Marloth Park residents informed about wildfire safety measures at seminar
On October 9 Marloth Park residents were informed about the dangers of wildfire and what could be done to prevent and control the risks.
MARLOTH PARK – On October 9 Marloth Park residents were informed about the dangers of wildfire and what could be done to prevent and control the risks.
Mr Melgard Meyer, the manager of a well-known nature reserve in Limpopo, held a awareness seminar at Watergat Restaurant hoping to encourage the residents of the park to prepare and stay prepared for the unexpected.
Meyer explained that wildfire awareness was his passion because he had seen the damage that it could cause first-hand. On September 1, Spring Day, the nature reserve had a devastating veld fire that tragically claimed two lives and destroyed 1 500ha of bushveld, 64 chalets, the pool lapa, approximately 40 antelope (nyala and kudu) and 400 beds.
Ambulance Services treated 20 guests but five of them and three staff members were admitted to hospital with minor injuries. According to Meyer, the cause of the blaze on the reserve was because of a decision to burn a dump site on a “red” (extremely high fire danger) day on its borders. “Trauma counselling was provided for all staff and guests after the incident,” he said. Meyer encouraged residents to work together and build a structure which they could fall back on if something were to happen and added that awareness was the key.
He said, “A fire-wise community works together to prevent wildfire.” Marloth Park Owners Association (MPOA) chairman, Pat Wilmans, said, “The fire workshop was well attended and extremely informative. This presentation was held to bring to the attention of property owners and lodge/guest-house owners the consequence of a fire breaking out in Marloth Park.”
She added, “Communication within the community plays a vital part in the coordination of and the reaction to wildfires. This should go hand in hand with a coordinated plan of response and reaction in any disaster situation, to avoid delays and chaos that could lead to unnecessary injury and even death.”
The block watch system is being implemented in conjunction with the community police forum at this point in time. “The committee has decided that, in conjunction with Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa), we will appoint a disaster committee for Marloth Park. Lefpa has undertaken to give us guidelines on the structure and procedures required, and we will implement this with the Nkomazi Disaster Management Team.
“Fortunately we are entering the ‘green season’ where the possibility of fires is decreasing daily, thereby giving the committee time to get things in place. MPOA will discuss this at the next committee meeting and will proceed from there,” said Wilmans.
