Seven people have been hurt and at least 80 evacuated from their homes in a massive fire on South Africa’s iconic Table Mountain that lit up the city of Cape Town last night.

Two homeless people sleeping rough were today in hospital after suffering third degree burns in the blaze, thought to have broken out at about 8pm last night near the Rhodes Memorial.

"The fire is still burning, but what has been in our favour is that we've had a moderate wind," said Greg Pillay, head of the city’s disaster risk management centre.

"We did come across two vagrants who sustained third degree burn wounds. They've been hospitalised.

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BACKGROUND

• Table Mountain: a tough climb?

• Is the Table Mountain cable car safe?

• The best holiday bargain? South Africa

• Is Cape Town safe?

• Dom Joly in the Cape

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"We've also had five firefighters sustaining minor injuries.”

This morning the fire was said to be under control, but still ablaze in five places.

Four helicopters, including one military chopper, were waterbombing the flames as they licked along the ridge of Devil's Peak. One helicopter airlifted a team of firefighters onto the Saddle between Devil's Peak and Table Mountain.

Zebras and black wildebeest in the game enclosure near the memorial were said to be "fine" at the moment.

No property was reported damaged, but about 300 hectares of park land have been burnt.

Cape Town's south-easterly summer winds have fanned numerous blazes during the hot, dry weather this year, mostly in the outlying areas of the city where historic vineyards and farmland have been destroyed.

The latest blaze boosted levels of air pollution in the coastal city, a popular destination for international tourists.

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