Cape Town fire burns university library, students evacuated

A fire rages out of control on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. The fire spread to the University of Cape Town, destroying a library and some historic buildings. Photo / AP

A wildfire raging on the slopes of Cape Town's Table Mountain spread to the University of Cape Town, burning the historic campus library and forcing the evacuation of students on Sunday (SA time).

Orange flames lit up the windows of the library that houses considerable archives and book collections while firefighters sprayed jets of water to douse the blaze. At least two floors of Jagger Library burned, according to local news reports.

UCT library in flames 😢 #CapeTown #fireonthemountain #uctfire pic.twitter.com/pLY6rmmj2F

— Craig Stack (@Craig_Stack) April 18, 2021

Utterly tragic: special collections of Africa Studies Library distoryed at UCT as bush fire spreads from Table Mountain. pic.twitter.com/7x7AszFgFj

— Dr Fe Mukwamba-Sendall 💙 (@edresphd) April 18, 2021

Other campus buildings also caught fire, and a historic windmill nearby burned.
Just off-campus on the slopes of Table Mountain, wind spread the flames across dry brush, and part of the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant caught fire, Cape Town media reported.

More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed to the university campus and to Table Mountain National Park. Four helicopters were being used to drop water on threatened areas, officials said.

Windmill destroyed and much smoke coming from UCT campus #capetownfire pic.twitter.com/wUXQ78BDtM

— 𝕬𝖓𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖓𝖞 𝕸𝖔𝖑𝖞𝖓𝖊𝖆𝖚𝖝 (@AJGMolyneaux) April 18, 2021

One firefighter was injured and being treated at a hospital, according to the Cape Town fire and rescue department.

Residents have been cautioned to be on alert, Charlotte Powell, spokeswoman for the city's disaster risk management centre, said in a statement.

"At this stage, there's no cause to evacuate, but we ask that residents adhere to the following: close all windows to prevent draft and reduce heat, damp down your garden using a hose or irrigation system," Powell said.

- AP