Fast-Moving Fire On Table Mountain Destroys South African Landmarks, History
A wildfire that started on South Africa's Table Mountain early Sunday spread to the University of Cape Town, burning the school's historic library and forcing staff and students to evacuate.
The Rhodes Memorial Fire broke out around 9 a.m. Sunday, according to Table Mountain National Park. The fire likely started from a "vacated vagrant fire." Extreme fire danger in the area, heavy winds and high temperatures helped the fire spread quickly, park officials said.
By Monday morning, the fire remained hard to reach in certain areas, according to the city's official Twitter account. Officials hoped efforts to douse the flames by helicopter would prevent the spread outside of Cape Town. Some precautionary evacuations began taking place in the suburb of Vredehoek.
More than 100 firefighters have been dispatched. At least two firefighters were sent to the hospital with injuries.
City officials indicated that one suspect in his thirties was taken into custody Sunday for a possible connection to the fire. In a statement, Cape Town officials said the suspect "was spotted by a resident, who tracked him down with the help of his sons and the family's dogs."
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/19/988640656/fast-moving-fire-on-table-mountain-destroys-south-african-landmarks-history