Let’s be proactive this fire season

THE fire season is   upon us.

Vast tracts of land are destroyed by fire during this time of the year.

Wild animals have also perished along the way.

Recklessness has played a huge role in fuelling the spread of veld fires.

In most cases, drunkards and drug addicts, who dump cigarette buds everywhere, are some of the culprits starting these fires.

Peasant farmers, who use fire to clear land in preparation for the new farming season, are hugely to blame in rural areas.

The same problem is now being experienced in major cities where some urban farmers also use fire to clear the land.

A collective effort is now needed to deal with this problem.

But, it is in rural areas where these cases are mostly witnessed.

In the worst cases, there are hunters who destroy vegetation, using fire, to trap animals. This is not only worrisome but can also be tragic.

Despite all the campaigns being done by environmentalists and advocacy groups, we seem to be losing vast tracks to these offenders.

This calls for stiffer penalties against offenders, who are destroying the environment, by starting veld fires.

In yesterday’s issue of this newspaper, we carried a spine-chilling story of a Banket man, who was burnt to death in an inferno.

The 80-year-old grandpa was on his way home from his workplace, when tragedy struck.

He died last Friday when fire broke out and spread towards the road, where he was walking, on his way home.

The octogenarian tried to run to a safer place but the raging fire caught up with him.

He was burnt to death and was only identified later by close relatives.

Although the cause of the fire could not be established, it’s really sad to lose a life just like that.

Of course, there are culprits behind the fire, who should be answerable but we have already lost a life.

This is the extent of the damage, which veld fires can inflict on us, if we are not careful.

Recklessness should be avoided at all costs.

Villagers need to be educated on the dangers of starting random veld fires.

It’s high time the environmental chiefs step up.

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) needs to step up and raise awareness against veld fires.

They should educate the public on how to put fire guards.

There is also need for the EMA to educate people on how to put out fire, whenever it starts, before it spreads.

There is need for communities to train people and provide equipment needed, to extinguish these fires, when they start.

As we noticed, most veld fires are a result of human actions, which can be easily controlled.

Offenders should be prosecuted and handed sentences, which would send a message to would-be offenders.

It’s our responsibility to protect our vegetation and animals by avoiding veld fires. Reckless citizens behind such acts need to be whipped into line, albeit legally.

Let’s all join hands and save the environment and vegetation from veld fires.