Working on Fire teams in Mpumalanga remain on high alert as windy weather persist
The Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire (WoF) programme teams in Mpumalanga were kept busy this week as more than 200 firefighters successfully suppressed 27 fires throughout the province.
In addition, there are 100 WoF firefighters from the Western Cape who are on national deployment operation, to be placed on standby and assist with fire suppression in Mpumalanga’s Highveld region. Identified areas include Ermelo, Warburton, Mayflower and Piet Retief.
This comes as unusual fire activities in those parts of the province have led to veld fires during the week.
“So far we have recorded a total number of 59 fires between May and August; these include grassland and plantation fires throughout the province,” said Ms Lebogang Maseko, WoF provincial spokesperson.
“All our firefighters will remain on high alert and will be ready to provide firefighting services to landowners and municipalities,” Maseko said.
We urge communities and landowners to remain vigilant and not to start any unnecessary fires. We also urge people to have a watch on the daily Fire Danger Index (FDI) warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
WoF firefighting resources include 10 Fire Trucks, 08 Buses, 04 Strike Units and 12 bakkies with water pumps, 7 Spotters, 4 Choppers and 3 Bombers and more than 600 firefighters.
