Fire brings mixed blessings

WHILE the fires that swept across the mountains of Cape Town caused extensive damage and devastation in the area, these have also had a positive impact on tourism at Simon's Town, according to Angela Rissik, Simon's Town resident and owner of the Quayside Lodge. "Restaurant and hotel operators reported that people from all over the greater Cape Town area flocked to Simon's Town to gape at the fire and assess the damage, many having discovered for the first time, the charms of this historic town," she said. The ferryboat, Just Nuisance, operated late into the night, taking passengers out into the bay for views of the fire. Although the fire has re-focused attention on the town, Rissik believes that a new awareness had been created earlier with the hosting of a New Year's Eve Street party. "While the Mother City struggled to get 20% of its bookings, we were 100% sold out." Residents from Simon's Town and Fish Hoek have also committed themselves to a campaign to remove inflammable invader plants and trees - such as bluegums - from the area to help prevent such a widespread disaster from occurring again. (Adele Mackenzie)