Firefighters are trying to extinguish a fire on the slopes of a mountain in Paarl.
The fire was reported today, on Saturday morning.
Efforts to fight the fire intensified, when it became clear it is close to homes and private property.
The Cape Winelands District Municipality’s (CWDM) Fire Services, together with multiple partners, said in addition to the fire crews, other resources on the ground are choppers, a mobile incident command bus and the command team is scheduled to deploy resources and manpower during the night.
Thus far, there are no reports of damage to property and the lines closest to houses are closely monitored.
The Municipality said in an update at 6pm, the area under fire, is a combination of mixed vegetation between 15 and 25 years old. Challenges are the changeable wind direction, very uneven, difficult terrain.
As a result, fire crews are struggling to gain fire lines.
Active firefighting is expected to continue throughout the night, with fire crews from CWDM, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch Municipalities present.
Choppers from the PMDC are returning to base, while those from Leading Edge and the Blackhawk from Quick Reaction Force will continue with structure protection.
There are three ground teams from NCC working the lines.
Picture: Supplied