JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – The South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has urged residents to be vigilant amid fire season that continues across the country.
Department spokesperson, Zolile Nqayi said the fires have completely destroyed 41 structures, while 28 structures have been partially destroyed.
“The department would like to urge communities to be more vigilant during this fire season and not to start unnecessary fires, particularly during windy days this summer,” said Nqayi.
The department has also urged the communities to remove unnecessary rubble which can pose fire risk on their properties. House owners whose houses are next to grasslands are urged to ensure that there are sufficient fire breaks between their properties and these grasslands.
“We also request people to cut down overhanging tree branches close to their properties and to clean their gutters as the leaves that end up in these gutters can also pose a fire risk,
“People must also ensure that they have the contact details of their local fire authorities at hand should there be a fire emergency,” added Nqayi.
The estimated value of the damage is still being evaluated. The department’s Working on Fire Programme has deployed about 300 fire-fighters and pilots to help manage fires across the country.
The team has been busy fighting four major fires in the Overberg District of the Western Cape province in the past few weeks. Currently, about 100 firefighters from the Free State provinvce have already been deployed in the Western Cape since December last year.
The department has also warned landowners to clear all invasive alien vegetation which poses fire risks in the dry conditions in the province.
© Bur-JHB – B.M / N.N – African Daily Voice (ADV) – Follow us on Twitter : @ADVinfo_en
