[1] The wildfire started on the morning of 18 April 2021 near Rhodes Memorial, Devil's Peak in Table Mountain National Park.

[5][6] The fire was reported to have been started by a vagrant,[9] and spread through old pine trees and debris, generating its own wind,[2] towards the university campus and city.

[2] Initially, the resulting smoke and wind updrafts caused by the fire prevented aerial firefighting support from being deployed.

[14] Official warnings were issued for hikers in the Newlands Forest area of Table Mountain National Park to also evacuate.

[15][5] At 16:05 SAST, South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that the restaurant at Rhodes Memorial had been destroyed in the fire.

[31] The fire also destroyed the Mostert's Mill, the oldest working windmill in South Africa, built in 1796, and four thatched cottages behind it.

[9] The government reported that an unoccupied ministerial residence owned by the Department of Public Works and used by Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi had been “completely destroyed”.