WOF firefighters collaborate with Magalies forums
Armed with rake-hoes, slashers, and brush cutters, Magaliesburg's Working on Fire Programme team and even business and tourism forums in town are clearing fuel.
The Working on Fire (WOF) Programme’s Magaliesburg team is lending a hand by brush-cutting tall grasses and slashing out shabby tree branches in and around town.
Frank Maseko, base manager for the team, said that there is a need for fuel load reduction to minimise the risks of fires.
According to the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa, clearing out the combustible material derived from creating the firebreak so that it cannot be used as fuel in a fire is part of firebreak protection.
Maseko added Magaliesburg business and tourism forums support their initiative of clearing ‘fuel’ in their town.
‘‘WOF firefighters and the Fire Protection Association are starting to make a difference. Our Brush Cutter Operators are doing a marvellous job,’’ Maseko said.
Maseko said the firefighters are grateful to make their town clean from an ecological perspective.
‘‘We are armed with rake-hoes, slashers, and brush cutters to execute the assignment with aplomb. The firefighters are helping mitigate the effects of climate change through this preventative measure,’’ explained Maseko.
He said the residents of the Magaliesburg are supportive of the WOF’s effort.
The chairperson of the Magaliesburg business forum, Hannelie Hartman, added that the forum is also making the brush cutters available to the team to execute the task.
‘‘Business needs to operate in a clean environment. The WOF Programme team is doing marvellous work in fuel load reduction. Other residents are assisting with collecting the litter around the town,’’ she said.
