In the past seasons, the Ekurhuleni metro’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) had to service several road accidents and buildings that were on fire because of uncontrolled and unmonitored grass fires.
Unfortunately, in some severe instances, lives were lost.
District manager media liaison of DEMS William Ntladi said inappropriate disposal of domestic garden vegetation is still a common practice for many residents within the metro, which puts the possibility of fires at the highest level.
Grass fires can start and spread quickly and are extremely dangerous to life and property.
Ntladi added that grass fires next to the major routes are subjecting motorists to fatal crashes as large amounts of smoke is released into the air.
This also causes atmospheric pollution.
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DEMS has highlighted the possible causes of grass fires:
• Spontaneous ignition of dry vegetation.
• Lit cigarette buds.
• Direct and deliberate causes (matches and lighters).
• Chemical reaction.
The following prevention methods of grass fires are advised:
• Smokers to stop from throwing lit cigarette buds away.
• Avoid burning combustibles on windy days.
• Glass can magnify the suns rays and start the fire.
Do not leave glass on dry grass. ? Matches and lighters in the wrong hands can lead to a fire.
• Avoid overgrown, dense and dry vegetation next to dwellings.
• Never leave campfires unattended. Extinguish them properly after use.
• Thatch roof structures are subjected to fires.
• Extinguish braai fires immediately after use.
• Do not use flammable liquids to burn bushes, trash or other waste.
• Subject to provision of the Veld and Forest Act and Environmental Management Act, no person may make an open, uncontrollable or unattended fire or permit a fire to be made in such a manner as to pose a real or potentially real threat to any human being, animal, building, premises or other properties.
“Permission for such needs to be obtained from the local chief fire officer,”he said.
