No respite for firefighters as wildfires are expected for the rest of August and September in Lowveld

With the prevailing hot, dry and windy conditions in the Lowveld, Working on Fire (WOF) played a major role in extinguishing multiple clusters of fires, highlighting the critical role of the WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture (JV) in fire suppression efforts.

Working with the Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa), the latest fires in the Mataffin and Cairn areas behind the Nelspruit Airfield, the Riverside area, Schoemanskloof and Emgwenya had now also been contained and would, according to Lefpa’s manager, André Scheepers, be monitored.

WOF-Kishugu JV’s managing director, Trevor Abrahams, said Kishugu Aviation played a crucial role in supporting ground operations from the sky throughout August.

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“From August 1 to 12, aerial resources were deployed 72 times, accumulating 130 flying hours. During these missions, a total of 529 drops were made, releasing 809 tonnes of water over affected areas. By Thursday, a total of 1 418 fires had been recorded across the province since the year began. This alarming number paints a picture of the severity of this year’s fires, highlighting the critical role of the WOF-Kishugu JV in fire suppression efforts,” said Abrahams.

He also said with August and September being the peak months of the winter fire season due to dry and windy conditions, numbers are expected to rise.

“Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and shifting weather patterns are contributing to drier landscapes, creating the ideal conditions for wildland fires to ignite and spread rapidly. The intensity and unpredictability of these fires make fire management more challenging and require more resources, co-ordination and collaboration.”

Scheepers reiterated Abraham’s warnings that the fire season is not over yet as warmer and drier conditions are expected until at least the end of September.

He told landowners, residents and commercial farmers that Lefpa would remain vigilant. However, he urged the people to refrain from building any open fires, and if they want to start ones, they need to report it to their local authorities or local fire protection associations.

“Uncontrolled fires tend to easily rage out of control and end up destroying the land and killing animals,” he said.

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Public safety tips during wildland fires

• Create defensible spaces: Clear vegetation and combustible materials from around your home, leaving a defensible space of at least 30m to reduce the risk of fires spreading to your property.
• Clear gutters and roofs: Regularly remove leaves, pine needles and other debris from gutters and roofs to prevent them from catching fire from flying embers.
• Prepare an emergency kit: Have an emergency kit ready with essential items, including water, food, medications, important documents and a first aid kit. Ensure all family members know the location of the kit and how to use it.
• Create a family evacuation plan: Develop and practice a wildland fire evacuation plan with your family. Get to know multiple evacuation routes and establish a meeting point in case you become separated.
• Stay informed: Pay attention to local fire alerts, weather conditions and evacuation orders. Sign up for emergency notifications in your area to stay informed about fire activity.