Dry conditions have farmers fearful of fire outbreak

While these fires, classified by Petersen as negligent but unintentional, there are also intentional fires caused by malicious individuals, including former farm employees.

July 3, 2019

Bruce Douglas 2 minutes read

Fire season is a looming threat for local farmers.

Chairperson of the Newcastle Farmers Association, Craig Petersen explains farmland fires are prevalent in the area, and are caused by varied factors.

For this reason, farmers are keeping a close eye on the situation.

“Fires can be caused by something as simple as bearings heating up during baling of hay, which creates a spark.”

Petersen explains fires can be listed as accidental as in the above scenario, or when wind suddenly picks up during a routine fire break and causes the flames to spread.

Fires not completely extinguished can smoulder and begin burning again.

While these fires, classified by Petersen as negligent but unintentional, there are also intentional fires caused by malicious individuals, including former farm employees.

Fortunately, the farming community rallies together quickly in a crisis.

“We are rather tightly knit. We have a WhatsApp group where alerts can be sent out and we get good response from farmers, who often bring their own equipment along.”

With approximately 200 farms in the Newcastle area, Petersen says the biggest risk to farmers’ livelihoods is those properties without fire breaks.

In general, the more fire breaks, the easier a blaze is to control.

Divisional Commander: Fire Safety, Nelson Mpeko says the National Veld and Forest Fire Act stipulates the burning of fire breaks is compulsory.

“We do have some farmers who do not create fire breaks and also won’t let their neighbours burn near their land, which creates tension.”

Mpeko says according to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (No. 101 of 1998), when a farmer creates a fire break, any affected neighbours must be present, the date of burning and the width of the break must be agreed upon and all must be adequately prepared with firefighting tools.

Petersen says these measures should be a ‘moral responsibility’.

“All farmers should actually have the appropriate equipment available and should join their local Fire Protection Association.”

Beyond burning of fire breaks, farmers also protect their land with a process called ‘disking’, in which the land is ploughed, thus robbing potential fires of fuel.

Another measure is the humble farm road.

Farmers generally keep roads on their land clear of grass, to provide less chance of a blaze jumping to the opposite side.