Controlled fires planned for June
POORTVIEW - Residents around the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens should not be concerned about the planned controlled fires.
The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden issued a cautionary reminder to its neighbours alerting them to the fact that there will planned fires during the month of June.
These fires will create firebreaks so that should there be accidental fires, they will not flare up, as there would be no more dry grass.
According to marketing and communications officer, Ronny Tshabalala, last year property owners on the edge of Walter Sisulu were apprehensive after seeing billowing smoke close to their properties, which implied danger. That was until the men in green and orange were seen with the hoses and fire beaters standing guard around the fire.
Uncontrolled fires have the potential to cause havoc and the damage it causes runs into thousands if not millions of rands in asset value.
“The Botanical Garden has the largest vegetation around the area and it is our responsibility to deal with veld fires so as not to be the source of the runaway fires. Wind is the greatest challenge when dealing with fires. Fire can easily spiral out of control and to contain it always proves cumbersome when it is not controlled,” said Sizwe Jobe the Estate Manager in charge of the operation.
Walter Sisulu in consultation with its neighbours and the local CPF coordinates firefighting when there is no wind. Armed with 800 litres of water, which is propelled by a generator and the several other 20 litre tubs, firefighting becomes a day’s work for the botanical garden staff.
Field fire fact list:
• The law prevents anyone from burning the veld, including their farms, before informing the authorities
• The National Environment Management of Biodiversity Act requires biodiversity to be protected, so utmost care should be taken during firebreak to avoid protected plants
• Cigarette butts and lit match sticks are the biggest causes of negligent fires
• The law prescribes that neighbours should agree to reposition a firebreak on a common boundary and do this on the same day
• Controlled fires are necessary to regenerate dormant seeds.
Details: Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, 086 100 1278.
