Fire warning still in place
500 wildfires have been fought since 1 August, in the current winter fire season in SA
THE Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire programme was kept busy during the past five weeks as more than 4000 firefighters stationed at 170 bases across South Africa fought 500 wildfires since 1 August, in the current winter fire season provinces.
Equipped in KZN with a transport fleet of 45 vehicles, eight medium size buses, five Hat trucks, 10 fire tenders with 3000-litre tanks, nine strike units with 1500-litre tanks and 10 light delivery vans with 300-litre tanks, they are ready to fight most blazes.
As such, Working on Fire is the largest wild land fire fighting resource in South Africa and its ability to mobilize across provinces in the event of disaster fires, has become even more crucial in the context of climate change and the resultant escalation in the risk of disaster fires.
Except for the Western Cape, South Africa experiences a winter fire season.
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Because of the current drought experienced throughout the country coupled with high temperatures and winds Working on Fire has experienced unusual fire activity in various parts of the country and the firefighters in Working on Fire will remain on high alert.
The organisation urges communities and landowners to remain vigilant and not to start any unnecessary fires.
They encourage to understand and watch the daily Fire Danger Index (FDI) warnings issued by the SA Weather Service.
Fire suppression data for the current winter fire season since 1 April to 31 August shows Working on Fire providing fire suppression services at more than 175 fires and limited the damage to just under 14 375ha.
The aerial firefighting aircraft flew more than eight hours during these fires.
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