The City’s Fire and Rescue Service responded to a large fire in Mandela Park (Imizamo Yethu West) in Hout Bay in the early hours of Sunday morning, 11 October.

Spokesperson Mark Bosch says on arrival, fire crews saw a large area of informal dwellings alight.

Fire engines from Hout Bay, Constantia, Wynberg, Lakeside, Roeland, Salt River and Sea Point, as well as water tankers from Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Mitchell’s Plain and Epping Fire Stations, were dispatched to the incident.

Due to the nature, size and hazards involved, an Incident Management Team was also dispatched.

The fire was contained at 6:43 AM.

Bosch says damping down operations will take a considerable time due to the heavy fuel load in the area.

Firefighting crews remained on scene until the area was safe.

Following preliminary assessments, it was established that around 400 residents were displaced. 80 informal structures were destroyed, and four formal dwellings were damaged.

Infrastructure damage includes two full-flush toilets destroyed, damage to electricity infrastructure, and the loss of 11 trees.

Gift of the Givers teams are on site providing hot meals and bottled water.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is not known.