So far, so very good

CONSIDERING the drought, considering the higher than normal winter temperatures, considering some of the winds the area has had, considering the spring temperatures already well into the 30°s, considering it all, landowners around Vryheid have had a very quiet fire season.

The fire season does not end officially until October 31, and there is still a possibility of runaway fires that could devastate field, veld and forests, but so far this season, up to Friday last week, the Working on Fire ground teams had responded to just nine call-outs.

In the same period last year they’d been called out to 48 fires.

On Friday, the local Fire Prevention Officer, Steven Hibbert, appealed to landowners to continue to be very careful, saying that the greenish tinge in the grasses was “deceptive”. He said that the heat and wind that the area had been experiencing still created an environment that was at risk of fire.

Asked why the season had been so quiet so far, Mr Hibbert said, “I can’t tell you why. I’m told that the drought made grazing scarce, and that as a result farmers and landowners were extra careful.” He also said that as a result of the drought timber farmers had been extra vigilant.

If you see fires in the area, please continue to report them to the Fire Prevention Association at 034 982 1882, or to Steven Hibbert at 083 769 0467.