Fire season: Prevention is vital

May 2025

KARINA MULLER, PULA CONTRIBUTOR

FIRE IS A MERCILESS MASTER – SWIFT, UNFORGIVING AND ALL-CONSUMING. IN SECONDS, IT TURNS HARD WORK INTO ASHES, REMINDING EVERYBODY THAT PREPARATION IS NOT AN OPTION BUT A NECESSITY.

In South Africa, an increase in the frequency of veld fires has caused extensive damage to farmlands.

According to Working on Fire (WOF), the 2024 winter fire season tragically claimed over 30 lives and destroyed thousands of hectares of land and livestock. In 2021, fires in the Northern Cape destroyed some 709 568 ha farmlands, eight homesteads and 22 warehouses and barns.

Trevor Abrahams, managing director of WOF, said on 11 January this year in an eNCA interview that climate change has a serious effect on the prevalence of veld fires. Therefore, he encourages farmers to ensure that preventative and evacuation protocols are in place.

The leading causes of veld fires include lightning, human activities (discarded cigarette butts, uncontrolled burning or arson) and extreme weather conditions such as strong winds and heatwaves.

Every burned hectare means lives that are lost or injured humans and animals, families that are displaced as well as destroyed wildlife and ecosystems which all has a negative impact on food security as well.

With the winter approaching, it is now the time for farmers to take preventative measures. Knowledge is the key to preventing fires.

FIREBREAKS
According to Eric Stoch, chairman of the North West Umbrella Fire Protection Association (NWUFPA), firebreaks do not necessarily have to be burnt. ‘Areas can be ploughed, scraped, raked, chipped with weed hoes or sprayed with herbicides. Trees can be cut back to prevent them from spreading wildfires,’ he says.

If you prefer to create firebreaks, remember they should be in the right place, cost-effective and practical to implement. It is also a good idea to document your agreed firebreaks with neighbours.

There are also specific regulations and best practices to consider before starting.

Understand the legislation
According to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (No. 101 of 1998), property owners must:

• Have a fire control committee or work in accordance with their local Fire Prevention Association (FPA).
• Inform their neighbours of the planned burning of firebreaks.
• Have sufficient equipment and personnel on hand to control the fire.

Plan the firebreaks

• Timing: Conduct firebreaks outside of the fire season.
• Weather conditions: Choose a day with low wind speeds (less than 15 km/h), high humidity (more than 30%) and moderate temperatures.
• Demarcation: Mark the firebreak areas by cutting the grass or ploughing.

Get the right equipment and personnel

• Fire protection equipment: Water pumps, firefighting systems and fire beaters are necessary.
• Safety measurements: Always have an escape plan and medical emergency equipment available.

Perform the fire-breaking

• Start against the wind, allowing the fire to spread slowly.
• Use the back-burn technique, where a fire is set on the windward side to combat a bigger fire.
• Continuously monitor the fire and be ready to extinguish it if necessary.

Extinguish and monitor

• Ensure that the fire is fully extinguished and no smouldering areas remain.
• Control the area for at least 24 hours afterwards.

Please note that firebreaks:

• Should be wide enough and long enough to have a reasonable chance of preventing a fire from spreading to or from neighbouring land. Check with your local municipality or fire brigade to confirm the rules and regulations for your area.
• Must not cause or contribute to soil erosion.
• Must be reasonably free of flammable material.
• Should be maintained.

HOW TO RESPOND TO A FIRE

• If you are in the veld and see a fire, move away from it immediately. 
• Never ignore a fire, even if it seems far away – it can quickly become bigger and engulf you.
• If you feel threatened and think you cannot outrun the fire, or if you are surrounded, try to find a ‘safe zone’. This can be an area that has already been burnt or is completely clear of any fuel that can burn, such as a wide road or homestead.

Source: hortgro.co.za

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION
Provincial fire protection associations

• North West Umbrella Fire Protection Association (NWUFPA) – nwufpa.org.
• Mpumalanga Umbrella Fire Protection Association (MUFPA) – nwufpa.org.
• Platorand Area Fire Protection Association (PAFPA) – papfa.org.
• KwaZulu-Natal Fire Protection Association (KZNFPA) – kznfpa.org.
• Lowveld and Escarpment Fire Protection Association (LEFPA) – lefpa.co.za.
• Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association (FSUFPA) – fsuppa.co.za.

Other sources of information

• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: dffe.gov.za.
• Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa (FPASA): library@fpasa.co.za or 011 397 1618.
• Working on Fire: workingonfire.org.

Working on Fire (WOF) is a South African programme that was launched in 2003 as part of the government’s initiative to create employment and alleviate poverty. The programme focusses on training and employing young people as veld and forest firefighters. Currently about 5 000 youngsters participate in this programme, which operates from over 200 bases countrywide.

WOF implements an integrated firefighting strategy that includes fire prevention, readiness, response and rehabilitation. They work closely with local authorities and fire prevention associations (FPAs) to minimise the impact of veld fires. In collaboration with FPAs, they provide training in firefighting, fire management and prevention, which is especially beneficial for farming communities.

In February, it became known that WoF laid off thousands of people and cancelled critical contracts because the government allegedly refused to transfer the necessary funds. The government, however, denied these claims, stating that all payments were made where the correct administrative processes were followed.

Source: AgriOrbit, 24 March 2025

TIPS TO MANAGE WILDFIRES

• Maintain your property by trimming trees and shrubs, removing dead leaves and debris, and making sure your gutters are clean. 
• It is a good idea to join your local fire protection association or a WhatsApp group in your community so that you can be informed of wildfires in the area.
• Always have emergency numbers handy of people you can contact for assistance.
• Be aware of different evacuation routes to leave the area in case a fire spreads to your farm. 
• Plan what to do with your livestock in the event of a fire.
• Have the necessary equipment, protective clothing and trained personnel to extinguish fires. 
• Stock up on emergency supplies, including masks and/or respirators that filter out particles from the air you breathe.
• Keep an outdoor water source filled. Sand is also a highly effective method of fire control if water is not readily available.

Publication: May 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula