Wildfires destroy 300h of Limpopo land
The Department of Environmental Affairs'' Working on Fire (WOF) participants in Limpopo experienced a tough weekend as they battled multiple raging fires in the province.
POLOKWANE – The 2016 Winter Fire Season officially started on 1 June but there were no fires at the beginning of the fire season. This came as a huge relief as they fought wildfires from as early as May last year.
According to WOF Provincial Communications Officer, Matema Gwanga, fire fighters were dispatched to fight the wildfire burning the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) building in Soekmekaar as well as neighbouring farms. The fire started on Friday outside the DAFF plantation and moved into the plantation.
She said WOF teams, farmers and DAFF employees joined forces to try and fight the raging fire. Due to the windy weather on Saturday, the fire became worse and DAFF requested the WOF Aerial resources from Letaba Fire Protection Association. Two helicopters and one spotter were dispatched to assist the ground resources that were on the fire line.
Sam Maepa, Provincial WOF General Manager said their aerial resources battled the fires in the plantation and the nearby farms; unfortunately they stood down at the last light. Both their choppers and spotters work only during the day, hence they stood down once it became too dark for them to operate.
“The ground resources battled the fire after the aerial resources were pulled out due to the darkness, and managed to suppress all the fires by midnight on Saturday,” she explained.
“We worked very closely with the WOF fire fighters as well as the farmers from the surrounding areas and that contributed in the fire being suppressed before the damage increased. So far we have lost about 300h due to fires,” said Nelson Nemukula, Deputy Director Commercial Forestry at DAFF.
Maepa said the cause of the fire is still unknown. WOF is pleading with communities to refrain from starting fires and ensure that all household fires are properly put out. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment.
