Table Mountain Aerial Cableway CLOSED due to fire in the area
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is out of action on Wednesday after the fire department closed Tafelberg Road due to smoke in the area.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (TMAC) is out of action on Wednesday, 26 February after the fire department closed Tafelberg Road due to smoke in the area.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, TMAC wrote: ‘Due to smoke in and around the area, the fire department has closed Tafelberg Road. As a result, we are not operational today until further notice.
‘We’ll provide updates as soon as we have more information. Stay safe and thank you for your understanding.’
As reported earlier by The South African website, firefighters are currently battling escalating wildfires in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).
Due to a change in wind conditions and strong gusting winds overnight, the Newlands Ravine fire has since spread toward Tafelberg Road and Vredehoek.
Aerial resources were deployed
All available resources from the TMNP fire management team, NCC Wildfires, Volunteer Wildfire Services, Working on Fire, Provincial Disaster Management, Enviro Wildfire Services, and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services have been diverted to various sections along Tafelberg Road, Red Hill and its surrounding areas to contain the fire.
All available aerial resources were deployed at first light to the City Bowl and Red Hill as a priority.
Meanwhile, the fire in Red Hill remains active, burning south of Ocean View toward Kommetjie.
Firefighting efforts are ongoing in these areas too.
As a precaution, the following areas will remain closed until further notice:
• Front Table trails: From Platteklip Gorge to Newlands, including Maclear’s Beacon.
• Tafelberg Road closed to the public
• Kirstenbosch and Rhodes Memorial Estate: Active fire lines remain close to Kirstenbosch. Newlands Forest remains closed.
• Red Hill trails: Access from Red Hill, Slangkop, Ocean View, Jonkersdam, and Kleinplaas Dam is restricted.
RELATED | Hikers defy warnings and enter fire-ravaged areas of Table Mountain
A concern remains the continued presence of hikers in areas that have been closed off due to fire damage and active fire operations.
We urge the public to strictly adhere to all trail closures for their safety.
This developing news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
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