KNYSNA NEWS - The Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA) are busy planning a phase of an ecological/isolation burn at Brenton-on-Sea.
Dirk Smit, SCFPA manager for the eastern region, on Friday, May 20 said, "The reason we have decided to add the name 'isolation burn', is the fact that this burn will also create a safe area/barrier, which will ensure that an unwanted wildfire does not spread from or through the proposed burn area to Brenton-on-Sea and surrounding residential areas.
"All stakeholders will on Thursday, May 26 at 11:00 meet in the SA National Parks boardroom on Thesen Island to discus issues on the isolation burn."
Smit will at the meeting present the burn plan to all involved and attending, as well as a detailed budget, a to-do list (for instance fire breaks that need to be constructed, fire break agreements that need to be done and public awareness).
"It will be the first time in 30 years that such an ecological burn will take place in that specific area," said Smit. "An area of about 107 hectare will be part of the ecological/isolation burn and the plan is to do it in September or August, depending on the weather conditions."
"Stakeholders will have to determine what actions they will take responsibility for or what services they will be willing to provide and at what cost, or at least indicate what they will be able to assist with. Even if it does mean that they have to go back to their individual section heads to get approval. These actions will be minuted."
He advised organisations involved to send a senior representative/official who will be able to make informed decisions.
The following organisations will ultimately be involved and need to send a representative in order to ensure that this ecological/isolation burn will be a success:
• Eden District Municipality (fire services)
• PG Bison
• Susan Campbell (landowner of one of the portions to be burned)
• Mark Estates Knysna - David White (representatives of one of the portions to be burned)
• Brenton-on-Sea Homeowners' Association/Ratepayers' Association
• Western Heads Conservancy
• SCFPA
• Knysna-Plett Harald
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD NEWS EDITOR
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