Less than four years after the devastating fire of 2015, Tintswalo Atlantic lodge has again been forced to close its doors after being damaged in a fire again this week.
In March 2015 the lodge was destroyed by a vegetation fire which affected several businesses, and reopened eight months later. This time round, the lodge is expected to be closed for five months while repairs are undertaken.
On Tuesday this week, Hout Bay residents woke to smoke coming from the lodge on Chapman’s Peak. The fire started around 4am and Fire and Rescue Services spokesman Theo Layne said firefighters were alerted by 4.06am.
A fire in the main lodge area activated an early-alert fire system and staff on duty fought the fire while the emergency services were called, said Tintswalo marketing assistant, Kelsey Pienaar.
“The fire department arrived shortly after,” she added.
Mr Layne said 26 firefighters, five
fire engines, two water tanks and one rescue vehicle were dispatched to the resort. “The fire was extinguished by 10am and the cause of the fire is yet
to be determined,” he told Sentinel News.
None of the guest rooms were affected and no injuries have been reported.
“Guests were relocated to the nearby Hout Bay Manor Hotel,” said Ms Pienaar, adding that guests who booked to stay at Tintswalo in the next two weeks, would be accommodated at other Cape Town establishments.
Images of the fire trended all over Facebook and Twitter, with several residents expressing gratitude to those who had helped battle the blaze. The staff of the lodge have requested that members of the public stay clear from the area.
It will take at least five months to repair the damages. “Most of our main lodge, dining room and lounge is gone, most of the rooms are intact. A full rebuild will have to happen,” said Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo Atlantic.
“We thought we prepared for a fire, but this caught us by surprise. It took over quite fast.”
There will be an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze, after the fire department finishes its report.
“Our lodge management and staff would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the fire department and brave firefighters, as well as our loyal guests, the Hout Bay community and the travel industry for their incredible support,” said Ms Goosen.