Warning: High possibility of veld fires
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is warning residents of dangerous veld fires due to prolonged periods of little and no rain, coupled with warm, dry and strong winds.
Veld or bush fires can easily be sparked and will spread rapidly in strong winds.
Precautions:
• Don’t make fires in the open or leave fires unattended.
• Don’t throw lit cigarette butts out of vehicles or in the open veld.
“This is by far too common practice,” says William Ntladi, spokesman for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services Department (DEMS).
• Don’t throw bottles in the veld as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires.
• Prepare and maintain fire breaks in a controlled manner.
• In the case of a large fire, report it immediately and move away from the area to let the professionals deal with it.
• In the case of veld fires along the roads, motorists should approach obscured road sections due to smoke with great caution.
• Never throw water onto a fire started by an electrical fault or fires started by oil or paraffin lamps.
In this case, sand or a blanket should be used to smother the fire.
DEMS also cautions residents around Ekurhuleni to be on high alert for such incidents.
“We are always prepared to timeously respond to all incidents within the municipality,” says Ntladi.
