VIDEO: Be prepared as city enters prime time for veld fires

With the dry season upon us, residents of Ekurhuleni are urged to exercise caution and behave responsibly to help reduce the risk of widespread veld fires across the city, particularly during the anticipated high-risk periods.

The city pointed out that veld fires often pose a serious threat to human lives, species of wildlife and property, and may severely affect livelihoods, displace communities and cause air pollution.

The city’s Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson, William Ntladi, said the city’s fire brigades have, since the beginning of the winter season, tackled a series of veld/grass fires that broke out across the city.
These recent incidents in the region are described as just the start of a problem, setting the stage for an active veld fire season, especially in overgrown green spaces.

Ntladi warned that if all parties, including communities and other government institutions, fail to do their part, the trend is likely to continue, creating a demanding period for the fire brigade teams.
Identified outdoor spots with more fire-prone conditions include unoccupied properties and overgrown green spaces, including road verges and other open fields.

Risk reduction
While DEMS is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to deploy crews to assist in dealing with outbreaks of veld fires, the department said some of the dry season veld fires can be prevented if we all take extra care and follow fire safety tips.

DEMS shared the following tips that can help reduce the risk of grass fires:

• The risk can be reduced through the introduction of firebreaks to open areas, with grass and vegetation or other combustible material to act as barriers to slow or stop the spread of a veld fire or bushfire.
• Grass cutting: Prevent your property from becoming overgrown with grass vegetation and trees to an extent that it becomes a fire hazard.
• Never leave open fires unattended, especially on or near dry vegetation in parks and open spaces.
• Those having braais or making fires outdoors must make sure they are extinguished thoroughly.
• Ensure that your cigarette butts are extinguished completely and disposed of correctly. Do not discard them out of car windows.
“Communities that are safety cautious and able to identify fire risks and take preventative measures, preserve lives and properties,” explained Ntladi.

Big contributors to high risk of veld fires
Ntladi said forecasting veld fire can be difficult because each fire season is based on key variables, such as weather trends and human behaviour that develops throughout the period.
“The cold winter season is a dry season without rain. As a result of limited rain, the dense and overgrown vegetation from the previous rainy season subsequently dries and becomes susceptible to burning. However, sometimes due to the change of weather patterns, during rainy days, even in winter, fewer veld fires are experienced.”

Causes
The following human behaviour and reactants, as well as changes in climate, are blamed for the heightened risk of veld fires:
• Deliberate cause: People can set the veld alight with their direct intent.
• Accidental cause: This might be through lit cigarette butts by smokers.
• People making fires with the intent of warming themselves or burning easy combustibles without taking into consideration the reactivity of the flames, wind speed and direction.
• Chemical chain reaction of combustibles.

By-laws enforcement
In terms of the Veld and Forest Fire Act, (Act 101 of 1998) and Environmental Management Act, (Act 73 of 1989), no person may, within the area, make an open, uncontrollable or unattended fire or permit a fire to be made in such a place and/or in such a manner as to pose a real or potential real threat to any human beings, animal, building, premises or other property.

Under Part 3, section 9 (2), the bylaws state that no person may, without the written authority of the chief fire officer, burn any refuse, wood, straws, or other combustible materials within the area, or have them burnt or permit them to be burnt within the area, unless the refuse, wood, straw, or other combustibles material are burnt inside an approved purpose-made incinerator or incinerating device.

Key players
Ntladi said everyone has a part to play, but as far as grass-cutting is concerned, the city’s parks department is responsible for cutting and maintaining the vegetation, especially where it is posing fire risks.
“The EMPD is mandated to enforce the bylaws, while the fire department`s prerequisite is the preservation of life and property under safety maintenance.
“About cutting the grass posing a risk to the community, residents can report it through the city’s call centre (0860 543 000).”

If you spot an uncontrolled fire in open spaces or see large volumes of smoke, call DEMS on 011 458 0911 and give as much detail about the fire’s location as possible. National toll-free number: 10177, and emergency help from a cellphone: 112.

Awareness campaign
DEMS reminds residents that a single irresponsible act, like recklessly discarding a cigarette butt, could easily develop into an uncontrollable mega-fire that can have a devastating impact on communities.
Before the winter season, the city launched its winter awareness campaign. As part of these activities, emergency services officials visit communities to enlighten residents about the risk and preventative measures.

Also Read: OR Tambo Airport runway closed due to veld fire