WoF provincial coordinator Charl Ferreira said the province is beginning to see the rise in fire call-outs from August to date, and more fires are expected to break out in the next days and weeks.
”The Fire Danger Index in the province is on 69 to 70, which is red. It is a signal that it is quite dangerous. We communicate this with our teams to be alert of the weather conditions,” Ferreira said.
WoF general manager Stephen Boyes said it is no-smoke period when the province is experiencing hot, dry and windy conditions, which result in more fire call-outs.
”Please make sure all teams have early morning team talks to discuss the best operating procedure with regard to safety at fires, especially escape routes and team members staying together at all times,” Boyes urged regional managers.
Emergency Management Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said: “Veld fires are a risk to life, property and environment. These fires will continue to burn for as long as the weather is favourable and there is vegetation to burn.”
He said fires that often occur around this time of the year can be very strenuous to firefighters because these fires can burn for days, if not weeks.
Some of the causes of fires are reckless disposal of cigarette butts, land clearings, deliberate fire setting, children playing with matches and improper household ash disposal.
For the above-mentioned reasons, communities must be able to manage or eliminate this risk by drawing up a preventative or corrective action, according to Mulaudzi.
Control tips:
- Prepare fire breaks on the side if there is a reasonable risk of veld fires.
- Have the necessary equipment, protective clothing and trained personnel to extinguish fires.
- Avoid throwing cigarettes butts on the ground.
- Have grass beaters handy to extinguish the fire.
- Always have the emergency number handy to call emergency services: 10177 on Telkom landlines or 112 on cellphones.
- Sand can be an effective method of veld fire control since water will not be readily available.
- Visit your nearest Basic Emergencies, Safety And Fire (Besafe) centre for more information on fire safety education.
