Cape Town – The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) has confirmed that all personnel involved in Wednesday evening’s helicopter incident on Vlakkenberg are safe.
The pilot, operating an aircraft deployed by Working on Fire and Kishugu, escaped unharmed, and volunteer ground crews on site were also uninjured.
The helicopter had been assisting with wildfire suppression in the Hout Bay area, where teams often face difficult terrain and unpredictable conditions.
VWS highlighted the importance of coordination between aerial and ground teams, emphasising teamwork among volunteers, national parks authorities, and specialised firefighting units to protect lives, property, and the environment.
A vegetation fire, first reported on Tuesday along Grotto Road in Hout Bay, had escalated quickly, prompting a large-scale response. Firecrews from the Hout Bay Fire Station were dispatched with engines, water tankers, and an Incident Management Team.
Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) deployed 37 ground crew members, with three helicopters and one fixed-wing spotter assisting in waterbombing operations, IOL reported.
The fire spread overnight toward Klein Constantia, with flare-ups fanned by strong winds. During firefighting efforts, one helicopter clipped the mountain with its main rotor and crashed.
Mayor committee member for safety and security Alderman JP Smith confirmed the pilot survived.
Rescue teams and enforcement officers were immediately deployed to secure the site until SAPS and the Civil Aviation Authority took control.
“Our thoughts are with the pilot involved and the broader teams,” VWS said, acknowledging the collective effort of Working on Fire, Kishugu, and TMNP personnel.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
