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THE fire that ripped through Red Hill for three consecutive days has led to arson being the strongly suspected cause.

Some 93 homes were burnt to the ground after the fire, which started on Thursday and worsened on Friday owing to the relentless Cape Doctor.

Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) spokesperson Phumeza Mgxashe says the pattern of the recent blazes led to the conclusion that they might have been started intentionally.

"The fires were definitely deliberate. The arsonists have a pattern of starting the fires."

She says patrols have been increased in the area, but during the weekend's incident the wind caused a flare-up even though the fires that broke out on Thursday had already been contained in the early hours of Friday morning. Simon's Town police confirm a complaint in terms of damage to National Environmental Management of Protected Areas Act docket has been opened at the station.

Investigations are under way.

Mgxashe says an additional charge of malicious damage to property has also been lodged at the station, as arson charges can only be laid if police have a suspect.

Ward councillor Nicki Holderness firmly maintains the infernos were the handiwork of arsonists.

"I can't believe the fires are purely coincidental. There have been reports of suspicion of arson and the city and Parks Board are investigating the incidents."

She describes the Red Hill devastation as "terrible".

"Everything happened so quickly. When I had a tour of the area on Friday, everything was under control. Then someone started another fire and the howling wind didn't help the situation."

She says residents of the informal settlement had to be evacuated with only the clothes on their backs.

"People could take nothing. Everything, from their possessions to animals like dogs, pigs and chickens was lost."

The 93 affected families were fed and housed at the Scarborough Community Hall over the weekend, but many opted to leave on Sunday to start rebuilding their lives among the ashes.

"Although we wanted to clean the area first, they wanted to move back. Food parcels will be distributed today (Monday) so they will at least have something to eat while they rebuild their homes."

Red Hill community leader Luyanda Lombo says although he thinks the inferno was "a normal veld fire", many of the informal settlement residents believe it was arson.

"They say someone did it on purpose, because we have never had a fire so close to our area."

He further claims "not nearly enough" was done by the fire department.

"Although they did their part to kill the flames on Thursday, Friday saw too few officials attending to the incident. We told them to be alert of what was going on, but the fire went over the road. That could have been avoided."

False Bay Volunteer Emergency Medical Services deployed two ambulances as well as two response cars to assist with treating injured residents.

Emergency Medical Training had two response cars at the scene to assist with treatment.

Concerned Simon's Town resident Klaus Scheid pledged R100 000 as reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the arsonist.

"The fires are getting out of control. There are arsonists causing these fires." He says residents should not merely sit back and "wait until the fires are at our doorstep".

"We should drive up and down the roads at any time of the day and night to see if there are fires as an early warning. Anyone can do this to help."

Scheid further encourages people to pledge donations for rewards to informants who mange to get the arsonists "in the hot seat at court and into prison".

Money can be deposited into the Simon's Town Civic Association's bank account: Nedbank Fish Hoek (branch code 121121), account name: STCA, account number: 2211 023 762. Put RH and your surname as reference. Send confirmation via e-mail to edanks@artslink.co.za.

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