GAUTENG.- The Working on Fire Programme in Gauteng is drawing closer to the end of the winter fire season as the first good rains have started pouring.

This fire season, Gauteng has recorded 207 fires.

An estimated 9812 hectares of grass have been burnt during this fire season. The The Working on Fire Programme General Manager (GM) in Gauteng, Stephen Boyes, said that the standbys for the 15 teams across the province will come to an end because the fire risk is at minimal levels.

‘‘We applaud our firefighters and base partners for having worked tirelessly during the fire season. Our firefighters were equally fit to combat fires. Safety of the firefighters is my number one priority,’’ said  Boyes.

‘‘We noticed the spike in fire callouts in August with 71 fires recorded. This was massive but expected. In September we saw a drastic decline to 29 fire callouts,’’ said Boyes who is glad teams were of assistance to landowners and communities in saving lives and protecting the environment.