Heed warm weather

These fires have broken out from September 26 until October 1.

According to William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services, the fires have been precipitated by hot, dry and windy conditions.

“The South African Weather Services have sent an alert on unusual elevated weather temperatures due to the El Niño weather pattern that the country is experiencing,” said Ntladi.

The dry, windy conditions with low rainfall increase the likelihood of veld fires.

A total of 202 structures have been affected by fires around Ekurhuleni.

Fire safety measures to be followed:

•  Don’t discard burning cigarettes in the veld.
•  Don’t start open fires around dry grass.
•  Never leave any open flames unmonitored.
•  Ensure you have sufficient fire breaks, and make sure it is big enough to prevent the veld fire from spreading to or from neighbouring land.
•  Don’t leave children or pets in parked, locked vehicles.
•  Always have a fire extinguisher in the house as a precaution.
•  Install smoke detectors for early warning and detection of fire.
•  Keep garden hoses nearby to assist in the event of a fire.
•  Don’t store highly flammable liquids and hazardous materials in the kitchen or near a stove.

In cases of emergency, contact 10177 or 011 458 0911.