Emergency services contain Victory Park veld fire
A veld fire in Victory Park was swiftly contained by emergency services, preventing damage to nearby properties.
In the early hours of June 22, a veld fire was reported in Victory Park, prompting a swift response from local emergency services. The incident raised concerns among officers about the potential for the fire to spread to neighbouring houses due to windy conditions.
Samuel Thomas, client relations manager from Fire Ops SA, emphasised that it was no different a scenario than many they receive during the veld fire season. “Veld fires can be divided into two major categories: those that immediately threaten life and assets, such as buildings, and those that do not. Despite popular opinion, the former happens very seldom, and this fire was not in that category. One of the tell-tale indicators of such danger, would be the presence of brush, high trees, and neglected undergrowth, which means it would have the potential to evolve into wildfire conditions, which this did not.”
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Thomas stated that out of several hundred veld fires reported to them during any veld fire season, less than 5% would be categorised as life threatening. “An element that presents in veld fires, which incidentally was true in this instance, is the presence of withered tree stumps that cause nuisance conditions, such as hotspots and smoke moving through residential areas, but smoke does not equal unsafe conditions, it is mostly simply a nuisance.”
He highlighted the actions they took, which was to utilise three, large-bore fire hoses, fed from two of their units, to dump huge amounts of water on the smoldering hotspots. “We do not generally engage in veld fire operations. Best practice is to allow it to burn out naturally while exposures are protected, that is, ensure the fire does not threaten buildings or other valuables such as caravans or boats.”
Thomas emphasised the importance of maintaining safety measures during veld fire season. He noted that while this specific incident did not warrant changes to existing standard operating procedures, it serves as a reminder for residents to keep grass short and maintain fire breaks. “Additionally, fallen trees should be removed to prevent the development of hot spots that can generate smoke.”
He expressed the importance of having emergency contact numbers readily available. “Searching for emergency phone numbers when an incident is already active may cause undue delays,” he stated. He advised that homeowners, particularly those with thatch rooves, should seek professional advice to mitigate risks associated with flying embers.
For residents living near veld areas, having arrangements in place for private fire services is recommended.
In this case, Fire Ops SA, assisted by Beagle Watch officers, successfully contained the fire and prevented its spread. Thomas urged residents to keep the City of Johannesburg fire department’s contact number on speed dial for quick access in emergencies.
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