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Cape Town Fire Forces Evacuations in Wealthy Beach Suburb

Cape Town Fire Forces Home Evacuations in Upmarket Beach Suburb

(Bloomberg) -- A fire on the slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain prompted evacuations in some of the city’s most expensive residential areas on Sunday when a strong wind fanned the flames and prevented the use of helicopters to battle the blaze.

Residents in the suburbs of Higgovale, and Clifton, where a property on Nettleton Road was recently listed at more than $10 million, fled as the fire approached their houses. The blaze was contained on Monday morning as the wind dropped, local broadcaster eNCA reported.

The fire destroyed homes, according to eNCA, and gutted several cars parked on Signal Hill, a popular spot for walkers and climbers to leave their vehicles. More than 100 firefighters were still on site Monday, dealing with the remnants of the fire and supported by helicopters, according to South Africa’s national parks authority.

--With assistance from Paul Vecchiatto.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Viljoen in Cape Town at jviljoen@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Blaise Robinson at brobinson58@bloomberg.net, Gordon Bell, Chris Kay

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