WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Although the summer fire season officially starts on 1 December, the Western Cape has already experienced many multi-day fires since November 2017. 

This year's worst winter fire saw more than 1 000 firefighters assisting partners in suppressing 40 fires, limiting the area burnt to just under 42 405 hectares. 

Amidst the ongoing drought experienced across the country, a rough fire season may be in store for the Western Cape.

Working on Fire (WoF) Acting General Manager Felicia Ngwasheng says, "The partnerships between the Department of Environmental Affairs' (DEA) Working on Fire, the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, the fire protection associations and landowners like SANParks and CapeNature, has seen an intense integrated approach to fire management and suppression over the past few months. 

"The past winter season was by far the most challenging due to the devastating fires experienced in the Cape Peninsula and Southern Cape region."

WoF, funded by DEA, plays a key role in providing support to both aerial and ground crew during fires. 

"WoF provides aid to protecting and sustaining the economy through its Integrated Fire Management Services," says Trevor Abrahams, managing director of WoF.

In the 2016/17 Western Cape summer fire season, WoF was instrumental in the suppression of 205 fires through its ground and aerial resources, limiting the areas burnt to 259 309 hectares. 

Firefighting aircraft spent 950 flying hours.

During the upcoming fire season, WoF will make the following resources available to district municipalities, landowners and fire protection associations (FPAs):

Ground Resources:

• More than 700 fully trained and super-fit firefighters based at 27 bases across the Western Cape;
• Additional firefighters and five fire trucks from the Free State and Eastern Cape will be based in the Western Cape during the summer fire season;
• National teams on standby across the country, to be deployed to the Western Cape should the need arise.

The WoF programme has set an international platform for their firefighters. WoF firefighters and drivers recently underwent their respective Yellow Card training to ensure that they are fully equipped, fit and ready for the 2017/18 summer fire season.

Aerial Resources:
A total of 26 aircraft (12 helicopters, four fixed wing air tractor bombers and 10 spotters) will be based in Bredasdorp, George, Denneoord, Knysna, Porterville, Newlands and Stellenbosch. 

This additional air support was made possible through a partnership with the Western Cape Provincial Government.

Community Safety Tips

• Communities are urged to be more vigilant during this fire season;
• Do not to start unnecessary fires, particularly on dry days;
• Remove unnecessary rubble on your property which can pose a serious fire risk;
• There needs to be sufficient fire breaks between properties and abutting grasslands;
• Cut down overhanging tree branches close to your property;
• Clean your gutters, as the leaves that end up in these gutters can pose a fire risk;
• Ensure that you have the contact details of your local fire authorities at hand in case of a fire emergency;
• Plan an evacuation route;
• Stay up to date with weather reports on TV, radio or social media;
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers;
• Make sure your property street number is visible from the road;
•  Keep important papers and medication in a ready-to-go small suitcase;
• Be aware of places on your property that offer protection in times of fire, such as brick or concrete patios, swimming pools, brick or concrete driveways, and concrete or stone walls that can deflect some of the heat of a fire;
• Have torches and a number of fire extinguishers available and make sure they are working;
• Have a supply of drinking water available.

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'