Wildfire season in SA: What to do if you see one

With the hot, SA summer also unfortunately comes wildfire season. Here’s some helpful information about what to do if you see one.

By: Reeshni Chaslyn Chetty

South Africa is heading toward the hot and dry summer season and wildfires tend to be more prevalent during this time.

WHAT ARE WILDFIRES?

Wildfires or veld fires are bushfires that occur within and outside urban areas. The Western Cape Government says that these fires have the potential to spread out of control.

A majority of these fires are started by people. There are just a small number of these fires that are started by natural occurrences which include lightning.

WHAT CAUSES THEM?

There are five main causes of these type of fires and they are as follows: 

• Intentional – Arson is a malicious and criminal act of deliberately starting fires;
• Smoking – Discarded cigarette butts can also cause wildfires, either from workers working in the fields or bush, passing pedestrians or motorists;
• Cooking fires – Open fires for cooking and discarded hot ashes can cause wildfires, particularly in nature conservation areas or on farms;
• Burning of debris – Permitted and unpermitted burning of debris, if badly managed or if weather conditions change suddenly, can cause fires and;
• Lightning – Lightning is a cause of both wildfires and structural fires.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A WILDFIRE

The Western Cape Government says that getting control over a wildfire as quickly as possible is vital. If a fire is contained within the first hour, the possibility of a major incident is minimised.

“The public is therefore implored to report any signs of fire, regardless of how insignificant it may appear, to their local fire service by dialing 112,” it said.

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