Fire Fighting on the farm | Product Education | AgBlogs
Fighting fire on your property.
Wildfires are a common occurrence in South Africa and being
prepared is key to avoiding costly damage to your farm or property. Being
prepared starts with more than just the tools to fight veld and wildfires. It
is important to know when your area experiences high fire danger so that you
can minimise any potential risks. You will also need to ensure that you have a
contingency plan in place so that when or if disaster strikes, you are ready.
Why is there an increased fire danger inland in the winter months and in the summer months in coastal areas in South Africa?
South
Africa can be broken up into 2 general regions. The coastal areas where the dry
season is in summer, and the inland areas where the dry season is in winter.
Due to the lack of rainfall in these areas, the grass and vegetation are dry,
increasing fire danger as fires can catch more easily in dry conditions.
Especially if there is a prevailing wind to feed it even more.
For instance, the Western Cape coastal
regions are blasted by dry conditions and strong winds in the summer
months. The prevailing vegetation in the area, known as fynbos, is highly
flammable, due to the oils contained in the plant. However, the Fynbos Biome
requires the occasional fire to regenerate and redistribute water and nutrient
resources. If these fires are controlled, the benefits to the biome are
excellent, but uncontrolled fires in the Western Cape region lead to widespread
disaster and devastation, especially in the Hangklip beach estates areas.
The inland areas are just as prone to
veld fires due to the presence of large open veld or scrublands. These dry out
in the winter months due to lack of rain in the area as previously mentioned
and uncontrolled fires in these areas are just as disastrous as getting large
fires under control is a mammoth effort.
When is the highest fire danger for each province in South Africa?
South Africa is split into 7 provinces, each with their unique
climate.
· The Western
Cape experiences a high risk of wildfires from November to April as
prevailing dry, hot and windy.
· The Eastern
Cape on the other hand has its high fire risk season in winter when there
are more thunderstorms and less rain from June to August.
· KwaZuluu
Natal has high fire danger from August to October when the province
experiences low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds in the spring
months.
· Mpumalanga
and Limpopo are at risk for most of the year but have increased
vulnerability in winter from May to August due to their dry and hot climates.
· Gauteng and
North West Province are at high risk of wildfires during the spring and
summer months, from August to January when prevailing dry and hot conditions
are fuelled by strong winds.
It is important to note that wildfires can occur at any time of
the year and that the risk can change depending on varying weather conditions.
What is your responsibility for the dangers of veld & forest fires?
South African legislation compels landowners to be responsible and take action to minimize the chances of wildfires. This legislation also asks the landowner to contact the local municipality and join a fire protection association. This includes the creation and maintenance of firebreaks. These laws and bylaws are set out in a government gazette, linked here for ease of access.
Agmarket offers a range of fire
fighting equipment available to the farmer and property owners alike with the
ease of online shopping.
Visit the Fire Fighters category on the AgMarket Website to view the available options. We are always expanding our product base so feel free to visit the category once in a while to see our latest offerings. One of our most comprehensive products available is the 40 Bar High-Pressure Fire Fighter.
How do I minimise the risk of causing wildfires?
The
most important thing on your list should be to be an active member of a Fire
Protection Association. Farmers and citizens need to work together and share
ideas and solutions to mitigate the risk of fires spreading.
You should have an action plan in the
event of a fire. Your family or employees and even neighbours in the area
should know what to do in the event of a fire. Everyone should know in advance
what their roles are and who is responsible for what role.
It is recommended that you restrict the
use of farm machinery on days when the fire danger is high.
Repair jobs with welders and cutting
torches should only be used in clean areas, away from flammable and combustible
materials.
You can keep an eye on the Fire Danger
Index and try to minimize risks taken during a high fire index rating period.
You can click the link to the Fire Danger
Index forecast on the South African Weather Service website.
For instance, you can also view the AFIS website for real-time fire
information.
Invest in proper firefighting equipment
and fire prevention equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, sprinklers
as well as petrol or diesel-powered water pump as listed above.
It is crucial to take precautionary steps when the fire danger is high, especially in strong winds. Some of these steps are:
Avoid making open fires on hot and windy days.
2. Never leave an
open fire unattended.
3. Don’t clear
vegetation and land with fire when it is windy.
4. Never let
children play with matches.
5. Keep your
land and surrounding areas litter-free, especially glass bottles.
6. Responsible
disposal of cigarette butts
How can I safeguard my home and property from spreading veld fires?
Creating fire breaks around the property and home is a good
way of ensuring that when a veld fire breaks out, it does not spread to your
property. This can be done by clearing strips of land around the property of
any vegetation and removing dry grass and debris to create a strip of bare
soil. A bulldozer, plough or disk is the ideal tool to create a fire break. A
General recommendation is to make this fire breaks at least 10 meters wide and
to cut down and remove any flammable vegetation within 2-3 meters of this fire
break. This ensures that the fire is less likely to spread into your property
as the fire has no fuel to reach your side of the break.
There
are several ways to build upon natural fire breaks to stop a fire from
spreading. Discussing and implementing firebreaks with your neighbours is of
utmost importance as these breaks should be in the right place. Cooperation and
sharing the costs with surrounding neighbours can also help mitigate the costs
involved in setting up fire breaks.
Natural fire breaks include rivers or
dams and can also be created from rock outcrops and cultivated lands. Building
upon these natural breaks in vegetation will ensure that a fire cannot spread
uncontrollably.
