|
|
|
|
|
28 July 2023
|
Major fire at Biesiesvlei Waste Tyre Storage Depot in Litchtenburg, North West Province
|
|
|
|
A major fire broke out at the Biesiesvlei Waste Tyre Storage Depot in Litchtenburg, North West Province, after a veld fire spread rapidly due to strong winds, prompting immediate response from fire fighters.
The statement from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, stated, “The fire raging at Biesiesvlei Waste Tyre Storage Depot in Litchtenburg has been contained. Officials from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Waste Management Bureau are on site monitoring efforts to extinguish the blaze at its Lichtenburg Waste Tyre Depot.”
“The fire at the Waste Management Bureau's Biesiesvlei Waste Tyre Storage Depot broke out after a veld fire, assisted by strong winds, spread several kilometres on Thursday, 20 July 2023, reaching the depot at around 13h55. The fire fighters from the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality have been on site since yesterday afternoon (21 July 2023) and remain on site. Firebreaks were created to contain and control the blaze from spreading further and these managed to contain the fire at around midnight.”
“No-one has been injured and no properties have been damaged as a result of the fire spreading from the Depot.”
“The Waste Management Bureau has been leasing a 30 000 square metre portion of a farm in Biesiesvlei, North West Province, for use as a waste tyre storage depot since 1 November 2019. The Litchtenburg Waste Depot is currently operated by a third party contracted by the Waste Management Bureau.”
“In May 2023, the Department received complaints from members of the public regarding the safety of the depot and the potential risk it posed to surrounding properties. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment commissioned an investigation of the Depot in May 2023, which resulted to a number of interventions instituted as part of the process to decant the Depot. These include that:
“These interventions have assisted with emptying the depot and this no doubt assisted in the ability of the fire fighters to contain the blaze on site.”
“The Department would like to assure communities that work is continuing to create additional and wider fire breaks to ensure the fire remains contained and the remaining tyres do not pose a safety hazard. To provide a permanent solution to the potential hazard the current depot poses, the Waste Management Bureau is in discussions with the cement industry to increase the volume of tyres they use as fuel stock. This will be coupled with the development of waste tyre depots on the cement kiln’s mining land, away from communities. An announcement in this regard will be made within the next two months.”
The North Weste Umbrella Fire Protection Association’s chairperson, Eric Stoch, said in his statement, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every team involved in responding to the fire incident that occurred today at Matlwang Village of the Barolong Community, West of Ikageng, JB Marks Local Municipaility. Your swift and coordinated actions have been instrumental in containing and extinguishing the fire and preventing further devastation.”
Stoch added, “Special thanks go to Mr Julius Kgomanyane and the DFFE team for their collaboration with the NWUFPA Executive. The new modus operandi, as discussed and implemented by both parties today at Biessiesvlei after the community meeting held there, proved to be highly effective during the incident, to which I refer in this communique.
I would like to acknowledge the remarkable efforts of the Workin on Fire aerial (19 drops of water with the chopper) and ground resources. Your rapid deployment and efficient handling of the situation played a crucial role in protecting lives, livelihoods, animals and food security in the affected area. The combined efforts of the 4 FPA strike teams with skid units on the fire line, together with a large number who were on the perimeter to prevent the fire from spreading further was pivotal to the success of the operation today. Matlwang Village community members provided assistance with water buckets, branches broken off trees, hessian bags etc and the JB Marks Local Municipality Fire Brigade Service team, led by the competent and highly experienced divisional officer, as the incident commander, showcased exemplary professionalism and leadership.”
In a separate statement, Stoch said, “The burning tyre dump in Biessiesvlei has had severe consequences on the environment, agriculture, and communities. Urgent action is needed to address the immediate impact and implement long-term measures for rehabilitation and restoration.”
Sources: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, North Weste Umbrella Fire Protection Association
The statement from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, stated, “The fire raging at Biesiesvlei Waste Tyre Storage Depot in Litchtenburg has been contained. Officials from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Waste Management Bureau are on site monitoring efforts to extinguish the blaze at its Lichtenburg Waste Tyre Depot.”
“The fire at the Waste Management Bureau's Biesiesvlei Waste Tyre Storage Depot broke out after a veld fire, assisted by strong winds, spread several kilometres on Thursday, 20 July 2023, reaching the depot at around 13h55. The fire fighters from the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality have been on site since yesterday afternoon (21 July 2023) and remain on site. Firebreaks were created to contain and control the blaze from spreading further and these managed to contain the fire at around midnight.”
“No-one has been injured and no properties have been damaged as a result of the fire spreading from the Depot.”
“The Waste Management Bureau has been leasing a 30 000 square metre portion of a farm in Biesiesvlei, North West Province, for use as a waste tyre storage depot since 1 November 2019. The Litchtenburg Waste Depot is currently operated by a third party contracted by the Waste Management Bureau.”
“In May 2023, the Department received complaints from members of the public regarding the safety of the depot and the potential risk it posed to surrounding properties. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment commissioned an investigation of the Depot in May 2023, which resulted to a number of interventions instituted as part of the process to decant the Depot. These include that:
- No new tyres have been received at the site since 25 April 2023;
- Nine casual workers have been hired to restack the stockpiles of tyres and clear excess vegetation;
- A mobile baler was moved to the Depot on 4 June 2023 to bale loose passenger tyres and to create space at the depot; and
- The site has been targeted for supplying loads to processors, including the local cement kilns.”
“These interventions have assisted with emptying the depot and this no doubt assisted in the ability of the fire fighters to contain the blaze on site.”
“The Department would like to assure communities that work is continuing to create additional and wider fire breaks to ensure the fire remains contained and the remaining tyres do not pose a safety hazard. To provide a permanent solution to the potential hazard the current depot poses, the Waste Management Bureau is in discussions with the cement industry to increase the volume of tyres they use as fuel stock. This will be coupled with the development of waste tyre depots on the cement kiln’s mining land, away from communities. An announcement in this regard will be made within the next two months.”
The North Weste Umbrella Fire Protection Association’s chairperson, Eric Stoch, said in his statement, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to each and every team involved in responding to the fire incident that occurred today at Matlwang Village of the Barolong Community, West of Ikageng, JB Marks Local Municipaility. Your swift and coordinated actions have been instrumental in containing and extinguishing the fire and preventing further devastation.”
Stoch added, “Special thanks go to Mr Julius Kgomanyane and the DFFE team for their collaboration with the NWUFPA Executive. The new modus operandi, as discussed and implemented by both parties today at Biessiesvlei after the community meeting held there, proved to be highly effective during the incident, to which I refer in this communique.
I would like to acknowledge the remarkable efforts of the Workin on Fire aerial (19 drops of water with the chopper) and ground resources. Your rapid deployment and efficient handling of the situation played a crucial role in protecting lives, livelihoods, animals and food security in the affected area. The combined efforts of the 4 FPA strike teams with skid units on the fire line, together with a large number who were on the perimeter to prevent the fire from spreading further was pivotal to the success of the operation today. Matlwang Village community members provided assistance with water buckets, branches broken off trees, hessian bags etc and the JB Marks Local Municipality Fire Brigade Service team, led by the competent and highly experienced divisional officer, as the incident commander, showcased exemplary professionalism and leadership.”
In a separate statement, Stoch said, “The burning tyre dump in Biessiesvlei has had severe consequences on the environment, agriculture, and communities. Urgent action is needed to address the immediate impact and implement long-term measures for rehabilitation and restoration.”
Sources: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, North Weste Umbrella Fire Protection Association
