ON August 24, a wave of smoke confronted motorists on Kliprivier Drive, from the Mondeor direction, as an open space near the N12 off-ramp was on fire.
The fire was unattended to and the cause is still undetermined. Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi, explained that although we are approaching the spring season, EMS is still responding to veldfires.
“We do still respond to a lot of veldfires around this time because the grass is dry so it burns easily even though the most number of veldfires occur during the winter period of May, June and July,” he said.
Mulaudzi added that veldfires could be set on fire deliberately or accidentally by a cigarette bud thrown out of the window by a passing motorist. Municipal officials normally lit fires at large open spaces near highways when they are clearing overgrown grass.
“Normally if it is municipal officials who started the fire they will be around the area to monitor the fire, if not, then the members of the public can contact our emergency call centre for assistance on 10177 or 112 from a cellphone. Alternatively contact a nearby fire station,” said Mulaudzi.
Should residents spot a fire that is unattended to by municipal officials in a residential area they can contact the Kibler Park fire station on 011 943 4275 or the Johannesburg fire station on 011 683 2266 to report it.
