Readying for fire season

KNYSNA NEWS - Various stakeholders and roleplayers in the local and district fire-fighting circles last week gathered at the Knysna Angling and Diving Association for a fire-readiness event ahead of the Western Cape Summer Fire Season.

The event was attended by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's Working on Fire programme, Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), South African National Parks, Knysna Municipality and its Fire & Rescue Department.

All of these organisations and bodies work conjunctively on activities such as fire suppression, fire prevention work such as constructing fire breaks, manual fuel reductions and controlled burns.

The various roleplayers spoke about their resources in place and state of readiness for the upcoming fire season.

Knysna Municipality Deputy Mayor Alberto Marbi, who attended in the absence of Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa, said the municipality was grateful to have the support of Working on Fire as they played a huge role during the 2017 fires.

SCFPA's Dirk Smit speaking during the event.

"Working on Fire and Knysna fire services were running all around Knysna fighting that fire and they were on the ground. I would like to show some compassion for all the firefighters that took part. Be assured that the people of Knysna do appreciate the work you are doing. I would therefore like to convey our gratitude to you, keep on doing the good work," Marbi said.

Dirk Smit of the SCFPA, had a cautionary word for everyone in attendance. "We in the Southern Cape must do away with the idea of only having one fire season," he said. "In the Southern Cape a fire can happen any time of the year, so our fire season is all-year round, and we must always be ready."

Working on Fire (WOF) has three teams around the Knysna area and they all underwent refresher training. The WOF teams in the Knysna area are based in Concordia, Sedgefield and Goudveld. There are an additional nine WOF bases in the Garden Route that would render support during a time of need.

Working on Fire will also be deploying six aerial resources in Denneoord Fire Base to give aerial support in Knysna and the Garden Route Region at large.

Working on Fire's Concordia team with Knysna Deputy Mayor Alberto Marbi (centre, red). Photo: Supplied