Deputy Director of forest and veld fire oversight for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Free State, Malcolm Proctor, says some 140 000 hectares were damaged due to veld fires in the previous season. 

He says landowners are obliged to put measures in place to prevent the spread of fires from their properties.

“I think people must be aware that we are now approaching July – it’s the season that we need to be making our fire breaks. Our cut-off date for the making of firebreaks is the end of July in this province. One must also be aware that there are cold fronts coming through.”

He says the majority of damage from fires happens just prior to cold fronts, largely due to increased wind.

“In downloading the satellite images from the last five years you can see this pattern all over the show. The only exception is in Bethlehem where the mountains change the direction of the winds that come through.

“You can see a pattern of where fires have been burning all over the province just before cold fronts and that is when we get most of our damage.”

Proctor is urging landowners to participate in Fire Protection Associations, or FPAs, to get access to information such as the fire danger index, which indicates when it is safe to do a controlled burn. FPAs can also assist in ensuring compliance around fire breaks, fire prevention, necessary fire safety equipment and so forth.

Meanwhile Northern Cape authorities are also urging land owners to take preventative measures.

The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture and Land Reform said in a statement dry vegetation coupled with strong winds create perfect conditions for runaway veld fires.

It highlights a devastating fire in John Taolo Gaetswe and Namakwa Districts in January this year where some 10 000 hectares were damaged.

The department is also urging farmers, farm dwellers and motorists to act wisely when dealing with open fires, as well as when operating machinery or smoking.

OFM News