Raging fires across the Cape Peninsula were brought under control last week before seriously damaging wine crops in the area, affecting production or exports. It took several days to bring the fire – which damaged large parts of Noordhoek, Clovelly, Muizenberg, Hout Bay, Constantia Berg, Tokai Forest and Tierbos Kloof – under control and at one stage it threatened the survival of some of the Cape’s oldest wine establishments such as Groot and Klein Constantia. Small areas of vineyards have been burnt at several of the wine farms in the area, including Cape Point Vineyards and Buitenverwachting, and a small portion of the higher vineyards at Groot Constantia. The fire saw more than 250 fire fighters working endlessly in the mountains along with some 30 fire-fighting vehicles, four helicopters and two fixed wing aircraft. Winefarm managers said firefighters did not spare any effort to stop the blaze from getting to crops. CAPTION In flames... the Cape Peninsula last week. Photo: Halden Krog
