FIRE IN NOORDHOEK - REPORT 4 MARCH - ONE PROPERTY DESTROYED

Have been out on site since early this morning and here is a photo-story of the situation above Noordhoek Beach area. I have deliberately excluded pics of burned properties because as an ethical journalist I believe that is a time and place for them, but not today.

If you want to report damage to you property for my background information and so I can correct certain highly irregular reporting on the part of some of Cape Town's media, please email me on garethgriffiths.imaging"@"gmail.com   (note I have inserted quotes to the @ to prevent spammers from finding me!)

Are you in the media? I am too. Please contact me if you want to use photos or information. I offer them freely subject to a licence.

So this is the picture as of this morning:

Miracle - the Shark Spotters hut survived - how, I don't know!

 Before sunrise from the Beach. D-Zone area clearly viewable to the right.

Monkey Valley Lodge Okay - despite reports on News24 and others

Monkey Valley from Chappies - Wednesday morning. Glorious Milkwoods (and huts) OKAY

 Athos, coordinator of the crisis control centre for Noordhoek

Athos describes to me taking some time out for supper at the Toad last night, but then realising that - maybe- the Fat Lady had not yet sung - speaking of the fire. How right he was.

A flareup off Chapman's Peak Drive this morning.  Typical of the type of scrub the fire was "working" yesterday.

Also off Chapman's Peak drive around 07h00. A very lucky escape - thanks to all helpers, I would think.

Here's the sun as last, peeping it's bloody eye through the Stone Pines, which are now 2 x survivors - from 2000 and now 2015.

D-Zone

Will give wine tasting a miss for a few hours.

Stone Lions at CPV have seen many a drama along these roads!

This is the kind of smoldering that readily turns to full on fire when the wind rises.

Workers from Cape Point Vineyards assist with water tank and tractor this morning.

Thanks Sybrand vd Spuy.

 This is the area that got the worst of the ash outfall last night. Misleadingly peaceful now.

Incredible job by volunteers who continue to arrive at the Crisis Coordination Ops Room in Village Lane. Pete de Bruin, Franck Dangereaux and Guy of the Foodbarn kindly providing real coffee from a kiosk outside the Farm Village - free as a thank you to the workers.

According to Athos and colleagues at the Crisis Centre, it may not yet be over, but above all panic should be avoided. Keep the Crisis Centre informed. Be sure to put your friends and social media "friends" straight when giving information and encourage people to stay away from the "D-Zone" except when to volunteer. A list of donated items for the centre is still available. Athos can be contacted on 082-606-3726

Athos also confirms that all properties on the De Goede Hoop development survived the fire, which was very bad at the perimeter - as in you could lose sight of your volunteers - barring damage to outhouses and perimeters. I reckon a big vote of thanks owed to those professional fire fighters and volunteers.

The most reliable report we have is that ONE property in the Noordhoek Valley was completely destroyed by the fire, and this due to the hot ash fallout at around midnight last night. Several others suffered limited damage. I will substantiate as soon as possible.

Do you have a story of the fire? You can send it to me at the email address above. It will be handled confidentially.