The Eastern Cape Department of Local and Traditional Affairs has launched a campaign to publicise its ban on starting veld fires without prior approval between 1 August and 31 October.
The Eastern Cape Department of Local and Traditional Affairs has launched a campaign to publicise its ban on starting veld fires without prior approval between 1 August and 31 October.
“Every year between July and October it’s the bush-fire season,” said William Welkom, Makana’s fire services manager. “This prompted the province’s disaster management centre to put in place precautionary measures to avoid such fires. The department issued a notice informing the municipality of the regulations, which were passed on to Grocott's Mail last week.
It stated, however, that burning may be allowed under certain strict conditions. “People are not allowed to start open fires without following certain procedures,” Welkom said. Permission from the municipal fire chief must be received at least a minimum of seven days prior to burning.
The fire department then conducts an inspection of the area and final approval must be obtained on the day of the burn. According to the National Veld and Forest Fires Act, all bordering landowners must be informed of the intended burning operations.
Any person contravening the regulations could be prosecuted under the Fire Brigade Services Act 99 of 1987. The threat of a blaze raging out of control is a serious problem for Makana.
Four years ago, the fire department struggled to contain a bush fire outside Grahamstown. “We were not equipped to deal adequately with that fire and we had to get assistance from the Cacadu district municipality,” Welkom said. “But things have changed since 2008 and we are equipped to a certain extent. In an emergency, however, they might need to call on Cacadu again, Welkom said.
