A wildfire that broke out in Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa,&nbsp;has damaged properties and historic buildings and spread to a nearby university.

One firefighter was injured and University of Cape Town students were evacuated, according to government authorities.&nbsp;

Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) confirmed that the location of the fire was immediately above Philip Kgosana drive.&nbsp;

The City of Cape Town said the origin of the blaze is "a vacated vagrant fire". One of the major contributors to the rapid rate of spread was the very old pine trees and their debris, it added.&nbsp;

“The fire created its own wind that further increased the rate of spread. The excessive amount of smoke and related updrafts made it impossible for the aerial support to slow the rate of spread,” Philip Prins, TMNP Fire Manager said.&nbsp;

TMNP and the City of Cape Town have four helicopters currently operating in the areas. There are numerous other water tankers and firefighting vehicles on the scene managed between TMNP and the City.&nbsp;

“It can be confirmed that the Rhodes Memorial restaurant has unfortunately burnt down. The fire has also spread to the veld above the University of Cape Town (UCT)&nbsp; upper campus and to the areas below the M3. Roads have been closed,” it said.&nbsp;

The fire spread to the veld above the UCT and forced the university to evacuate as strong winds caused the fire to spread.

“All UCT students have been evacuated from campus by emergency services support staff. We have taken them to predetermined locations,” the University said on its social media page.

City of Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato noted that one firefighter was being treated for burn wounds in the hospital.

“Property including private homes, Rhodes Memorial restaurant, and historical structures such as the Mostert’s Hill windmill have been damaged,” the Mayor said.&nbsp;

“It is tragic that literary treasures have been lost at the UCT library, but I have been informed that some of the most valuable works were saved by the quick activation of roller doors,” Plato added.

Members of the public are going all out to help students, firefighters, and everyone affected by the fire. Social media was abuzz with many even offering their homes as accommodations to those affected.&nbsp;

A wildfire that broke out in Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, has damaged properties and historic buildings and spread to a nearby university. One firefighter was injured and University of Cape Town students were evacuated, according to government authorities.

A wildfire that broke out in Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, has damaged properties and historic buildings and spread to a nearby university. One firefighter was injured and University of Cape Town students were evacuated, according to government authorities. Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) confirmed that the location of the fire was immediately above Philip Kgosana drive. The City of Cape Town said the origin of the blaze is "a vacated vagrant fire". One of the major contributors to the rapid rate of spread was the very old pine trees and their debris, it added. “The fire created its own wind that further increased the rate of spread. The excessive amount of smoke and related updrafts made it impossible for the aerial support to slow the rate of spread,” Philip Prins, TMNP Fire Manager said. TMNP and the City of Cape Town have four helicopters currently operating in the areas. There are numerous other water tankers and firefighting vehicles on the scene managed between TMNP and the City. “It can be confirmed that the Rhodes Memorial restaurant has unfortunately burnt down. The fire has also spread to the veld above the University of Cape Town (UCT) upper campus and to the areas below the M3. Roads have been closed,” it said. The fire spread to the veld above the UCT and forced the university to evacuate as strong winds caused the fire to spread. “All UCT students have been evacuated from campus by emergency services support staff. We have taken them to predetermined locations,” the University said on its social media page. City of Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato noted that one firefighter was being treated for burn wounds in the hospital. “Property including private homes, Rhodes Memorial restaurant, and historical structures such as the Mostert’s Hill windmill have been damaged,” the Mayor said. “It is tragic that literary treasures have been lost at the UCT library, but I have been informed that some of the most valuable works were saved by the quick activation of roller doors,” Plato added. Members of the public are going all out to help students, firefighters, and everyone affected by the fire. Social media was abuzz with many even offering their homes as accommodations to those affected.

South Africa: Table Mountain wildfire threatens University of Cape Town

South African firefighters contained a wildfire along Cape Town's Table Mountain on Monday more than 24 hours after it began, damaging historical sites and forcing people to evacuate their homes and schools to close. &nbsp;

Winds of up to 45 kilometres per hour put water-bombing helicopters out of action and more than 250 firefighters were tackling fast-spreading flare-ups from the ground only. &nbsp;

Officials believe the blaze may have been started deliberately and a suspect was detained on Sunday evening. They also said it was one of the most damaging cultural heritage fires ever.&nbsp;

"With regards to the damage to historical buildings, it is quite substantial," said Arlene Wehr, the incident commander at the city's fire services, at a media briefing.&nbsp;

City of Cape Town mayor, Dan Plato, described the fire, which has so far destroyed more than 400 hectares of vegetation in the Table Mountain National Park, as one of the biggest in the city's recent history.&nbsp;

The fire started early on Sunday morning on the slopes of Devils' Peak, another part of Cape Town's mountainous backdrop, forcing University of Cape Town students to evacuate residences as runaway flames set several campus buildings ablaze, including a library housing historic books and scripts.&nbsp;

Other properties damaged includes the popular hikers' restaurant at Rhodes memorial and the thatch-roofed Mostert Mill, built around 1796 and South Africa's oldest working mill.&nbsp;

"It is not only the historic buildings themselves that have been lost, but their contents and collections," said the Cape Town Heritage Trust in a statement. &nbsp;

Two firefighters sustained burn wounds and were hospitalised for treatment, officials said, as a change in wind direction saw the fire spread rapidly towards the city bowl overnight.&nbsp;

All schools in the Vredehoek area were asked to evacuate, a disaster management spokeswoman said, adding that homes used to accommodate travelling cabinet ministers in Walmer Estate were also being cleared. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

South African firefighters contained a wildfire along Cape Town's Table Mountain on Monday more than 24 hours after it began, damaging historical sites and forcing people to evacuate their homes and schools to close.

South African firefighters contained a wildfire along Cape Town's Table Mountain on Monday more than 24 hours after it began, damaging historical sites and forcing people to evacuate their homes and schools to close. Winds of up to 45 kilometres per hour put water-bombing helicopters out of action and more than 250 firefighters were tackling fast-spreading flare-ups from the ground only. Officials believe the blaze may have been started deliberately and a suspect was detained on Sunday evening. They also said it was one of the most damaging cultural heritage fires ever. "With regards to the damage to historical buildings, it is quite substantial," said Arlene Wehr, the incident commander at the city's fire services, at a media briefing. City of Cape Town mayor, Dan Plato, described the fire, which has so far destroyed more than 400 hectares of vegetation in the Table Mountain National Park, as one of the biggest in the city's recent history. The fire started early on Sunday morning on the slopes of Devils' Peak, another part of Cape Town's mountainous backdrop, forcing University of Cape Town students to evacuate residences as runaway flames set several campus buildings ablaze, including a library housing historic books and scripts. Other properties damaged includes the popular hikers' restaurant at Rhodes memorial and the thatch-roofed Mostert Mill, built around 1796 and South Africa's oldest working mill. "It is not only the historic buildings themselves that have been lost, but their contents and collections," said the Cape Town Heritage Trust in a statement. Two firefighters sustained burn wounds and were hospitalised for treatment, officials said, as a change in wind direction saw the fire spread rapidly towards the city bowl overnight. All schools in the Vredehoek area were asked to evacuate, a disaster management spokeswoman said, adding that homes used to accommodate travelling cabinet ministers in Walmer Estate were also being cleared. (With inputs from agencies)

Firefighters contain windswept blaze on Table Mountain in South Africa 

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South Africa: Table Mountain wildfire threatens University of Cape Town

Firefighters contain windswept blaze on Table Mountain in South Africa