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12 December 2025
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Featured FRI Magazine article: So, who is responsible for managing veldfires in the urban interface? Part four: Fire suppression plans for the urban interface by Zane Erasmus
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Aerial fire fighting resources are highly effective in the VUI
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https://www.frimedia.org/uploads/1/2/2/7/122743954/fri_vol_3_no_10.pdf
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: So, who is responsible for managing veldfires in the urban interface? Part four: Fire suppression plans for the urban interface written by Zane Erasmus, independent environmental consultant (FRI Vol 3 no 10). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.
So, who is responsible for managing veldfires in the urban interface? Part four: Fire suppression plans for the urban interface
By Zane Erasmus, independent environmental consultant
This section of the integrated veldfire management plan (IVMP) prepares the fire manager for the wildfires that burn under severe conditions and that despite all the proactive prevention and protection actions taken by the fire manager, spread to and threaten dwellings and very often communities resident and working in them. Wildfires within the veldfire urban interface (VUI) are generally more complex and fraught with dangers and challenges not normally confronting the fire manager in conventional wildfire situations. William Teie (2009) in chapter 9 of the South African Edition of Fire Managers Handbook for Veld and Forest Fires, extensively covers the technical aspects of fire suppression within the VUI.
As in all fire suppression plans the emphasis is on early detection, rapid response and the safety of firefighting personnel. There are, however, a number of considerations that are unique to VUIs and need to be included in the suppression plan.
The safety of the resident community should be foremost in the mind of the VUI fire manager. If there is any indication that people or animals are at risk, then the need for evacuation would have to be planned. Evacuation operations can impede fire suppression procedures so it is better to arrange an evacuation in advance as opposed to when it is too late. Normally only police officers or fire brigade chiefs have the authority to order an evacuation. The fire manager, however, can request or recommend it. It is thus prudent in many cases to practice on the side of caution and arrange for a safe evacuation well in advance before it is likely that the community is at risk. Remember, it is not only the risk of fire but in many cases, the thick plumes of smoke that can affect people, particularly the elderly, young, infirm and asthmatic.
IVMPs need to include detailed plans of when, where and how an evacuation is to take place. Teie (2009) even goes so far as to state, “don’t call for an evacuation if you don’t have a plan”.
Despite the best intentions, there are seldom adequate resources to protect all the buildings threatened in a runaway wildfire. Incident commanders need to make decisions regarding which buildings to save and which to neglect. In an uncontrolled wildfire in the VUI it becomes necessary to prioritise which structures can be saved. A structure triage system is then activated to ensure that available resources are utilised effectively. There are essentially three types of structures in a triage situation:
There are a large number of utility departments involved in the management of municipalities. Cognisance needs to be taken of the role that the electricity, traffic and water departments have to play in an emergency incident.
Aerial firefighting resources are highly effective in the VUI, particularly if used as a rapid response unit. There are, however, a few considerations to bear in mind when using aircraft. Firstly, whilst effective, aircraft are incredibly expensive and can have a major impact on financial resources and can very soon deplete fire management budgets. Secondly, they can also be extremely dangerous. Aircraft operating at low level, in poor visibility, with high temperatures and strong wind over residential areas, do increase the risk to the public. It is essential therefore that aerial firefighting companies that are contracted to provide firefighting services only operate in terms of a jointly approved standard operating procedure (SOP). SOPs should be drafted to ensure that operations are conducted safely, uniformly and cost effectively. The contract should also include training exercise opportunities for all crew and staff involved in aerial suppression operations.
Whilst the foregoing all looks good on paper, in practice IVMPs are not standard procedure in all VUI’s in South Africa. The question invariably is, ‘Who takes responsibility for drafting the IVMP’? In South Africa, we have an abundance of legislation covering the management of wildfires. The two most applicable National Acts within the VUI are the NVFFA and the Fire Brigades Services Act (FBSA). The FBSA allows municipalities to primarily establish a fire brigade service for the following purposes:
The primary responsibility for drafting the IVMP would thus lie predominantly with the local authority, or municipality. In practice, however, since more than one landowner is involved, the IVMP should ideally be a joint effort of all stakeholders involved. Again, this may seem to look good on paper but it does answer the question originally posed. Who is responsible for managing wildfires in the urban interface? The answer is: everybody. Everybody has a role to play in terms of either the NVFFA, or the FBSA. The municipality has the overriding accountability in terms of leading, guiding or setting up the IVMP but every landowner, fire protection association member and even community member, has a role to play in ‘managing wildfires’.
