City of Cape Town firefighters put out a fire on Devil's Peak, off Phillip Kgosana Drive, on Monday, February 23.
Image: JP Smith
The City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Service responded to another fire in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) on Monday, February 23, with strong indications pointing towards arson.
The fire started just after 1pm near Devil's Peak, off Phillip Kgosana Drive.
According to the City, as teams worked to contain the initial blaze, three further fires were started along the very same route.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said, following a recent spell of high temperatures, vegetation across the city is dry and highly flammable
"A factor that authorities suggest any arsonist would be acutely aware of," he said.
Firefighters worked quickly to prevent a widespread disaster.
South African National Park (SANParks) activated their aerial firefighting service immediately, deploying three City choppers for waterbombing, guided by a spotter plane.
Ground support from Roeland Street, Salt River, Constantia, and Brooklyn fire stations assisted TMNP firefighting teams.
The swift, coordinated response contained all fires, and the roadway was safely reopened by 5pm.
Mr Smith said the incident underscored a serious and growing problem - "arson is a criminal offence, and statistics point to a deliberate criminal element at work".
Between December last year and January this year, the fire and rescue service attended to 3 492 vegetation fires - 279 more than the previous year.
Forensic fire investigators contracted to SANParks were on the scene on Monday, February 23.
Mr Smith said while the City's fire services prioritise life and property, the responsibility for registering a criminal case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) would fall to the custodian of the land, TMNP, "should evidence confirm arson".
The Western Cape has seen a significant surge in arson cases, bucking a national trend, with 194 dockets registered in the last three months of 2025 alone.
Mr Smith said this suggests a credible, purposeful criminal element is operating in the region.
He said that the municipality continued to invest in specialised equipment to combat these mountain fires, including smaller 4x4 off-road water tankers, each carrying 6 000 litres, which were essential for navigating the difficult terrain.
Mr Smith said that the municipality has taken every step to protect its residents and property, and the matter is now with the police for investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
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