Lefpa ignites burning passion to help West Acres residents

In an effort to rehabilitate and eradicate crime in the West Acres vlei near Bergvlam, the local community called on the Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (Lefpa) to burn the overgrown area last Thursday.
Members from the ABT Community (Acacia Street, Boekenhout Street and Tamboti Crescent) which borders the vlei said they had first contacted Lefpa two months ago to help with clearing the vlei.

Lefpa manager, André Scheepers, said the burning of the vlei was a “community-orientated initiative” and that last Thursday (August 19) was “the right day for burning”.

The team started at 09:30, expecting to complete the burning by 14:00, however, by 13:00 Lefpa seemed to be done already.

Lefpa base manager, Queen Khoza, said this was the first time they burned the West Acres vlei this year.

“The community requested our expertise. We ensured what needs to be burned was burned properly,” said Khoza, while watching the firefighters burn the long grass and reeds.

The ABT community said they had tried cutting the grass and clearing the area in July, but needed the vlei to be burned in order to help rehabilitate the area, as well clear the long grass to keep criminals from hiding in the bushes and storing stolen goods.

ACS Security was also at the vlei, on alert for any people who might be hiding or living there, however, there were no encounters.

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