Working on Fire said it was gearing up for the Winter Fire Season on the Eastern Cape after its members were hard at work during the Summer Fire Season which started on 1 December.
Working on Fire is the Department of Environmental Affairs programme that helps fight wildland fires in the Eastern Cape and elsewhere across the country.
“In total Working on Fire has 560 fire fighters stationed at 24 bases throughout the province (EC) and they have been hard at work suppressing and putting up fire preventative measures such as fire breaks, stack burn and fire awareness workshops in different places around the province, “ said WOF spokesperson, Linton Rensburg.
He said since December last year more than 29 fires have been suppressed in the Western District of the province by teams that are stationed in this district.
“The Eastern Cape Province has two fire seasons, the winter fire season which start from May to October in the Eastern District of the province and the summer fire season which start in December in the Western district of the province,” he said.
“The Western Region of the Eastern Cape covers areas like Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma, Humansdorp, Addo, Witelsbos, Longmore, Baviaanskloof, Jourbetina, and this region experiences a summer fire season, whereas the rest of the province experiences a winter fire season,” he said.
Rensburg said while teams were busy suppressing fires, other teams conducted fire awareness workshops in schools and communities with high fire risk to teach community members and learners about fire preventions and fire safety.
“More than 7000 learners were reached since April last year during these educational fire awareness campaigns,” he added.
“While the fire season continues, we urge landowners to contact Working on Fire for assistance in developing Integrated Fire Management services which include amongst others prescribed burning, fuel load reduction and community fire awareness,” said Rensburg.
“We also urge communities to be more vigilant during this fires season and not start unnecessary fires particularly during dry windy days. People are also asked to remove unnecessary rubble on and around their properties which can pose a serious fire risk and houses next to grasslands need to ensure that there are sufficient fire breaks between their properties and these grasslands. Let’s all keep safe during this fire season.”
(Image and statement supplied)
