EXCLUSIVE ONLINE – WOF teams combat several seasonal fires
The teams were dispatched numerous times to assist the Fire Protection Association in what has been a season with a high fire danger index.
MPUMALANGA – The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Working on Fire (WOF) programme teams, as well as teams of the Forest Support Programme (FSP) have assisted in combating numerous fires since the beginning of the winter fire season.
According to Ms Amanda Mthembu, the spokesman for the Mpumalanga WOF, a few teams were also dispatched prior to the official beginning of the season, as veld fires raged throughout the province.
She said the WOF Injaka FSP team was the busiest one prior to the season.
They were also dispatched numerous times to the fire line to assist the Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa) in suppression operations, in what has been a season with a high fire danger index.
The WOF Warburton team followed closely, and was called out to assist the Umpiluzi Fire Protection Association in the Highveld area.
“Records indicate teams have assisted in a total of 176 fires from February to the end of August.
These fires have been recorded in both the Highveld and Lowveld and no injuries have been reported,” Ms Mthembu said.
She added that they are approaching the peak of the winter fire season, and 22 fires have been recorded just in September thus far.
“Our teams remain on high alert and are on standby to assist our valued partners and stakeholders with integrated fire management activities,” she said.
The winter fire season officially began on June 1 and teams are hard at work conducting other integrated fire management services while navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.
These include prescribed burns and raising awareness in communities with fire awareness educational workshops and door-to-door campaigns.
She said the WOF programme will also be celebrating its 18th year of existence under the theme “18 Years of Sustainability”, an objective that has been fulfilled, according to Ms Mthembu.
The Working on Fire programme is part of the government’s Expanded Public Works Programme, which recruits unemployed youth from disadvantaged communities and arms them with specialised firefighting skills.
For any emergencies or additional information, contact Working on Fire Mpumalanga on 013 741 6400.
