adminVictor Maphosa Herald Correspondent
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is implementing a raft of measures put out peat fires which have been reported in Stratford Vlei in Borrowdale, Harare, an official has said.
The peat fires have resulted in injuries to a child and a biker who suffered high degree burns.
Speaking during a media tour in Stratford Vlei suburbs where EMA officers have partnered residents to mitigate peat fire challenges, EMA’s Environmental Education and Publicity manager Mrs Amkela Sidange said the agency was committed to addressing all peat fire issues.
“EMA has since barricaded the affected area to preventing people from accessing the site, the agency with the help of City of Harare and Stratford residents managed to remove vegetation cover in the affected area to enable isolation of the hotspot area,” she said.
“The next stage would be to conduct soil profiling to determine organic layer or other causes of the fire, this will be done through transect trenching to ascertain depth and quantum of combustible overburden.
“After trenching, the material will be removed using an excavator and then back filled with non-burning rubbles, gravel and clay.”
Online Reporter