KZN braces for potentially devastating fire season this winter

Experts are urging all the relevant stakeholders to brace themselves for the fire season, which is expected to be devastating this winter. On the heels of heavy downpours earlier this week, KwaZulu-Natal, which is highly prone to natural disasters, has now been cautioned to anticipate and prepare for veld fires during fire season. KZN Fire Protection Association general manager Simon Thomas said proactive veld fire prevention must remain a top priority for all landowners, managers, municipalities, and other stakeholders.

“One of the most effective, and legally required measures, is the preparation and maintenance of firebreaks [a gap or barrier that is created to stop or slow the spread of a fire, such as cleared strips of land, roads, or trenches],” Thomas said. He added that, in terms of South Africa’s National Veld and Forest Fire Act, every landowner has a duty to ensure firebreaks are in place along property boundaries to reduce the risk of fire spreading to neighbouring land. Effective firebreaks are not just about compliance, they are about risk mitigation, collaboration, and readiness.” Thomas said that one must remember that firebreaks must be wide and long enough to slow or stop the spread of fire, free of combustible material, and designed to avoid soil erosion.

“Preparation is not a once-off task, it is an ongoing responsibility that requires coordination, planning, and adherence to FPA regulations,” he said. Midlands EMS spokesperson Roland Robertson said the organisation is fully prepared for the upcoming season as predictions for dry and potentially high-risk fires continue to grow. He said that, along with their own fire suppression and rescue unit, he is confident that other fire services are adequately preparing to ensure that they can respond effectively.