Randfontein Bird Sanctuary hit by two fires

Rand West Emergency Services responded to two veld fires at the Randfontein Bird Sanctuary, reported on June 17 and again on June 23. Although both fires were quickly extinguished, they highlight a growing concern, as these incidents pose a serious and ongoing threat to the area’s natural environment and wildlife.

• Also read: Sidewalk concerns at Bird Sanctuary

Fire Chief Benny Mohlabeng and RandWest SPCA manager René van Straten thus shared some important information about fire safety and the effect of veld fires on animals.

“Regarding the latest fire on June 23, the fire was extinguished completely and we were back at the station at 18:24. We are not sure as yet how the fire started and we cannot speculate what the cause was, since we did not get anyone to dispense that information to us when we arrived at the scene or after we extinguished the fire,” said Mohlabeng.

He continued that most of the fires they respond to at the sanctuary start from the outside and spread to the inside, which causes serious harm to birds and rabbits that are inside the sanctuary.

Mohlabeng gave a few important notes regarding the dangers of veld fires:

• Veld fires are a serious hazard as the smoke from the grass or reeds can be toxic and affect nearby people, especially those with asthma or lung-related diseases
• Winter season is here, and this is the season when we deal with different fires across our region. Mostly we get house fires, shack fires and structural fires, though less in terms of structural fires

He also added a few tips for fire safety:

• Motorists are to refrain from throwing cigarette buds out of their vehicles into the veld. Pedestrians are urged not to start open fires in the veld
• As for people going to work in the morning, not to burn grass or make a fire to warm themselves
• Do not leave the heaters and stoves unattended
• Children must also not be left alone, as they always like to experiment and might find themselves in the middle of a fire, unintentionally. They should be taught not to play with lighters or matches
• Factories and shops using oil are urged to always ensure that stoves are switched off before leaving the facility
• Landowners must have firebreaks around their properties and must never do controlled burning without getting permission from the chairperson of the Fire Protection Association, as well as the fire protection officer (the fire chief). It is imperative to adhere to this request since the Fire Danger Index determines when controlled burning can be performed

During the first fire that occurred on June 17, Van Straten stated that luckily, the emergency services were already on scene, extinguishing the fire when they arrived. They, however, returned the next day to ensure no wildlife was injured in the blaze.

“We are relieved to report that, miraculously, all animals appeared to have escaped unharmed. We urge the public to be extremely cautious and avoid starting veld fires during the dry season.

These fires pose a grave threat to wildlife, many of whom are unable to escape in time and habitats get destroyed,” said Van Straten.

She noted not only birds get affected by veld fires, but all small animals living in the grass, such as rabbits, meerkats and ground squirrels. Birds such as larks also make their nests on the ground.

Van Straten added that not only do veld fires affect animals’ habitat in the sense of their nests, but they also affect the water quality as well as the cycle of nature, as some animals may be more affected than others. This leaves the animals that do survive exposed to other predatory animals.

“In general, it is just a stressful situation for wild animals.”

Aside from the threat to their lives, animals also inhale the smoke. Further, it affects their sight and makes them disoriented, which means they cannot flee in time.

She mentioned that veld fires also destroy nature and fill the air with dangerous smoke.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the community member who alerted us, as well as to our dedicated responders for their swift action and care on site.”