Managing veld fires

their properties.
Fire, as part of natural process has a positive role in the vegetation structure and composition, and helps recycle nutrients contained in old and dead trees.
There is, however, concern that the frequency, extent and pattern of burning are increasing due to human activities.
It is a fact that the damage from these fires has grown to outweigh the benefits of fire on the ecosystem.
Frequent burning has implication on carbon stocks and emissions, wildlife habitat, human health and life as well as livelihoods.
Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 as read with Environmental Management Act (CAP 20:27), no person is allowed to light a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the period July 31 to October 31 of each year.
The causes of veld fires
There are several factors that cause veld fires but most are human ignitions resulting from:
l Reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs
l Smoking out of bees for honey harvesting
l Lighting fires at road servitude while waiting for early morning buses
l Land clearing
l Hunting
l Deliberate lighting of fires/arson
l Children playing with matches
l Improper household ash disposal
Effects of veld fires
Veld fires lead to severe environmental degradation. More specifically, veld fires reduce land cover thus exposing the land to agents of accelerated soil erosion, changes in the hydrological cycle, increase in overland flow or surface run off and modifications in various ecological processes.
Soil erosion leads to the siltation of rivers and dams, thus reducing their water carrying capacity. This is likely to induce floods in lowlying areas.
Veld fires destroy plantations, crops and pastures. In Zimbabwe, it is now commonly agreed that veld fires are a single significant threat to national economic recovery plans as they are destroying not only pastures necessary for the restocking exercise, but they are also destroying foreign currency generation plantations.
Food security may be compromised as the last few years have seen fires burning wheat farms, maize fields among other valuables.
How do I know that a fire might occur?
It is normally your dry season. You experience very hot conditions. There is a lot of potential fuel (e.g. dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass). You can clearly see long dry grass and plants. There are moderate to strong winds present.
Veld fire trends
A total of 347 356 hectares has been cumulatively burnt to date, while during the same period in 2011 about 209 000ha was burnt.
Veld fires and stakeholders
Each person or institution has a role to play in the fight against veld fires and the following can be of importance to prevent veld fires, destruction of the environment as well as loss of life and property.
Schoolchildren
In the event that schoolchildren come across fire: Quickly report the incident to any nearby adult person. Do not attempt to cross over fire, “crossing over fire may result in fatalities”.
Do not try to extinguish a veld fire on your own. Move away from the veld fire and never ever try to climb trees in the direction of a veld fire
Bus passengers
Travelling can at times be done during odd hours when the weather is very cold especially in the rural areas. These conditions make passengers make a fire at the bus stop for warmth.
Therefore, before leaving make sure you completely extinguish the fire. Make sure all the glowing splints and burning coal are completely extinguished using water.
Put on warm clothes because history has shown that most road fires are left unattended.
Bee smokers
Use other methods of extracting honey, which does not involve use of fire. Seek advice from the Forestry Commission.
Motorists
Put off cigarette stubs and use ashtrays. Assist in fire fighting and always travel with a fire extinguisher. Service car electrical and mechanical systems to avoid sparks, which can cause veld fires.
Traditional leaders
Have firefighting teams to put off uncontrolled veld fires in your areas of jurisdiction.
Carry out fire awareness campaigns throughout the fire season. Use cultural ways of punishing those who cause veld fires.
Rural District Councils
Establish an environmental committee to oversee environmental issues and subcommittees, which are chaired by a councillor in a given ward or wards.
Appoint an environmental monitor in the district in conjunction with EMA. Ensure that there are firefighting committees in these various wards.
Report all veld fire incidences within seven working days to EMA or ZRP.
What Farmers/Property owners need to know?
Fire prevention is the best option to minimise risks associated with veld fires. This can be achieved through establishment and maintenance of fireguards.
Fireguards are designed to provide access and a safe environment for the fire fighting teams to implement controlled burning and effectively manage wildfires.
The existing roads and tracks also provide the foundation to implement fire management activities.
Construct standard fireguards, which are at least 9m wide on boundaries and internal fire guards, which should be at least 4,5m wide.
Fireguards can be constructed by ploughing using ox-drawn ploughs or tractors, disking, hoeing.
Always inspect your fireguards to make sure that they are free of any material that burns.
Fireguards are important because they break fire by removing the fuel load from the fire triangle.
Ensure that firefighting equipment is in place, bowsers/knapsack sprayers filled with water during the fire season.
Report all fire incidences to the nearest ZRP or EMA offices within seven working days.
Always listen to the weather personnel on the fire danger index.
If only the above stakeholders could take heed of the above advice, EMA hopes and trusts that there will be reduction in the occurrences of veld fires in the country.
Reduction of veld fire management is therefore, everyone’s responsibility, so play your part.
Please talk to us we are always ready to listen.
l Email: [email protected], 04 305543/Tollfree 08080028