Another wildfire devastates the Peninsula

As yet another wildfire devastates the mountains of the Peninsula, we are again reminded how vulnerable we in the South Peninsula are to natural disasters (although this is probably not natural, rather man-made) by having to negotiate mountain passes or a very narrow road along the coast. With three of these closed to traffic today, we are unable to get to work, school or any appointments - how many planes will be missed, operations held up and wages docked? The queue along the main road is currently taking three hours. No point in going that way. Hopefully there will be plenty of sympathy and understanding for those affected.

Facebook and Twitter have kept us all up to date with blow by blow (or should that be flame by flame) photos and everyone has been able to make contact with loved ones who are in the midst of the drama. Volunteer firefighters are once again risking their lives to keep property and lives safe and generous donations must surely be forthcoming from the areas they are protecting, which are among the most affluent in Cape Town.

Dunce of the Day award goes to the woman with a CEM numberplate whose picture is currently circulating after she was photographed throwing a burning butt out of her car window. The fires in 2000 that raged for weeks involved a burning butt on top of Ou Kaapse Weg. As a friend so rightly pointed out, there is no pill for stupid.

Oddly enough, I am having lunch today with an old school friend who is visiting her elderly father in Noordhoek, and they were evacuated to a church hall in Fish Hoek during the time of most danger. I assumed that with the fire still going strong in the area, lunch would be off, but I am assured that it is still on. I hope the fire engines have gone by then!