CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – Cape Town firefighters finally controlled a forest fire on Monday after scattering the slopes of the city’s famous Table Mountain, burning the university’s historic library and forcing the evacuation of some neighborhoods.
The fire that is burning in the event of an explosion in strong winds and warm, dry conditions is being monitored.
City officials said the fire, which started early Sunday, was “largely contained” more than 24 hours later.
The fire had already severely damaged the library and other buildings on the Cape Town University campus on Sunday, as well as other nearby historic buildings. Powered by strong winds, it spread through the wild bush to the mountain slopes toward the city center and surrounding residential areas.
Devil’s Peak, one of the landmarks of the mountain that dominates downtown Cape Town, was lit by flames as the fire lit up the night. Residents of suburbs on the mountain slopes were evacuated early Monday as the fire approached their home dangerously.
Firefighters with water containers suspended from the ropes had been collecting water from the pools and the nearby ocean and throwing it into the fire. But they were landed on Monday due to strong winds.
Four firefighters were injured fighting the flames on the runways, officials said. The South African army had offered to help with some of its aircraft.
“A massive wind is blowing, which is actually feeding the fire to spread in each and every direction,” Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said.
Another 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson for causing additional fires, another city official said, but it is unclear whether he was responsible for starting the fire. The man was arrested after witnesses reported seeing three people moving through the flames causing more fires, Cape Town Security and Safety Officer JP Smith said.
Smith said the city had commissioned a forensic investigator to look into the case.
Forest fires in the mountains surrounding Cape Town are quite common during the hot, dry summer months and sometimes become huge flames uncontrollable by strong coastal winds. The temperature in Cape Town peaked at 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) on Sunday and winds hit the city overnight and Monday.
About 250 city firefighters and volunteers were deployed to fight the fire, which damaged four buildings at Cape Town University. The main reading room of the Jagger Library, where rare and unique African books and manuscripts were kept, was destroyed and some of the “priceless” works had been lost, the university said. Others were saved after fireproof doors were activated and parts of the library were sealed.
Library staff had seen “horrified” from a safe distance how the building burned, said library executive director Ujala Satgoor.
A windmill, built in 1796, and a restaurant near a memorial to British colonial politician Cecil Rhodes were also burned.
The university has been completely evacuated and closed and meals were provided to about 4,000 students who were to quickly leave the university campus and their residences, according to Gift of the Givers, a disaster response organization. Many of these students were transferred to local hotels, according to the group. Activities at the university were suspended at least until Wednesday.
The group said it also supplies food and water to firefighters who had been working for more than 24 hours to control the fire.
Heavy smoke hung in parts of Cape Town and people were advised to cover their mouths and noses with wet towels or rags while evacuating.
Dramatic videos and photos were posted on social media on social media by people dangerously approaching the fire on the slopes of Table Mountain, which is popular with runners and mountain bikers on weekends.
Lisette Lombard posted a video of herself escaping the fire after running into it on Sunday. She watched him run, out of breath, as the plumes of smoke approached behind him. He said his car and others left in a parking lot were completely burned and he finally found help from firefighters climbing the mountain.
“When I was told that (the fire) was out of control, that was when the penny fell on the danger of the situation and how lucky I was,” he told South Africa’s IOL news website.