Report fire and smoke on sight

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - As the Western Cape enters a drier and hotter season, CapeNature has asked the public to report any fire and smoke as soon as they notice it.

It can be reported by dialling 112 from a cellphone or 10177 from a landline.

CapeNature responded to 70 wildfires from April 2022 to March 2023, which burned nearly 28 000 hectares. Over the same period in the 2021/2022 year, they responded to 87 fires which burned almost 30 000 hectares.

CapeNature said in a media statement on 13 October that it was able to contain 28,6% of fires where less than 10 hectares were burned and 64,2% where less than 100 hectares were burned.

According to CapeNature CEO Dr Razeena Omar, maintaining the low area burned was a significant accomplishment for CapeNature.

It was made possible through its excellent partner relations and the Large-Scale Rapid Initial Attack Approach (Lasria). Using this approach, all fires are responded to promptly and are fought with all available resources and personnel.

The response is handled in such a way that the fire does not become an extended duration fire that lasts many days and requires many resources. Omar said the public's role in the success cannot be emphasised enough.

"By alerting the relevant authorities quickly, the public helps them to respond to a fire before it becomes larger, increasing the chances of success, saving money, infrastructure and potentially even lives. Lasria can mean the difference between minor damage and total devastation. We appeal to the public to report smoke and fire the moment it is detected."

Practise fire safety

The public can also help by practising fire safety. Open fires, especially during hot, dry windy days, are a common cause of uncontrolled fires.

This can be prevented by using only designated fireplaces and facilities, never leaving a burning or smouldering fire unattended, avoiding starting a fire when it is hot and dry and to not start fires next to roads and passes.

54,5% of fires started by people

Of the fires responded to by CapeNature in the 2022/23 fire season, 44,6% started in CapeNature protected areas and the remaining 65,4% ignited in mountain catchment areas and on private land.

A total of 54,5% of fires was started by people, either through negligence or on purpose (braai and warming fires, fireworks, negligent or intentional ignitions), 10,4% was started by mechanical means (machinery, vehicles, trains, welding, weapons, brush cutters, powerlines) and 1,3% through prescribed burning practices.

Devastating

Fire can have a devastating effect on our natural resources. CapeNature manages more than 800 000 hectares of protected areas in the Western Cape. Most of this is part of the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site. It is recognised as one of the most special places in the world for plants due to the diversity, density and number of endemic plant and animal species.

"Fynbos plants, such as proteas, need fire to stimulate them to release their seeds which then germinate into new plants," said Omar.

"However, many fynbos plants need more time to mature and set seed between fires and may be eliminated from these protected areas because of increased fire frequencies. CapeNature appeals to the public to play their part in protecting our unique and special biodiversity."