Play your part in fire prevention this winter
KwaZulu-Natal's winter fire season has commenced.
THE entity, Working on Fire teams has been hard at work since the beginning of the year, preparing communities and landowners for the upcoming fire season.
This is the Department of Environmental Affairs’ funded programme that addresses the prevention and control of veld and forest fires, to enhance the sustainability and protection of life, property and the environment through the implementation of integrated fire management.
Various teams have been creating fire breaks, implementing fuel load reduction and removing alien invasive species across the province.
Working on Fire KZN general manager, Carl van Loggerenberg, urged residents to establish fire breaks at least 20 metres wide around their homes and yards.
“The programme believes that if communities and landowners all do their part in preventing fires, there will be a reduction in loss of life, cattle and property this fire season,” said Loggerenberg.
He added that fire breaks can be prepared in a number of ways namely by ploughing, hoeing or burning.
“Landowners must consult a nearby Fire Protection Association branch before planning to do a fire break, ensure there are enough people when conducting a fire break and inform their neighbours before burning,” said Loggerenberg.
