Grass fires are common during winter

THE winter season is a common time for grass and open veld fires because of the dry climate conditions.

Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services spokesman, William Ntladi, said: “Winter is a grass fire season and many areas throughout the country are experiencing such fires.”

“Open, unused terrains are subject to grass fires, more so on agricultural holdings, where bigger areas are used for animal grazing.”

This comes after two huge veld fires emerged on Kiaat Street in Marister two days in a row on June 16 and 17. The first fire started around 5pm and was only put out after 8pm that night.

According to Jan de Ruyter, a resident who lives next door to a property where the fires took place, this was the fifth time a fire has emerged on this property, which only has a shebeen on it.

“This particular property always has fires, the first time being in April. I am paranoid about it because I live right next door to it and it is dangerous,” De Ruyter said.

“I had been lucky each time as there was no heavy wind to spread the fire onto my property.”

Last year, De Ruyter was not so lucky as some of his property, including his electric fence and plants, were damaged by another fire which spread.

Ntladi expressed that different factors could be attributed to veld fires starting regularly, such as open flames, cigarette butts and broken bottles left in the veld, which act as magnifying glasses when in contact with the heat from the sun.

“Members of the public who intentionally burn grass without taking weather conditions into consideration are subjecting people’s lives to danger and properties to fire damage. Children playing with open flames in a grass fire prone area are also some of the obvious causes of grass fires,” Ntladi said.

He urged residents to be more vigilant and to take precautionary measures during winter, such as not disposing of cigarette butts in dry grass areas, not randomly and deliberately starting fires to keep warm perhaps, and being careful not to have open flames next to dry veld areas.

“The emergency services has taken precautionary measures to alert the community of Ekurhuleni on dangers relating to fires through different media drive strategies. We are also giving fire awareness training to different community organisations within the City of Ekurhuleni.

“If vegetation can be kept short and fire brakes made prior grass fire season (winter), most of the risks, damages and loss of life can be dealt with.”

For more information on fire awareness and tips on how to keep safe during the winter season, call Ekurhuleni’s Public Information, Education and Relations (PIER) on 011-999-5491 or email Ntladi on William.Ntladi@ekurhuleni.gov.za