As veld fire season nears, communities must stay alert. South Africa is experiencing increasingly frequent and intense veld fires, often causing severe property damage, injuries, and even fatalities.
Here’s how you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property.
If You Encounter a Veld Fire
- Report the fire: Dial 112 from your cell and ask to be directed to the local fire department.
- Do not drive into fire or smoke.
- If already in the area:
- Stop in a low vegetation zone.
- Turn off your car, switch on hazard lights and headlights.
- Stay inside with windows and vents closed; lie low under window level.
- After the fire front passes:
- If heat or fumes intensify inside, move to the already burnt ground.
- Never drive through flames or dense smoke.
- If trapped, find a safe, burned area and stay there until it’s safe.
Common Causes of Veld Fires
- Natural causes: Lightning.
- Human activity: Uncontrolled braais, illegal burning, arson.
- Weather risks: Heatwaves and strong winds worsen fires.
Now is the time to act — landowners are urged to implement fire prevention strategies as winter begins.
Firebreaks — Your First Line of Defence
Firebreaks slow or stop fire from spreading and can be made by:
- Burning (when authorised),
- Ploughing,
- Scraping or raking,
- Spraying herbicides,
- Cutting back trees to reduce fuel loads.
Firebreaks must be practical, documented with neighbours, and comply with local Fire Protection Association (FPA) rules.
What the Law Requires (Veld and Forest Fire Act No. 101 of 1998)
Property owners must:
- Join or work with a local Fire Protection Association (FPA).
- Coordinate firebreak burns with neighbours.
- Have sufficient equipment and trained personnel on site.
Planning & Implementing Firebreaks
Timing: Only burn when permitted by your FPA.
Weather Conditions:
- Wind speed: below 15 km/h,
- Humidity: above 30%,
- Moderate temperatures.
Firebreak Prep:
- Demarcate by cutting or ploughing.
- Start downwind and allow slow spread.
- Use back-burns or natural barriers when possible.
- Monitor constantly — extinguish if needed.
After the Burn
- Ensure the fire is completely out — no smouldering areas left.
- Check for re-ignition from animal dung.
- Monitor the site for at least 24 hours.
Firebreaks should be:
- Wide and long enough to stop a spreading fire.
- Maintained during fire season.
- Free from flammable waste (tyres, plastic).
- Built to prevent erosion.
How to Respond to a Fire
- Move away immediately — never ignore a fire, even if distant.
- If trapped:
- Head to a safe zone: burnt areas, roads, or non-flammable zones.
- Do not try to outrun flames if surrounded.
Get Informed, Stay Safe
Join Your Local Fire Protection Association (FPA):
- Mpumalanga Umbrella FPA (MUFPA)
- Highveld FPA (HEFPA)
Useful Resources:
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: dffe.gov.za
- Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa: library@fpasa.co.za | 011 397 1618
- Working on Fire: workingonfire.org
About Working on Fire (WOF)
Established in 2003, Working on Fire is a national programme that:
- Trains and employs ~5,000 youth across 200+ bases.
- Supports fire prevention, firefighting, and land rehabilitation.
- Collaborates with FPAs and local authorities.
WOF provides valuable training to farmers and communities in fire management.
Tips for Managing Wildfires on Your Property
- Trim trees/shrubs, clean gutters, and remove dead leaves.
- Join a community WhatsApp group or FPA for alerts.
- Save emergency contact numbers.
- Know your evacuation routes.
- Have a livestock evacuation plan.
- Stock up on emergency gear, including:
- Water sources or sand buckets,
- Protective gear and respirators,
- Fire extinguishing equipment.
Knowledge and preparation save lives. Let’s work together this season to stay firewise and fire-ready.