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30 June 2023
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Garden Route: 8 000 hectares more veld and mountain fires burned over the past 12-months
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Throughout the past municipal calendar year, spanning from July 2022 to June 2023, the Garden Route District, including Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland, has witnessed several wildfires. Deon Stoffels, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) chief fire officer, says a staggering 82 fires, including several wildfires, have burned in the region since July 2022, leaving 23 848 hectares of land burned. Comparatively, although the previous year saw three additional wildfires between July 2021 and June 2022, the extent of the damage was slightly lower, with approximately 14 500 hectares consumed.
“It remains a priority for us to continue to address this concerning trend and prioritise fire management and prevention strategies to safeguard communities,” said CFO Stoffels.
The major areas most affected by the past year’s wildfires included the Rooiberg Mountains in Van Wyksdorp, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn and Molenrivier (N9 South) in the George area. The primary cause of these wildfires was due to lightning strikes, which are typically prevalent during the January and February months.
CFO Stoffels said, “On one particular day, we experienced seven lightning-induced wildfires”. He says fire fighters swiftly responded to this critical situation by deploying rapid aerial fire fighting techniques, successfully suppressing three of these fires. “We were able to suppress the remaining wildfires through a combination of ground and aerial fire fighting.”
CFO Stoffels also pointed to November 2022, when a significant fire outbreak occurred in the Hessequa municipal area. “This incident was triggered by a permitted fire that escalated beyond control. During this time of the year, late October and November, the Hessequa area is prone to experience gusty and rapidly changing winds, which proved to be a challenge GRDM fire fighters have since learned from.”
Proactive measures, education and risk reduction measures
The top priority of GRDM’s Fire and Rescue Services Unit remains to implement proactive and preventative fire management strategies. Public education initiatives are central to this, which forms part of their risk reduction measures.
According to CFO Stoffels, the Fire Danger Index (FDI) provided by the South African Weather Services, plays a crucial role in assessing risks and guiding planning and preparation efforts. “We urge all landowners to consult with the Local and District Fire Services, as well as the Fire Protection Association, to obtain expert advice on reducing fire risks,” said Stoffels.
“Adequate measures such as maintaining firebreaks, clearing alien vegetation and ensuring safe prescribed burning practices are essential components of fire prevention.”
Regarding the implementation of firebreaks, the District is actively seeking funding to establish and maintain them on its properties. However, all local municipal areas already have fire management systems, including permitted burning systems, aimed at reducing risks and supporting ecological and agricultural objectives.
GRDM places significant emphasis on enhancing its rapid response capabilities, including the deployment of aerial fire fighting resources. This method has proven highly effective in dealing with remote and inaccessible wildfires. The measures prevent such incidents from escalating into large-scale and destructive events.
An important number to save: The emergency call centre of GRDM is linked to all the emergency call centres of the region and operates 24/7, 365 days a year: dial 044 805 5071 to report any fire incident.
Source: Garden Route District Municipality
“It remains a priority for us to continue to address this concerning trend and prioritise fire management and prevention strategies to safeguard communities,” said CFO Stoffels.
The major areas most affected by the past year’s wildfires included the Rooiberg Mountains in Van Wyksdorp, the Swartberg Mountains in Oudtshoorn and Molenrivier (N9 South) in the George area. The primary cause of these wildfires was due to lightning strikes, which are typically prevalent during the January and February months.
CFO Stoffels said, “On one particular day, we experienced seven lightning-induced wildfires”. He says fire fighters swiftly responded to this critical situation by deploying rapid aerial fire fighting techniques, successfully suppressing three of these fires. “We were able to suppress the remaining wildfires through a combination of ground and aerial fire fighting.”
CFO Stoffels also pointed to November 2022, when a significant fire outbreak occurred in the Hessequa municipal area. “This incident was triggered by a permitted fire that escalated beyond control. During this time of the year, late October and November, the Hessequa area is prone to experience gusty and rapidly changing winds, which proved to be a challenge GRDM fire fighters have since learned from.”
Proactive measures, education and risk reduction measures
The top priority of GRDM’s Fire and Rescue Services Unit remains to implement proactive and preventative fire management strategies. Public education initiatives are central to this, which forms part of their risk reduction measures.
According to CFO Stoffels, the Fire Danger Index (FDI) provided by the South African Weather Services, plays a crucial role in assessing risks and guiding planning and preparation efforts. “We urge all landowners to consult with the Local and District Fire Services, as well as the Fire Protection Association, to obtain expert advice on reducing fire risks,” said Stoffels.
“Adequate measures such as maintaining firebreaks, clearing alien vegetation and ensuring safe prescribed burning practices are essential components of fire prevention.”
Regarding the implementation of firebreaks, the District is actively seeking funding to establish and maintain them on its properties. However, all local municipal areas already have fire management systems, including permitted burning systems, aimed at reducing risks and supporting ecological and agricultural objectives.
GRDM places significant emphasis on enhancing its rapid response capabilities, including the deployment of aerial fire fighting resources. This method has proven highly effective in dealing with remote and inaccessible wildfires. The measures prevent such incidents from escalating into large-scale and destructive events.
An important number to save: The emergency call centre of GRDM is linked to all the emergency call centres of the region and operates 24/7, 365 days a year: dial 044 805 5071 to report any fire incident.
Source: Garden Route District Municipality