Play your role in veld fire management

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 implications on carbon stocks and emissions, wildlife habitat, human health and life as well as livelihoods.
1. Schoolchildren
l Immediately report the fire incident to adults.
l Do not attempt to cross over fires, “crossing over a veld fire result in fatalities”.
l Do not try to extinguish a veld fire in the absence of adults.
l Never climb trees in the direction of a veld fire instead run away from the veld fire.
2. People waiting for buses
l Completely extinguish side road fires they use to keep themselves warm whilst waiting for transport/buses.
l Ensure that all the glowing splints and burning charcoal are completely extinguished using water or burying with moist soil.
3. Smokers
l Use ash trays to place cigarette stubs.
4. Bee Smokers/Farmers
l Seek advice from Forestry Commission and EMA on better methods of honey extraction instead of using open fires.
5. Motorists
l Put off your cigarette stubs and use ashtrays if you smoke to avoid veld fires.
l Stop and assist in putting out fire and always travel with a fire extinguisher/fire beater.
l Service your car’s electrical system and tighten any loose mechanical parts such as the exhaust to avoid veld fires emanating from sparks so created after getting in contact with the grass on the road servitude as you drive.
l Report veld fires to the nearest police station or road block or EMA offices.
6. Traditional leaders
l Establish firefighting teams to put off uncontrolled veld fires in every village.
l Hold fire awareness campaign meetings with communities throughout the fire season
l Use cultural ways of punishing veld fire offenders as a way of upholding norms and values of their areas.
l Keep a record of all veld fires that occurred in their areas.
7. Rural District Councils
l Establish an environmental committee to oversee environmental issues including veld fires
l Establish environmental sub-committees which are chaired by a councillor in a given ward or wards.
l Appoint an environmental monitor together with EMA, in each district to monitor fire issues and identify offenders.
l Establish fighting teams in every ward through environmental committees.
l Report all veld fire incidences within seven days to the police, Rural District Council and Environmental Management Agency through Environmental committees and sub-committees.
8. Farmers/Property Owners
l Construct standard fireguards which are at least 9m wide on boundaries and at least 4,5m wide for internal fire guards on your properties during the months of May and June every year before the fire season.
l Keep bowsers and knapsacks filled with water throughout the fire season.
l Keep firefighting equipment at an accessible central point.
l Use either ox-drawn ploughs, tractors or hoes to construct fireguards.
l Inspect fireguards regularly to make sure that they are free of any material that burns.
l Ensure that firefighting equipment is in place, bowers/knapsack sprayers filled with water during the fire season.
l Report all fire incidences to the nearest ZRP or EMA offices within seven days.
WE ARE NOW IN THE FIRE SEASON, DO NOT START FIRES.
Do not let your dreams go up in smoke — be firewise.