KNYSNA NEWS - Although the summer fire season officially starts on the 1 December, the Western Cape has already experienced many multiday fires since November, so amid the ongoing drought, fire services are preparing for a rough fire season ahead.
Working on Fire acting general manager Felicia Ngwasheng says, “The partnerships between Working on Fire (WoF), the Western Cape disaster management centre, the fire protection associations (FPAs) and landowners like SANParks and CapeNature have seen an intense integrated approach to fire management and suppression over the past few months.
WoF plays a key role in providing both aerial and ground-crew support during fires.
During the upcoming fire season, WoF will have the following resources available for utilisation by district municipalities, landowners and FPAs:
Ground resources:
The WoF programme has set an international platform for our firefighters. Just recently WoF firefighters and drivers underwent their respective Yellow Card training to ensure they are fully equipped, fit and ready for the 2017/18 summer fire season.
- There are more than 700 fully trained and super fit firefighters based at 27 bases across the Western Cape.
- Additional firefighters and five fire trucks from the Free State and Eastern Cape will be based in the Western Cape during the season.
- Then there are also national standby teams that could be deployed to the Western Cape, should the need arise.
Aerial resources:
A total of 26 aircraft – 12 helicopters, four fixed-wing air tractor bombers and 10 spotters – based in Bredasdorp, George, Knysna. Porterville, Newlands, Stellenbosch and Denneoord. This additional air support was made possible through a partnership with the Western Cape government.
Community safety tips:
We urge communities to be more vigilant during this season and not to start unnecessary fires particularly during dry days.
People are also asked to remove unnecessary rubble on 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.
We also ask people to cut down overhanging tree branches close to their properties and also to clean their gutters as the leaves that end up in these gutters can pose a fire risk.
People must ensure that they have the contact details of their local fire authorities at hand should there be a fire emergency.
- Plan an evacuation route.
- Follow weather reports on TV, radio or social media.
- Display a list of emergency phone numbers.
- Make sure your property street number is visible from the road.
- Keep important papers and medication in a ready-to-go small suitcase.
- Be aware of places on your property that offer protection in times of fire, such as brick or concrete patios, swimming pools, brick or concrete driveways, and concrete or stone walls that can deflect some of the heat of a fire.
- Have torches and a number of fire extinguishers available and make sure they are working.
- Have a supply of drinking water available.
ARTICLE: WORKING ON FIRE
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