Cape Town – The Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) has warned visitors that no flares, fireworks, Chinese lanterns, or any form of open flames are permitted in or near the park.
“With New Year’s Eve approaching, TMNP is appealing to all visitors and residents to be fire-wise and act responsibly while enjoying the park,” Spokesperson JP Louw, SANParks, said on Tuesday, 30 December 2025.
“Additional firefighting resources will be on standby, and Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) will be actively patrolling known fire hotspots.
“The public is reminded that no flares, fireworks, Chinese lanterns, or any form of open flames are permitted in or near the park.”
Signal Hill, which traditionally experiences very high visitor volumes on New Year’s Eve, remains a high-risk area for fire ignition.
“Visitors are urged to park responsibly to ensure that emergency vehicles have clear access and to assist by immediately reporting any fires or unsafe behaviour,” said Louw.
“Early reporting is critical to preventing small fires from escalating into major incidents.”
The TMNP Fire Management has recorded a concerning increase in illegal fire incidents.
Fire statistics for 2025 already exceed December 2024’s monthly total by seven fires.
“In the past week alone, TMNP Fire Management responded to 14 fires across the park, placing significant strain on firefighting resources during the peak festive season,” revealed Louw.
“These figures highlight the growing fire risk during periods of increased visitor activity and hot, dry conditions.
“TMNP thanks the public for their cooperation in helping to protect lives, property, and the park’s natural heritage during this high-risk period.”
