FIRE SEASON
Annual guide to fire prevention, law & fighting
W
hile most of
southern Africa
has been through
a crippling
drought this year, in Gauteng
at least, decent rainfall in the
second half of the season has
meant a better-than-average
grass crop in many parts.
While this may not favourably
affect bought-in fodder prices
through the ensuing winter ~
because much of Gauteng's
fodder comes from outside
the province ~ it does mean
that smallholders should be
hard at work cutting and
storing their hay, and taking
Everything you need to know about
preventing and fighting veld fires is available
for download off our website. Or, if you don!t
have internet access, is published in the
Gauteng Smallholder!s Companion book.
Here!s how to access both sources.
the usual autumnal precautions against veld fires.
Every year around this time
the Smallholder publishes
details of what one needs to
know as a landowner about
grass fires, the law, fire
prevention and fire fighting.
All of these details are
available on our website,
www.sasmallholder.co.za, and
are downloadable. Look
under the contacts tab and
navigate to the technical
questions tab, then scroll
down the list of publications
and articles till you see the
relevant section on fires.
Among the items in the fire
management and fire laws
section are articles on:
K Steps for correct firebreak
burning
K Fence care in the fire
season
K Ploughing firebreaks if
possible
K Veld fires, firebreaks and
the National Veld & Forest
Fires Act
K Taking care of verges
K Firebreak width guidelines,
and,
K Firefighting equipment.
Alternatively, if you don't have
internet access, everything
you need to know about fires
is available in paper form in
the Gauteng Smallholder's
Companion, published in
2014. Copies are available
from selected outlets throughout Gauteng or you can order
directly from us. Simply call
12
www.sasmallholder.co.za
011 979-5088. The book
costs R180, Vat and postage
included.
Here, in summary, is what
you need to know about
fires.
Fire prevention and management is covered by the
National Veld & Forest Fires
Act of 1998.
Under the act, it is your
responsibility as a landowner
or occupier to:
K Take steps to minimise the
risk of fires occurring on, or
passing through, your
property. This means cutting
fields, driveways and verges
as short as possible and
removing the dry matter
resulting, as well as preparing
firebreaks by one means or
another (usually by ploughing
or burning.)
K If burning firebreaks,
liaising with your neighbours
to agree on a suitable date
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