Man held for allegedly starting Sentinel blaze
A 33-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly starting the fire that has scorched more than 70 hectares of Sentinel mountainside, say police.
The man was arrested in Hangberg at 11am on Tuesday and was due to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday to face a charge of arson, said Hout Bay Police station spokesperson Captain Tanya Lesch (“Fire crews battle Sentinel blaze,” February 11).
“The arrest was carried out by the City’s Law Enforcement unit, and the suspect was detained at Hout Bay police station,” she said.
City Law Enforcement spokesman Wayne Dyason said: “The man had been caught by the Hangberg community and handed over to officers.”
The man had not been armed, Mr Dyason added.
Several fire departments were called in to fight the fire, and by Wednesday morning, two helicopters were still water bombing high up on the peak of the mountain, said City Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse, but SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said the fire had been contained after burning 72 hectares of mountainside.
No injuries or property damage had been reported, Mr Louw said.
Last month, a fire scorched 15 hectares of mountain fynbos along a Hangberg mountainside (“Cause of Hangberg fire under investigation,” Sentinel, January 22).
Firefighters were alerted to the latest blaze, at 10am on Tuesday, said Mr Carelse.
“Fire rescue crews from Hout Bay, Sea Point and Lakeside were dispatched, as well as the Wildland Strike units.
“A request for aerial support was received and the first helicopter arrived at 11am,“ he said.
