WATCH: Public urged to be cautious in face of wildfires

The spate of wildfires affecting KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Zululand region, has prompted the government to call on members of the public to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their properties.

Wildfires are common in South Africa, especially during the drier seasons.

Wildfires, or veld fires, can occur due to natural causes such as lightning strikes, but they can also be caused by discarded cigarette butts, unattended campfires or children playing with matches, among other causes.

Smokers are urged to make sure their cigarettes and ash are completely burnt out before throwing them away.

Campers are to never leave a campfire unattended, and always make sure it is completely extinguished before leaving a campsite.

Members of the public are urged to note the following:

· Follow local regulations and guidelines when burning debris. Avoid burning on windy days, and always have water and tools ready to control the fire

· Livestock should be moved out of grazing land to unbarred land or ploughed fields for safety

· Water is generally not available in sufficient quantities or at adequate pressure for the control of major fires, however, sand or other loose mineral soil material can be an effective method of control

· Report wildfires to the emergency services (112), the fire protection associations and neighbours as soon as possible

· Pay attention to weather conditions and fire warnings. Avoid activities that could start a fire during high-risk periods

Recent wildfires, made worse by strong winds, affected the Mtubatuba area, leaving the houses of about 10 families from different wards either partially or completely damaged, while a man died when a blaze gutted his home in the eShowe area.

The ensuing firefighting that has been tirelessly carried out by the Mtubatuba Municipality’s disaster management teams has highlighted its capacity challenges, which include not having a firefighting engine capable of managing large scale incidents and the lack of a fire fighting apparatus (Skid Unit).

Read more on this in the Wednesday’s edition of the Baywatch Eyethu.

The councillor of one of the affected wards (3) in Mtubatuba, Ntokozo Mlungwana had also issued a warning about wildfires, and urged residents in the ward to follow the necessary precautions.

One of the affected areas in ward 3 was a tree plantation hit by a wildfire.

“Our people, we are asking you to stay away from fires this July, even if you burn a pit of debris at home, we ask you monitor it closely and make sure children don’t go near the fire,” said Mlungwana.

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