Learn how to burn, SANParks says
IF SANParks had been able to carry out more prescribed burns, last week’s fires would not have been so massive or so destructive to property.
SA National Botanical Institute ecologist Tony Rebelo says if more extensive prescribed burns are not done in future, we are likely to see a major fire like last week’s sweeping through Table Mountain National Park every 15 years.
But officials say it is not a simple matter to put a match to a fynbos park ringed by a city. There is a complex, time-consuming bureaucratic process to go through, there is not always enough money to do the burns, and a big problem is the often strong opposition from some Capetonians.
The city council, which issues the legally-required permit to SANParks to burn, first has to get public comment. Opposition ranges from fears of damage to property to “no, the fire will dirty my washing”.
Park manager Paddy Gordon said yesterday there was a major difference in attitude from Capetonians during the wildfire compared to during a prescribed burn.
“There is tons of food and drinks if we ‘bravely’ battle a wildfire, but filing cabinets full of complaints if we light the fire ourselves. Yet the prescribed burn is in the interests of the mountain, the fynbos, the recreational user, tourism and even the little goggas.”
Fynbos has evolved to be dependent on fire to regenerate. Before urbanisation, a fire of last week’s scale would have posed no problem, but ringed by a city, there is a risk. Last week’s fires damaged 13 properties, caused millions of rand of damage to infrastructure, and claimed the life of Working on Fire pilot Bees Marais.
Carly Cowell, SANParks regional ecologist for the Cape, said Cape Point and Tokai had been on the park’s list of upcoming prescribed burns. Both were part of last week’s wildfires.
“We need to harness the public support we saw in the wildfires, and turn that into support for prescribed burns. When Capetonians are asked for comment about a prescribed burn, we need them to say: ‘Oh good, yes, we need it’ instead of: ‘No, it will dirty my washing’.”
Because of the risk of a prescribed burn getting out of control, burns in the park may take place when the temperature is less than 28ºC, wind speed less than 20km/h and humidity greater than 25 percent.
In addition, there must be rainfall within a certain number of days before and after the burn. The upshot is there is an average of only 12 days a year when SANParks can do burns.
Mayoral committee member for health Siyabulela Mamkeli said the permit conditions had been determined by a team from the Fire Protection Association, SANParks, the city’s fire and rescue service, its biodiversity management and air quality management.
“Many areas of the national park abut residential areas, and the public has a right to be consulted and submit comments on applications that may affect them,” Mamkeli said.