Two early morning fires, one in Apple Road, Vrygrond and another in Overcome Heights, have left 50 structures destroyed and families in distress.
JP Smith, MMC of Safety and Security in Cape Town said firefighters were called to a fire in Vrygrond (Overcome Heights), around 09h20 on Tuesday morning.
He also said via social media, the teams responded immediately with fire engines from Lakeside, Ottery, and Wynberg fire stations.
He said as a result, the first crews arrived within 12 minutes thereafter.
Smith has used this fire, to make the point about the need for a proposed additional R17 million increase to the Fire and Rescue budget.
Smith said water is necessary in fighting fires, as well as equipment such as smaller water tankers that are easily able to navigate the narrow roads of informal settlements.
Picture: Mandy Marr, Councillor of Vrygrond (Overcome Heights).