LOTHAIR – The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs donated fire beaters to local farmers to use when suppressing fires on their farms.

This was done during the Mpumalanga’s Working On Fire (WOF) first awarness programme which was held at Lothair Community Hall on June 22.

According to WOF’s communication officer, Amanda Mthembu, the programme which is launched annually at the beginning of the winter fire season from June 1 until October aims to educate communities about fire safety.

“WOF’s fire awareness campaigns focuses on raising fire safety awareness by means of informing and educating residents on ways to prevent, mitigate and minimise wildland fires. The campaigns take place countrywide where the targeted communities are located to assist them in getting the relevant information regarding veld and forest fires,” Mthembu said.

She added WOF Mpumalanga had a series of build-up campaigns that culminated in the official fire campaign launch in the community of Lothair.

“Various stakeholders shared one message with the community which is: How to be fire-safe this winter.