A pall of thick, acrid smoke hangs over the neighbourhood today as a rampant fire engulfs the mountains and threatens homes and wildlife.
Acrid smoke engulfs the area.
Guinea fowl family take to safety.
The vegetation is tinder dry.
The helicopter pilots must battle tricky conditions, without them the battle would be lost.
A baboon troop scale the slopes to outrun the advancing fire.
The scene below the cliffs.
The naval barracks area.
The helicopter pilots water bombing.
Water versus flames.
Tireless helicopter pilots are the heroes of the day.
The dockyard and harbour.
Fearful scenes make the adrenalin rush.
Nature on the Edge 
hopefully it is now contained, and we might even get light rain!
Thankfully yes… even with the fire fighting crews so stretched what with Somerset West and Paarl. Heartfelt tributes to all and especially to the helicopters pilots… aerial tactics to get to to inaccessible areas. Thank goodness!!
What terrible scenes! Excellent documentation on your part.
Appreciate your comments, Jo Ann – thank you.
Frightening scenes. I hope the fires have died out.
The fire-crews have done an incredible job in containing the fires – 11 in the province. Huge damage to some areas. The consequences for land owners – vineyards, guest houses will be dire and for employees. Warnings that this is a consequence of climate change and increasinly hot, dry conditions 😦
Scary, for sure. I hope you are safe and the fire is under control. Great photo journaling, Liz.
Amazing photos ~
My first instinct was to get the hell out, yet there’s a strange compelling magnetism to capturing fire scenes, that awesome sense of power and destruction, all the while fear can overpower.
Terrible scenes. I hope the fires are extinguished and the danger past, at least for now.
The danger’s past, thanks Su Leslie. Fingers crossed for the rest of summer.
Glad to hear it. I hope the rest of the fire season passes without more danger.
Yes, wishing for winter! The Western Cape has been hard hit under drought conditions and strong winds ..
Oh, no, not again! Simonstown? That looks very close to houses.
City investigating possibility of arson. Close call for many – evacuated, but considering the ferocity and speed of the fire we’re fortunate that not more homes lost.
That’s dreadful.
Let’s hope the damage is minimal.
Very thankful that property and people all safe, but high cost to wildlife and ecosystems. Lots of work will be needed to stablize mountain slopes to stop erosion. One good benefit though – invasive alien vegetation wiped out.
Frightening for every living thing. You have captured the essence of it very well – thank you.
Yes, can’t help that primordial fear response.
Great pictures Liz – of another sad event . . .
All that invasive alien vegetation on navy land ….
Wild fire is a scary monster…hope
People are safe, but at such a high cost to wildlife. The fynbos ecosysytems rely on fire regeneration, but if the cycle happens too frequently the plants don’t resprout / set seeds.
That is the same in many parts of
Most creatures and people are safe!
Stay safe Liz,
Lisa (Fifteen Acres)
Thank you Lisa.
That is some fire.
It is, it strikes primordial fear, yet is beckoning in it’s raw power.
I agree
How frightening, I hope it out now and all is well.
Thanks Gilly, it’s under control and contained. The wind has got stronger again but crews are monitoring flare-ups.
Impressive! frightening!
Yes, both – Such raw power yet so adrenalin-enriched scary!
Glad to hear the danger is past. Great documentary photos!
Thanks for your comments Karen. It’s all quiet again …
A wonderful series of images journalling this frightening event Liz, but much credit to your fire-fighters; I’m sure it could have been much worse.
Yes, all praise to the fire-fighting teams and especially the air response – the crews and pilots of the fixed-wing planes and helicopters. They’re able to cover the inaccessible moutain terrain which the ground crews can’t reach. Have saved so many homes.
Such frightening scenes, Liz. I hate hearing about more fires around the beautiful Cape Town area. Those brave firefighters really have their work cut out, lately. 😦