True integrated fire management means that all organisations are unified in the common wildfire management objective. The litmus test to determine if integrated wildfire management does indeed take place is simply to break down fire management expenditure into the various activities. If most of the expenditure is spent on fire suppression, then chances are that inadequate attention may have been given to fire prevention and protection exercises. The VUI fire manager is invariably answerable to shareholders or ratepayers and would need to justify expenditure in all operations.
A fact to be borne in mind is that integrated wildfire management, if planned correctly, should provide a wealth of job opportunities desperately needed in this country. Fire management operations remain labour intensive and the construction of adequate firebreaks, the eradication of woody invader plant species and fuel reduction burns, if planned for and carried out regularly, are year round full time activities that cannot be overlooked.
Wildfire management in the VUI is a complex issue and readers may be tempted to write to the editor to point out shortcomings in this series. Fact is that a series like this can never cover all the detailed aspects of wildfire management in the VUI. The Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University have included a module, Veldfire Management in the Urban Interface, in their Higher Certificate in Veldfire Management course. At the same time they offer a 3 to 5 day course as part of their short course programmes. This is a nationally accredited course set at NQF Level 5. Parties interested in attending a course can direct enquiries to the author or to Tiaan Pool at [email protected].
The last 15 to 20 years in South Africa has witnessed encouraging progress and development in the wildfire management sector. We’ve seen the introduction of the NVFFA, incident command systems, Working on Fire, the widespread registration of FPAs just to mention some of the advances that have impacted on wildfire management in the VUI.
One of the most inspiring has been the development of the FireWise Communities Programme, an initiative that has achieved local solutions for wildfire safety in the VUI. Various projects involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, fire fighters and others have been involved at various centres throughout the country. Readers can learn more online by visiting their web site www.firewisesa.org.za.
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: So, who is responsible for managing veldfires in the urban interface? Part four: Fire suppression plans for the urban interface written by Zane Erasmus, independent environmental consultant (FRI Vol 3 no 10). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.
So, who is responsible for managing veldfires in the urban interface? Part four: Fire suppression plans for the urban interface
By Zane Erasmus, independent environmental consultant
This section of the integrated veldfire management plan (IVMP) prepares the fire manager for the wildfires that burn under severe conditions and that despite all the proactive prevention and protection actions taken by the fire manager, spread to and threaten dwellings and very often communities resident and working in them. Wildfires within the veldfire urban interface (VUI) are generally more complex and fraught with dangers and challenges not normally confronting the fire manager in conventional wildfire situations. William Teie (2009) in chapter 9 of the South African Edition of Fire Managers Handbook for Veld and Forest Fires, extensively covers the technical aspects of fire suppression within the VUI.
As in all fire suppression plans the emphasis is on early detection, rapid response and the safety of firefighting personnel. There are, however, a number of considerations that are unique to VUIs and need to be included in the suppression plan.
The safety of the resident community should be foremost in the mind of the VUI fire manager. If there is any indication that people or animals are at risk, then the need for evacuation would have to be planned. Evacuation operations can impede fire suppression procedures so it is better to arrange an evacuation in advance as opposed to when it is too late. Normally only police officers or fire brigade chiefs have the authority to order an evacuation. The fire manager, however, can request or recommend it. It is thus prudent in many cases to practice on the side of caution and arrange for a safe evacuation well in advance before it is likely that the community is at risk. Remember, it is not only the risk of fire but in many cases, the thick plumes of smoke that can affect people, particularly the elderly, young, infirm and asthmatic.
IVMPs need to include detailed plans of when, where and how an evacuation is to take place. Teie (2009) even goes so far as to state, “don’t call for an evacuation if you don’t have a plan”.
