wildfire management
Readiness & Risk Reduction
It is important to be #WILDFIREREADY long before it happens.
Here is a comprehensive list of documents to guide you to become #wildfireready:
FIRE DANGER RATING
WHAT IS IT?
The national Fire Danger Rating System is designed to apply in 42 distinct regions each with different fire conditions. Within each region data relating to flammable fuel structure and condition (fuel models) must be specified, together with daily forecast weather data, for inputting to the fire danger model. This model is used to calculate daily forecast Fire Danger Index values. The forecast indices of fire danger are then entered into a Fire Danger Rating Table. The table classifies fire danger rating in five categories:
FDI: BEST OPERATING PRACTICES
The sole purpose of any fire danger rating system is to attempt to indicate with a rating on how things will burn or will burn in the future.
The South African Weather Services (SAWS) each day develops a rating for the day and a prediction for the following day. This is in the form of a number and associated colour coding.
This information will be e-mailed to all CPFPA members, starting from the month of December and ceases at end of April , Monday to Friday in the morning.
Due to the chance or likelihood of a fire occurring as a result of an increase in the FDI, the following activities is not recommended when the FDI exceeds 60, i.e. on Orange and Red days.
These activities include (although not limited to) the following:
- The use of brushcutters for bushclearing or maintenance of fire breaks as this can result in sparks igniting the vegetation.
- The use of chainsaws for tree felling as this can result in sparks igniting the vegetation – sparks are usually caused due to poor maintenance of the machine.
- The use of welding equipment that can also cause sparks.
- Any other ancillary equipment which is likely to cause ignition to the vegetation.
General rules to be observed:
- No open fires or gas fires for cooking will be allowed.
- No smoking other than in designated areas determined by the supervisor.
- No burning of rubbish or any other material even in containers will be allowed.
REPORTING FIRE
PLEASE REPORT ALL FIRES WITHIN THE METRO TO:
COCT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES 021 590 1900
ALTERNATIVELY;
CALL 021 480 7700 (CELL PHONE) OR 107 (TELKOM LINE)
Reporting & Response
Reporting and responding to a fire without any delay can mean the difference between minor damage and total destruction.
The public is therefore encouraged to report any signs of fire, regardless of how insignificant it may appear, to their local fire service:
City of Cape Town Fire & Rescue Services
Control Room: 021 590 1900
Alternatively: 107 (from a landline) or 021 480 7700 (from a cell phone)
for fires outside the City of Cape Town:
What information should you supply when reporting a wildfire?
Information should be as relevant as possible to ensure an immediate and prepared response from
the local fire services:
- Where is it burning?
- How do we get there? Which road, gate, farm, property etc. leads to the location?
- What is burning? Is it burning in a plantation / alien invasive vegetation, fynbos, agricultural land etc.?
- How big is the fire? Is it a new ignition / small fire, etc.?
- How quickly is it spreading? / Is the fire growing?
- What direction is the fire burning?
- What is the local weather conditions doing at the fire?
- Are there lives or property in danger?
We have compiled a response plan for landowners to follow in the event of a wildfire on his or her property:
WILDFIRE REPORTED
Contact
City Fire & Rescue Services (CTFRS)
021 590 1900
Alternative CTFRS
021 480 7700
(Mobile)
107
(Landline)
Deploy own resources and/or firefighting agent
CTFRS arrives and takes charge
Contact CPFPA
(if necessary)
Contact neighbors taking threat and resources into account
Contact Newlands Dispatch
If Helderberg WoF is required
021 689 7438/9
Landowner representative to report to IC / CTFRS Officer in charge
Comply with instructions from Incident Commander (IC)
Contact Enviro Wildfire to conduct a Wildfire Investigation if required
083 411 3378
