All photos and text Copyright © 1998-2008 Gordon Richardson gordonr@iafrica.com
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Burned area from Scarborough - Feb '08
Controlled burn in Kenilworth Racecourse fynbos - Mar '05
On 13 Jan 2005 a huge fire started above Muizenberg, and burned to Ou Kaapse Weg
Helicopters water-bombing the fire above Muizenberg - Jan '05
A gale-force south-easter meant these efforts were futile
Burned areas of Muizenberg and Steenberg Peaks from Zandvlei
Glencairn fire and smoke near houses - Jun '04
Thanks to efforts by many firefighters, and helicopters, damage to property was limited
Burned slopes of Twelve Apostles above Camps Bay - Jan '03
Burned slopes of Devil's Peak with Cape Town Harbour - Nov '02
Mountain controlled burn from Kalk Bay Harbour - Apr '02
Smoke plume on mountain above Simonstown from Kalk Bay - Apr '02
Soon after this photo the fire was out of control over the mountaintop
Fire on Saddle of Table Mountain and helicopter - Mar '01
Smoke plume over Table Mountain - 28 Feb '01
Still smouldering 3 days later...
Update: A series of huge fires on 16 to 19 January 2000
damaged large parts of Silvermine, Simonstown and adjacent areas.
Gladiolus flower and recovery in Silvermine - May/Jun '00
Erosion in stream bed on Chapmans Peak - May/Jun '00
Mudslide as a result of rain on fire damaged slope
Glencairn burned area - early May '00
The residential area narrowly escaped major damage
Leucodendron seeds sprouting next to dead stumps - Mar '00
10 weeks after the fire
Heamanthus flowers sprouting from burned hillside - Feb/Mar '00
8 weeks after the fire
Shoots sprouting from burned hillside - Feb/Mar '00
Bracken and burned trees above Silvermine reservoir - Feb/Mar '00
Group of Heamanthus flowers - Feb '00
6 weeks after fire
Chapman's Peak and burned area in Silvermine Nature Reserve
Adjacent plantations and alien trees made the danger of fires worse.
Burned areas above Tokai Forest and Constantiaberg above Elephant's Eye
Fire lily sprouting from bare soil - late-Jan '00
Barely 2 weeks after the fire.
Burned bush with scattered seeds - late-Jan '00
The natural dispersal cycle of fynbos is triggered by fire.
Smoke and cloud over Devil's Peak - March/April '99
This was the first of many fires this summer
Burned slopes of Devil's Peak with cloud and close-up - March/April '99
Smoke over Table Mountain - February '99
The smoke was from a huge forest fire 50km away
Fire in Silvermine Nature Reserve - Spring '92
Burned hillside and Kogelberg towards Hangklip - December '95
Kenilworth Racecourse - mid Summer '96
Recovery from fire
Fire is a common occurence in the Western Cape fynbos, and is not necessarily as destructive as believed. The following sequence shows excellent recovery above Kirstenbosch in 4 months.
Burned area above Kirstenbosch - October '97
Recovery from fire above Kirstenbosch - February '98
Fire at Rhodes Memorial behind UCT - February '98
Results of fire at Rhodes Memorial behind UCT - February '98