Despite the best intentions, there are seldom adequate resources to protect all the buildings threatened in a runaway wildfire. Incident commanders need to make decisions regarding which buildings to save and which to neglect. In an uncontrolled wildfire in the VUI it becomes necessary to prioritise which structures can be saved. A structure triage system is then activated to ensure that available resources are utilised effectively. There are essentially three types of structures in a triage situation:
- Fire proofed building that have adequate defensible space and need little or no protection
- Inflammable buildings, that have no defensible space, and need protection, and can possibly be saved;
- Buildings that are highly inflammable, surrounded by dense vegetation and dry fuels and even though not burning already, are as good as lost. Resources used to protect these structures will be wasted, or, be unnecessarily exposed to extreme danger.
There are a large number of utility departments involved in the management of municipalities. Cognisance needs to be taken of the role that the electricity, traffic and water departments have to play in an emergency incident.
Aerial firefighting resources are highly effective in the VUI, particularly if used as a rapid response unit. There are, however, a few considerations to bear in mind when using aircraft. Firstly, whilst effective, aircraft are incredibly expensive and can have a major impact on financial resources and can very soon deplete fire management budgets. Secondly, they can also be extremely dangerous. Aircraft operating at low level, in poor visibility, with high temperatures and strong wind over residential areas, do increase the risk to the public. It is essential therefore that aerial firefighting companies that are contracted to provide firefighting services only operate in terms of a jointly approved standard operating procedure (SOP). SOPs should be drafted to ensure that operations are conducted safely, uniformly and cost effectively. The contract should also include training exercise opportunities for all crew and staff involved in aerial suppression operations.
Whilst the foregoing all looks good on paper, in practice IVMPs are not standard procedure in all VUI’s in South Africa. The question invariably is, ‘Who takes responsibility for drafting the IVMP’? In South Africa, we have an abundance of legislation covering the management of wildfires. The two most applicable National Acts within the VUI are the NVFFA and the Fire Brigades Services Act (FBSA). The FBSA allows municipalities to primarily establish a fire brigade service for the following purposes:
- Prevent the outbreak or spread of fire
- Fight and extinguish fires
- Protect life or property against fire or other threatening danger
- Rescue of life or property
The primary responsibility for drafting the IVMP would thus lie predominantly with the local authority, or municipality. In practice, however, since more than one landowner is involved, the IVMP should ideally be a joint effort of all stakeholders involved. Again, this may seem to look good on paper but it does answer the question originally posed. Who is responsible for managing wildfires in the urban interface? The answer is: everybody. Everybody has a role to play in terms of either the NVFFA, or the FBSA. The municipality has the overriding accountability in terms of leading, guiding or setting up the IVMP but every landowner, fire protection association member and even community member, has a role to play in ‘managing wildfires’.
True integrated fire management means that all organisations are unified in the common wildfire management objective. The litmus test to determine if integrated wildfire management does indeed take place is simply to break down fire management expenditure into the various activities. If most of the expenditure is spent on fire suppression, then chances are that inadequate attention may have been given to fire prevention and protection exercises. The VUI fire manager is invariably answerable to shareholders or ratepayers and would need to justify expenditure in all operations.
A fact to be borne in mind is that integrated wildfire management, if planned correctly, should provide a wealth of job opportunities desperately needed in this country. Fire management operations remain labour intensive and the construction of adequate firebreaks, the eradication of woody invader plant species and fuel reduction burns, if planned for and carried out regularly, are year round full time activities that cannot be overlooked.
Wildfire management in the VUI is a complex issue and readers may be tempted to write to the editor to point out shortcomings in this series. Fact is that a series like this can never cover all the detailed aspects of wildfire management in the VUI. The Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University have included a module, Veldfire Management in the Urban Interface, in their Higher Certificate in Veldfire Management course. At the same time they offer a 3 to 5 day course as part of their short course programmes. This is a nationally accredited course set at NQF Level 5. Parties interested in attending a course can direct enquiries to the author or to Tiaan Pool at [email protected].
The last 15 to 20 years in South Africa has witnessed encouraging progress and development in the wildfire management sector. We’ve seen the introduction of the NVFFA, incident command systems, Working on Fire, the widespread registration of FPAs just to mention some of the advances that have impacted on wildfire management in the VUI.
One of the most inspiring has been the development of the FireWise Communities Programme, an initiative that has achieved local solutions for wildfire safety in the VUI. Various projects involving homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, fire fighters and others have been involved at various centres throughout the country. Readers can learn more online by visiting their web site www.firewisesa.org.za.