chill weather conditions

Working on Fire (WOF) Programme announced its state of readiness for the winter fire season which started on 1 June. Photo: Working On Fire/Facebook

BEWARE of fires during EXTREME chilly weather conditions

Gauteng and Ventusky both plot a dramatic decline, with the chilly weather conditions coming into force overnight on Wednesday.

chill weather conditions

Working on Fire (WOF) Programme announced its state of readiness for the winter fire season which started on 1 June. Photo: Working On Fire/Facebook

Communities and landowners are urged to remain vigilant and protect themselves and their properties from the potential devastation of wildfires and heating devises with extremely chilly weather conditions expected from Wednesday.

WORKING ON FIRE READY FOR FIRE SEASON

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Working on Fire (WOF) Programme announced its state of readiness for the winter fire season which started on 1 June.

Over 4000 firefighters and their managers are stationed at 160 bases across the north of the country. 

All firefighters completed their Annual Yellow Card Training Camps in April and May and have been declared fit and ready for the winter fire season.

The Working on Fire programme has also deployed 10 helicopters and 9 fixed-wing spotter planes together with 26 pilots to provide aerial firefighting support to its ground crews. 

As needed, aerial firefighting resources have been made available to various Fire Protection Associations.

During extreme chilly weather conditions may residents use heating devices that are a fire threat when not attended to. Community members are warned to be extremely careful to avoid their houses or property burning down.

Working on Fire is already assisting partners and landowners to ready for the winter fire season through its Integrated Fire Management Services (IFMS).

“As the winter fire season is in full swing we appeal to community members to remove overgrown vegetation on their properties, which can pose a serious fire risk. Properties next to grasslands need to ensure there are sufficient fire breaks between their properties and these grasslands,”

said Minister Barbara Creecy. 

COMMUNITIES LOST HOMES AND PROPERTIES

Scientists across the world have warned that as a result of climate change and global warming, fire seasons are becoming longer, and more extreme. 

The department added that our country is no exception as has been seen by the late-season fire which affected the Somerset West area last week. 

“Allow me to take this opportunity to express my solidarity to all families and communities that lost homes and property in the devastating fire last week,”

said Creecy.

The Working on Fire Programme is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and is funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment. 

Meanwhile, in September 2021, the Programme celebrated 18 years of existence and employed more than 5000 young people, mostly from underprivileged communities. 

Furthermore, the department said youth living with disabilities are trained as store persons and are part of the teams stationed on more than 160 bases throughout South Africa.

ALSO READ: ‘Big freeze’: Powerful cold front heading to Gauteng on Wednesday

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