Fires along the hills of Northcliff put residents on edge

Fairland CPF, SCP Security and the City’s emergency services responded to two fire cases that threatened the safety of those living in the area.

According to Mahmood Cassim, Fairland CPF, the first fire was reported by a resident at just before 2pm on 14 September.

Emergency services were alerted and patrollers from Fairland CPF along with SCP Security made their way to the scene.

Upon arrival, the smoke caused by the fire reduced the visibility along Highcliff Way to a few metres. To the relief of nearby homeowners, the fire department was able to bring the fire under control.

The second fire incident was discovered on the same day when a thick blanket of smoke and a glow in the night sky was spotted on the Northcliff hill.

Cassim said, “As the fire moved swiftly along a broad front, the fire department was under pressure to contain the fire as the fire truck was unable to support the firefighters high up on the ridge.”

This forced those responding to the fire, to control the fire manually.

Patrollers from the Fairland CPF volunteered to brave the conditions and joined forces with the fire department to help battle the blaze.

While jumping over rocks and fighting through thickets and thorns, the team used tree branches to stamp out the fires.

Windy conditions kept stroking the flames and delayed their attempts to bring it under control.

Luckily, nearby residents supplied them with garden hoses connected to taps, and the fire was finally under control.

Cassim extended the gratitude and appreciation of the CPF and community to the residents who brought much-needed refreshments, energy drinks and water to the scene.

“Without community support, our efforts may not have been that easy.”

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