Residents in and around Vryheid would have recently noticed the ‘constant’ smoke in the air… This is not an abnormal occurrence for this time of the year, though. It’s due to the winter fire season, which starts in May and normally subsides at the end of August. Even though the fascination with fire began millions of years ago, nobody knows the fear of smoke in the air better than a farmer.
Last week, a few fires occurred on farms around Vryheid, and on the outskirts of town in open fields between dwellings, which creates a few potential dangers for homeowners. There is a lot of speculation as to the different scenarios under which fires can start. The Vryheid Herald contacted Public Safety manager TS Mthembu to gain some insight into the recent fires in the area, as well as some handy tips for farmers and households.
During the dry winter season, wildfires are more prevalent and are difficult to control. Wildfires (also referred to as veld fires) are bush fires both within and outside urban areas that have the potential to spread out of control. Most wildfires are started by people, compared to a small number which are due to natural occurrences such as lightning.
The five main causes of wildfires are:
• Intentional: Arson is a malicious and criminal act of deliberately starting fires.
• Smoking: Discarded cigarette butts can also cause wildfires, either from workers working in the fields or bush, passing pedestrians or motorists.
• Cooking fires: Open fires for cooking and discarded hot ash can cause wildfires, particularly in nature conservation areas or on farms.
• Burning of debris: The permitted and unpermitted burning of debris, if badly managed or if weather conditions change suddenly, can cause fires.
• Lightning: Lightning is a cause of both wildfires and structural fires.
Wildfires can spread rapidly under the following conditions:
Fire Danger Rating: is determined by using a combination of the temperature, wind direction and speed; rainfall and humidity – which can be calculated manually or by using technology. The Fire Danger Rating Table is colour-coded and this national system classifies the level of fire danger in five categories:
• Insignificant (blue) – The fire danger is so low that no precautions are needed.
• Low (green) – Fires, including prescribed burns, may be allowed in the open air on the condition that persons making fires take reasonable precautions against fires spreading.
• Moderate (yellow) – No fires are allowed in the open air, except those that are authorised by the chief fire officer of the local fire service, and those in designated fireplaces. Authorised fires may include prescribed burns.
• High (orange) – No fires are allowed under any circumstances in the open air.
• Extreme (red) – No fires are allowed under any circumstances in the open air, and special emergency fire preparedness measures are necessary.
Rural communities face unique fire risks. The distance between the fire station and communities results in its own set of challenges. Fire death rates in rural areas are very high. Additionally, loss of property and livestock has an extreme emotional and economic impact on residents in the local area.
Common fire problems in rural areas:
• Heating is a common cause of residential structural fires and deaths.
• Fixed heaters, including wood stoves, are involved in most rural residential heating fires.
• Damaged electrical equipment is often the source of fire in barns and other farm buildings.
• Many homes do not have working smoke alarms increasing the risk of death in a fire.
Practical tips may seem to be common sense, but in a fire situation, things can go from bad to worse in seconds.
All fires start small, so act fast and report fires (no matter the size) to the local fire services.
• Do not start a fire you cannot stop
• Do not try to stop a raging fire without proper training and equipment
• Caution children and neighbours about the dangers of fire
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Take care with candles and lamps
• Never throw a match or cigarette into dry grass or bush
• Douse smouldering coals properly, as they can easily be re-ignited by a gust of wind
Procedures in the case of a fire:
1. Report any fire to the Fire Department immediately.
2. Follow instructions from fire-fighters.
3. Switch off the electrical supply at the main switch.
4. Switch off gas.
5. Use a smother blanket in the case of a small fire.
6. Use water on all paper or wood fires. Water hoses are only used for big fires.
7. Use CO2 extinguishers on all other fires, including electrical fires.
8. Use dry chemical powder cylinders if other methods do not succeed. Use dry chemical powder if a liquid is burning.
9. If the fire is out of control and a danger, do not attempt to put it out; evacuate the building immediately.
10. If a fire alarm rings, report to the designated assembly point.
11. Do not use the lift during an evacuation.
12. Do not use a central stairwell as an emergency exit, unless both emergency exits are inaccessible.
13. Do not enter the building again until it has been declared safe to enter by the local Fire Department.
Tips for farmers
Firebreaks:
Firebreaks are areas of reduced fuel, allowing access of fire-fighters and equipment to attack an oncoming fire.
Do not rely on a firebreak to stop a veld fire.
The effectiveness of a firebreak depends on its positioning and on regular maintenance.
Methods of preparing firebreaks
• Ploughing.
• Grazing.
• Mowing and slashing.
• Herbicides.
• Burning.
· Plant screening trees.
• Build stone walls as a radiant heat shield.
• Position lawns and other low fire risk features between houses and where a veld fire is most likely to approach from.
• Maintain green lawns, cultivated soils or gravelled areas beneath trees.
• Remove dead trees, branches and leaves.
• Prune lower branches to avoid continuous ‘fuel’ from ground to tree canopy.
• Remove trees close to a house or overhanging or touching a house.
• Ensure that trees are a safe distance from buildings and power lines.
Protecting farm livestock:
Plan to use fallow fields, well-grazed fields or areas with bare ground.
Where possible, have shade and water available for valuable stock, especially breeding stock.
According to statistics (May to date) from the Department of Fire & Rescue, AbaQulusi had six electrical fires in formal and informal dwellings, churches, halls and schools. There were 16 veld fires; two fires due to cooking; and four fires due to heating in a formal and informal dwelling.
The emergency number to phone when a fire is detected: TS Mthembu on 073 373 7743 or Link-Up on 034 980 8872.
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