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24 November 2023
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Fire crews respond to Pecks Valley fire on Table Mountain, Cape Town
A wildfire broke out in Peck’s Valley on Table Mountain on Saturday, 25 November 2023, in Cape Town. Clinton Dilgee of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), said, “We responded at approximately 19h00 when the call out was received. Incident commanders were IC Justin Buchmann and operations section chief Clinton Dilgee. No IMT was created due to the short operational period.”
“The fire broke out above Boyes Drive (Pecks Valley) and a moderate to sometimes strong SSE wind drove the fire into and up the very steep valley. Mature and younger fynbos were burnt; some burnt during the 2015 fires. Resources deployed included the TMNP NCC fire standby crew from Newlands (25), two TMNP off-road water tankers, two smaller skid units and four VWS fire crews (47 total),” said Dilgee.
He added, “The total area burnt is estimated at around 100ha of good condition fynbos ranging in ages from 43 years to 8/9 year-old veld. Most of the fire was contained using hand tools only due to the terrain and accessibility. The head, which reached the Navy antennae, was contained using tankers from TMNP.”
“From the onset of the operation all crews entered from Boyes Drive with three crews being placed on the volatile flank (right). A single crew went left flank to attempt to get to the secondary head. With slow progress adjoining crews were ferried up onto the mountain from Gate 2 (Silvermine side). Progressing to the top; vehicles and crews entered from this side (Ou Kaapse Weg). Containment was achieved early Sunday morning with all crews remaining (VWS stood down at 3am Sunday morning and TMNP crews replaced at 09h00am). A 10-person crew monitored and mopped up for Sunday (day and night replaced Tuesday morning with a skeleton crew to monitor for the day). The fire was contained on 26 November 2023 at 01h00,” said Dilgee.
“No injuries or damages to any property or structures encountered.”
“Challenges faced included access due to the steep terrain for crews was a challenge. Visibility early hours of the morning when the mist from the sea came in was an issue (also crews getting wet and cold…. Lots of unhappy but happy crews on the line!)”
“The origin was just off the footpath up Pecks Valley. A group of individuals were noted to be in the vicinity but this we cannot confirm as being the cause.”
Photos and videos: Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS)
Source: Clinton Dilgee, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP)
“The fire broke out above Boyes Drive (Pecks Valley) and a moderate to sometimes strong SSE wind drove the fire into and up the very steep valley. Mature and younger fynbos were burnt; some burnt during the 2015 fires. Resources deployed included the TMNP NCC fire standby crew from Newlands (25), two TMNP off-road water tankers, two smaller skid units and four VWS fire crews (47 total),” said Dilgee.
He added, “The total area burnt is estimated at around 100ha of good condition fynbos ranging in ages from 43 years to 8/9 year-old veld. Most of the fire was contained using hand tools only due to the terrain and accessibility. The head, which reached the Navy antennae, was contained using tankers from TMNP.”
“From the onset of the operation all crews entered from Boyes Drive with three crews being placed on the volatile flank (right). A single crew went left flank to attempt to get to the secondary head. With slow progress adjoining crews were ferried up onto the mountain from Gate 2 (Silvermine side). Progressing to the top; vehicles and crews entered from this side (Ou Kaapse Weg). Containment was achieved early Sunday morning with all crews remaining (VWS stood down at 3am Sunday morning and TMNP crews replaced at 09h00am). A 10-person crew monitored and mopped up for Sunday (day and night replaced Tuesday morning with a skeleton crew to monitor for the day). The fire was contained on 26 November 2023 at 01h00,” said Dilgee.
“No injuries or damages to any property or structures encountered.”
“Challenges faced included access due to the steep terrain for crews was a challenge. Visibility early hours of the morning when the mist from the sea came in was an issue (also crews getting wet and cold…. Lots of unhappy but happy crews on the line!)”
“The origin was just off the footpath up Pecks Valley. A group of individuals were noted to be in the vicinity but this we cannot confirm as being the cause.”
Photos and videos: Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS)
Source: Clinton Dilgee, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP)
