Cape Town — The City of Cape Town has opened an arson case following fires that left several people in the Cape Peninsula homeless.

Head of Disaster Management, Greg Pillay told BuaNews on Monday that "this is the fourth Friday [last week] in a row that fires had started in the same area, and the logical conclusion is that it could be arson."

Mr Pillay confirmed that about 250 shacks and six houses were razed in the fire which started in Scarborough and spread rapidly to Ocean View last Friday.

Mayor Helen Zille said: "One does get the sense this is deliberate. This is the fourth week in a row that a fire has started on a Friday on Red Hill. "This is damaging and destructive and the risk to life is incalculable. People need to expose those responsible and allow them to be charged."

Mayor Zille praised the fire fighters who were risking their lives to ensure the safety of people. "They were heroic yesterday [Sunday], every Capetonian should see the kind of work they do on the frontline to protect our lives and homes," she said.

Twenty-eight fire fighting vehicles and three helicopters were used to extinguish the fire and officers are patrolling the scene. "No serious injuries were reported, however, two fire fighters sustained second and third degree burns while battling the flames. They were treated at Claremont Hospital," Chief Fire Officer Ian Schnetler said.

He confirmed that the six people, who were reported missing in the Ocean View informal settlement, were found nearby with family and friends, unharmed. About 70 people have been displaced, and placed in community centres.

The fire destroyed hundreds of hectares of mountain slopes and the initial damage cost was not confirmed.