Cape Town: The city has seen a steady increase in vegetation fires over the past few years, whereas the Fire and Rescue Service of City of Cape Town and its partners came all out to ensure an effective response. The residents along the urban edge too have a duty of care to ensure adequate buffer zones around their properties.
Reportedly, the Fire and Rescue Service recorded 5,331 vegetation fires from October 2021 to January 2022. The number increased to 7,190 during the same period, that represented an increase of 35%.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that the past summer was a massive drain on resources, especially in the south peninsula.
Smith stated that the playbook of City of Cape Town for vegetation fires, is quite well established. He confirmed that they are constantly looking to see how they can expand on those resources and existing plans.
According to him, it is important to acknowledge that the public is also playing a vital role in this. Living on the urban edge comes with great responsibility and property owners, ensuring that their properties are safeguarded in the event of fire. This responsibility also extends to ensure that they are not responsible for starting a fire.
Besides ensuring this the fire breaks comply with the National Veld and Forest Fire Act 101 of 1998. According to which, property owners can further extend the buffer zone around their homes by:
- Managing fuel loads, by controlling invasive alien plants and trees in their fire break and also on their property.
- Clear dry leaves, weeds and pine needles from roofs and gutters, on regular basis.
- By removing dead branches hanging over roofs and keeping branches at least 3-metres away from chimneys.
- Trim trees regularly and keep the grass short.
- Keep patio furniture, firewood etc. away from vegetation, so it doesn’t harm it.
- Remove the vegetation or other materials that could catch fire from underneath or around decks.
- Ensuring fire hydrants that are accessible everytime in the event of a fire
Referring to this, an advisory has been released that says, if fire occurs, the residents should close their windows to mitigate the risk of smoke or embers, entering inside the home. After that, damp down the garden if there is an immediate threat to their property but most importantly, abide by any evacuation instructions from emergency personnel.
Moreover, the residents are advised to keep a ‘go’ bag always ready with them, just in case they need to evacuate and to consider alternative sheltering arrangements for their pets in such instances.
Some of the items to consider for a ‘go’ bag are any prescription medication and spectacles, important documentation, cellphone and charger, a change of clothing, personal hygiene items and infant formula or things, if there are young children too in the home.
Alderman JP Smith further added to his statement that they need everyone to be on high alert, also the ones living on the urban edge. He asked the public in general that they will report any kind of signs related to fire, no matter how big or small.
Smith requested the citizens not to assume that someone else has made the call. Not even when if it is very windy or hot, don’t make fires in such areas where it is clearly prohibited or work with flammable materials. Fire prevention is the ultimate goal. It starts with all of us and every citizen of Cape Town is responsible for this initiative.