Planting large green trees that are
fire-retardant around a property or fields can create a canopy to trap burning
material from being spread by the wind. You need to ensure the area is also
mowed or grazed to avoid the build-up of flammable foliage or leaves.
Another fire break option is to augment
your access roads by grazing or mowing the area directly adjacent to the road.
Ridge tops are excellent locations for access roads and make good firebreaks
because roads are normally devoid of vegetation, and thus have less fuel for
the fire to spread.
Burned firebreaks will need to be
maintained annually by burning two parallel strips, at least a meter wide and
placed 5 meters apart. The area between strips must be cleared of vegetation
and burned to create the firebreak. This method is extremely successful but you
will need the cooperation of the Fire protection association and the fire
brigade to safely implement the burned firebreak.
Another safeguard is to clear vegetation around structures. Mow
the grass and trim the trees around any of the structures on your property to
lessen the chances of the fire spreading to your home or barn.
Maintain tools and equipment around the home or farm. This will
ensure your machines and equipment don’t create sparks that will ignite dry
vegetation. Farmers should maintain tractors and hay balers and avoid using
equipment that produces sparks during dry and windy conditions.
Properly dispose of trash and yard waste and only burn or incinerate
these in designated areas and when conditions are safe.
Ask around and join firefighting projects and teams in your area.
They have a wealth of knowledge and being part of these teams can assist when you need it most.
Here are some of the top firefighting organisations and their
contact details:
Working on Fire: www.workingonfire.org
Phone: +2712 643 0400 Email: info@workingonfire.org
SAN Parks: www.sanparks.org
Phone: +27 12 426 5000 Email: info@sanparks.org
By taking these precautions, and creating fire breaks, farmers and
property owners can reduce the risk of wildfires on their property and protect
their livelihoods. It is additionally important to have a plan of action,
should any fire reach your home.
Action plans in the event of a wildfire:
When a wildfire spreads and threatens your home, you have precious
little time to respond. You and your family or those living on your property must have an action plan.
1. Assess the
situation: Assess the location and size of the fire, as well as any potential
hazards or risks. Do not take any unnecessary risks.
2. Communication:
Call your local authorities and report the fire it originated on your property.
The most important step is to notify everyone on the property of the impending
threat An emergency WhatsApp group post or radio broadcast can be sent to inhabitants
or workers.
3. Assembly
point: Have a general assembly point in case of emergency so that you can
ensure everyone is safe and accounted for when disaster strikes.
4. Ensure that
all members taking part in your action plan know their roles and responsibilities
beforehand, including how to use the equipment safely and avoid any unnecessary
risks.
5. Action plan: Secure
valuable property by creating fire breaks, spraying the area down with water and
getting your fire fighting equipment ready to use. This can include fire-fighting
skid units, backpack blowers, fire beaters, fire blankets and protective gear
for those fighting the fire head-on.
6. If the fire
is too large or dangerous to be fought with the available equipment, you should
evacuate the area and wait for help to arrive. Remain calm and follow the
instructions of emergency services personnel when they arrive.
7. Always ensure
that you have an escape route. Fires and wildfires are notoriously fast and can
cut off your escape route very quickly. Make sure you keep an eye on your
planned escape route and possibly try to get someone to wet an area and manage
the fire around that area.
Types of veld fires.
· Surface fires
are the most common type of veld fire and occur when the surface layer of vegetation
ignites. These fires spread quickly and can be very hot. Surface fires are often
visible from a distance, with a plume of smoke rising into the air. They often
produce crackling sounds as they burn through dry vegetation.
· Crown fires
burn at the tops of trees or shrubs and can be identified by the presence of
flames at the tops of trees or by a column of smoke rising vertically into the
air. They produce a lot of smoke and may be accompanied by falling branches or
burning debris.
· Ground fires
occur when a layer of peat or other organic material beneath the soil surface
catches fire. They may not produce visible flames but can smoulder for long
periods and are difficult to extinguish. These fires can be identified
by smoke coming out of the ground or areas of scorched or burned vegetation.
· Grass fires burn
through grasslands or savannas and can spread rapidly, often producing a lot of
smoke.
· Wildfires are
large uncontrolled fires that burn through vast areas of land. They are
extremely hot and intense with flames reaching tens of feet in height.
How to ensure a fire is completely out.
Inspect the burn area to see if there are any signs of smouldering
or burning material. Look for areas where the ground is hot to the touch as
well as any smoke or stem rising from the ground.
You can use a shovel to dig into the ground and expose any smouldering
material that may be burning underground.
Monitor the area even after you have extinguished the fire. It is important to monitor the area for several hours or even days after to ensure the fire does not reignite. Use enough water or an extinguishing agent to thoroughly soak the area and extinguish any remaining embers or smouldering material.
Conclusion
Veld and forest fires are a regular
occurrence in South Africa and being prepared to fight these fires, is of
utmost importance to any farmer or person for that matter as fires can quickly
escalate. Get your fire safety plans in place and order your fire safety equipment
online with AgMarket today. AgMarket is the farmer's online choice with easy
payment options and delivery right to your doorstep.
References:
Government Gazette – government gazette
Arrive Alive Article - Firebreaks and Safety from Fire in Rural and Farming Areas
(arrivealive.co.za)
Santam Fire Safety for Farmers - https://www.santam.co.za/about-us/media/agriculture/fire-insurance-an-investment-in-a-sustainable-farming-future/#:~:text=Santam%20Agriculture%20encourages%20farmers%20to%20join%20their%20local,with%20more%20competitive%20premiums%20and%20excess%20payment%20incentives.