Pta residents urged to be vigilant this fire season
“Cut down tree branches overhanging your home and clean the gutters of leaves that could act as a fire accelerant.”
Communities are urged to be more vigilant during this fire season and not start unnecessary fires, particularly during windy days.
The Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) Working on Fire programme spokesperson Zolile Nqayi also urged communities to remove unnecessary rubble from their properties.
Ngayi said the rubble could pose a serious fire risk, and homeowners bordered by grasslands need to create a sufficient fire break between their property and the grassland.
“We also request people to cut down overhanging tree branches close to their properties and to clean their gutters as the leaves that end up in these gutters can also pose a fire risk.”
The DEA Working on Fire programme said De Wildt north of Pretoria remained a fire hotspot.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: North community to aid Betty’s Bay fire victims
Ngayi said currently close to 300 firefighters and pilots were deployed to help manage fires across South Africa.
Parapara Makgahlela spokesperson for Working on Fire said, “De Wildt remains a hotspot with 50 fires recorded.”
Makgahlela said farmers in the area have lost property and grazing land for their livestock due to the deadly fires.
“It is difficult to fight fires in the area because fires run through mountains.”
Take care of your fire risks before they start a fire.#BeFireSafe #Playyourpart #EducatingCommunities #SavingLives #ProtectingTheEnvironment pic.twitter.com/tnaIcVVLa7
— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) January 29, 2019
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
