Fynbos, Fire and Table Mountain

Fynbos is the dominant vegetation type found in the Cape Floral Kingdom. It is therefore the dominant vegetation type found on Table Mountain. The group has become particularly well adapted to fire, in many cases even needing fire as an important factor in their lifecycle. For example the sugarbushes and conebushes store their seeds in fireproof seedheads or cones. The seeds are only released after the adult plant are burned. The pincushion seeds are collected by ants and taken to their nests. Here they remain until a fire causes them to germinate.

The fact that Table Mountain is in the middle of the city of Cape Town does of course complicate matters. Too frequent fires have a negative impact on the plants and of course a fire too close to human infrastructure can be both dangerous and destructive. Cigarette stompies, broken glass, careless braai fires and arson all add to the number of fires that occur around the city.

Last week a large fire erupted on signal hill which with the strong South Easterly wind to fan it threatened much of the city including Sea Point and Green Point.

The fire on Signal Hill. Dangerously close to the city centre

The quick response of a number of helicopters trailing fire buckets, the fire service and the volunteer fire service luckily contained this particular fire in record time with minimum damage.

Helicopters with fire buckets are essential in a fight against fire

The spectacle provided much entertainment for locals and tourists alike.