Don’t start fires during the dry season
The emergency services control room staff are to be notified of all burning procedures prior to burning
The dry winter months are a prime time for dangerous runaway veldt fires, which can cause death and destruction. It is for this reason that strict laws must be adhered to during ‘fire season’, which started on May 1 and ends on November 30.
ALSO READ: Be fire season savvy
Here are the do’s and don’ts for fire season:
The lighting of fires is and the disposal of refuse or combustible material by burning prohibited. A person may light a fire or use a flame emitting device for the purpose of preparing food or for any other domestic purpose in a manner, which will not cause a hazard or other threatening danger.
No fires may be lit in the open between May 1 and November 30 except for the following provisions:
• Block burning veldt.
• Back burning to control wild fires.
• Burning maize harvest residue.
• Burning plantation slash.
• Fires in a demarcated picnic area or camping area.
Problems and complaints that are synonymous with fire season
• Resident’s burn grass surrounding their premises in order to limit or prevent criminal activity, which leads to run away fires.
• Persons utilising incorrect warming devices such as stoves, welding machines, two plate stoves, candles, and fires as opposed to correct approved heaters are causes of building fires and even death.
• Unsafe practices while using power tools such as grinders, welding machines and drills causing fires. • The burning of fires breaks during windy or hot and dry conditions. (FDI report).
READ MORE: Disobeying the fire season rules could be disastrous
The rules about fire breaks and when and who can start them?
Fire breaks may be burned from May 1 to July 31. Fire break burning may only start after a favourable FDI report, which can be obtained each morning from the emergency services on 036 352 6464.
The emergency services control room staff are to be notified of all burning procedures prior to burning.
No person shall, without the prior written permission of the Chief Fire Officer, burn any combustible material in the open air.
All burning will be done in accordance with the NVFFA Act 101 of 1998 and FPA rules.
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