GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - From 1 July, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Fire and Rescue Services has officially taken over responsibility for regulating and approving prescribed burns across the district.

The change applies to the Hessequa, Kannaland, George, Knysna, Bitou and Greater Oudtshoorn municipal areas.

This means that anyone wishing to carry out a controlled or prescribed burn must now apply to the GRDM Fire and Rescue Services instead of their local municipality.

According to the municipality, the change is aimed at improving the coordination of veldfire prevention and management, strengthening fire risk management and providing a more integrated firefighting service across the Garden Route.

All applications, notifications and enquiries relating to prescribed burning must now be directed to the district's Chief Fire Officer, Deon Stoffels.

For more information or to apply for a prescribed burn permit, contact the Garden Route District Municipality Fire and Rescue Services on 044 878 1000, 083 941 1994 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

Read GRDM's full statement here.

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