WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Although the summer fire season officially starts on 1 December, the Western Cape has already experienced many multi-day fires since November.
Coupled with this year's worst winter fire season that saw more than 1 000 firefighters assisting partners in suppressing 40 fires, limiting the hectares burnt to just under 42 405.
Amidst the ongoing drought experienced across the country, a rough fire season lies ahead for the Western Cape.
Working on Fire Acting General Manager, Felicia Ngwasheng says, “The partnerships between the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) Working on Fire, the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, the Fire Protection Associations and landowners like South African National Parks and CapeNature, has seen an intense integrated approach to Fire Management and suppression over the past few months.
"The past winter season was by far the most challenging due to the devastating fires experienced in the Cape Peninsula and Southern Cape region.”
WoF, funded by DEA plays a key role in the providing support in of both aerial and ground crew support during fires.
“WoF provides aids to protecting and sustaining the economy through its Integrated Fire Management Services,” says Trevor Abrahams, Managing Director, Working on Fire.
Communities are urged to be more vigilant during the fires season and not to start unnecessary fires, particularly during dry days.
People are also asked to remove unnecessary rubble on their properties which can pose a serious fire risk and houses next to grasslands need to ensure that there is sufficient fire breaks between their properties and these grasslands.
"We also ask people to cut down overhanging tree branches close to their properties and also to clean their gutters as the leaves that end up in these gutters also can pose a fire risk," said Abrahams.
People must also ensure that they have the contact details of their local fire authorities at hand should there be a fire emergency.
Safety tips
• Plan an evacuation route
• Listen to the weather reports on television, radio or social media
• Display a list of emergency phone numbers
• Make sure your property street number is visible from the road
• Keep important papers and medication in a ready-to-go small suitcase
• Be aware of places on your property that offer protection in times of fire, such as brick or concrete patios, swimming pools, brick or concrete driveways and concrete or stone walls that can deflect some of the heat of a fire.
• Have torches and a number of fire extinguishers available and make sure they are working
• Have a supply of drinking water available
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