasonably high rainfall in the region led to severe slope instability along the route, leading to numerous traffic closures.

Where is Franschhoek Pass?

South Africa
Coordinates: 33°54′58.5″S 19°09′30.1″EFranschhoek Pass is located in the Western Cape, Province of South Africa on the Regional road R45 (Western Cape) between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp. The entrance to the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is located on this pass.

What is burning in Cape Town?

Cape Town fire, which damaged UCT buildings, likely started as a malicious act. Cape Town – South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that natural causes have been ruled out as a possible cause for the Table Mountain National Park fire that damaged UCT buildings.

Where is it burning in South Africa?

The most intense fires were burning in the forest and grasslands of the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa’s Mapumalanga Province. Additional fires were also burning in the Kwazulu Natal Province and Swaziland to the south and in Mozambique to the east.

Who caused the fire in Cape Town?

An independent report has ruled out natural causes for the fire that raged on Cape Town’s Table Mountain National Park in April, scorching about 600 hectares of land. The fire started at the foot of the park and blazed for three days — fuelled by warm temperatures and strong winds — before being contained.

Why was the Franschhoek Pass closed on Monday?

The Franschhoek Pass was closed on Monday night due to veld fires. Motorists were advised to avoid the area due to the smoke. Photo: Facebook / Greater Overberg FPA Cape Town – The Cape Winelands has suffered damage from fires, with at least 87 hectares of 30-year-old fynbos destroyed.

Why is there a fire in the Franschhoek Mountains?

The fire in the Franschhoek mountains which is being fanned by a south easterly wind is threatening to burn down into borders of the town. To prevent this from happening, the fire services will undertake a special operation to backburn from the Franschhoek pass toward the oncoming fire.

Where are the fire hazards in Cape Town?

Areas that didn’t burn in the 2015 fire are a greater fire hazard. The highest fire hazard of all would be the slopes above Kirstenbosch, Newlands and the Back Table (the back of Table Mountain), where fire has been kept out for over 40 years.

Where are the fires in the Cape Winelands?

Cape Town – The Cape Winelands has suffered damage from fires, with at least 87 hectares of 30-year-old fynbos destroyed. The municipality’s fire services said yesterday they had attended to a number of fires over the weekend, the most challenging being a fire off the R44 near Remhoogte, Stellenbosch, which started on Sunday afternoon.