Parapara Makgahlela
As fire season is drawing closer already the landowners are experiencing veld and forest fires in the West Rand recently.
Working on Fire team in Magaliesberg and Krugersdorp are well trained and ready to tackle veld and forest fires.
Lehlogonolo Morweng crew leader of Krugersdorp team said that the team already attended three fires in his area.
Sipho Ntuli a crew leader of Magaliesberg team said that his crew members are ready to help the landowners and farmers with the fire breaks before the fire season commences later in the year.
He said that before burning fire breaks the teams check the Fire Danger Index (FDI) from the base manager.
‘’We are using FDI so that when we do fire breaks it is safe. This minimizes chances of fire getting out of control’’ explained Sipho.
When asked who is responsible for burning during the breaks, he said landowners are the ones who are burning using drip touch and Working on Fire team manages the fire directions by utilizing the fire beaters and knapsacks.
He said that doing the fire breaks is the most important part of preventing the spread of veld and forest fires.
‘’We have already attended one fires in the Magaliesberg area, and yet it is not a fire season.
Sipho said that this year rain was too much and the grass is tall which then poses a serious fire risk to land owners who do not do fire breaks.
He said that Working on Fire teams was waiting to hear the base manager as to when to commence with the fire breaks.
According to Sipho doing fire breaks was more challenging during the fire season because the weather conditions are not conducive for fire and the law prohibits the smoke and burning.
He said that when doing fire break they needed to make sure that fire does not get out of control
‘’ For instance last year we had a case of fire which lasted for three days at Mount Grace. It was a challenge because landowners there did not do fire breaks at all’’ he said.
Working on Fire’s General Manager in Gauteng province Avhasei Maswime advised all landowners to do the fire breaks.
‘’The team can be used for the protection and prevention of fires during the critical fire season. They can also assist with fuel reduction out of the fire season by slashing grass and fire breaks’’ said the GM.
He advised the land owners to create fire belts, and be capacitated to be able to prevent and fight veld fire.
’’ We encourage landowners to form Fire Protection Associations where they don’t exist’’ he quipped