Some WOF firefighters relieved of duty as fire season comes to an end
WOF publishes data relating to the number of fire incidents recorded as the winter fire season ends.
The Working on Fire (WOF) programme team in Gauteng is getting closer to the end of the winter fire season as the first rains have started falling.
According to WOF spokesperson Parapara Makgahlela, this year’s fire season saw Gauteng record 207 fires only. Parapara adds that an estimated 9 812 hectares of grass were burnt during that fire season.
He said this is a positive sign as the number of fires declined this year from the reported 240 in 2022.
WOF general manager in Gauteng Stephen Boyes added that those on standby for the 15 teams across the province will be relieved of their duties in the meantime as the fire risk is at minimal levels.
‘‘We applaud our firefighters and base partners for having worked tirelessly during the fire season. Our firefighters were equally fit to combat fires. Safety of the firefighters is our number one priority,’’ said Boyes.
Other firefighters will continue to battle any blaze that may break out.
‘‘We noticed the spike in fire call-outs in August with 71 fires being recorded. This was massive but expected. We then saw a drastic decline in callouts to just 29 in September,’’ concluded Boyes.
He is glad teams were of assistance to landowners and communities in saving lives and protecting the environment.
