MBOMBELA – Today is Heritage Day, and everybody seems to know what time it is, it’s time for a braai and to raise your glasses to the clear blue sky – that is if the clouds clear up over the Lowveld. However, there are a few important rules to remember when making an open fire.

The Lowveld & Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa) declared a period of extraordinary fire hazard, and although the temperature has dropped, these warnings still apply:

Within the boundaries of the Lefpa and Ehlanzeni district, no person shall from to and including October 31, 2014 make a fire in the open air, or, if such a fire has been made, allow it to continue to burn or add fuel thereto, otherwise than:
• Fires made within a demarcated picnic or camping area or caravan park, or holiday resort, but only at places within such an area which have been specifically prepared and maintained for that purpose; provided that such fires are properly extinguished with water and/or sand.
• Fires for the preparation of food on residential stands
• Fires made on residential and industrial stands in proclaimed townships
• Fires made for initiation school purposes, but only at places which have been specially prepared and maintained for that purpose to prevent fires from spreading.

No person shall up to and including October 31:

• Destroy by burning slash originating from any timber plantation or self-sown exotic trees and or alien invasive plants.
• Destroy by burning residue, cultivated crop fields and veld, clear or maintain a fire belt by burning or execute block burns, unless a burning permit has been obtained from Lefpa.

In terms of Chapter 7, Article 25 of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act 101 of 1998, persons found guilty of these offences will be subject to a minimum fine of R5000.

So, to summarise, take care when lighting your braai and disposing of your cigarette bud this Heritage Day!