42 000ha lost in Free State veld fires
More than 42 000ha have so far been lost to veld fires in the Free State this year, compared with just under 3 900ha during the same period in 2020.
This is according to Johan Breytenbach, general manager of the Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association.
In one of the worst fires this year, 30 000ha of farmland were destroyed in a veld fire that broke out near Boshof in May.
A number of livestock burnt to death and the fire left nearly 7 000 sheep without grazing.
Dr Jack Armour, Free State Agriculture’s operations manager said then the fire could not have occurred at a worse time. By May, the summer rainfall season had come to and end and it would take at least eight months, until after the first summer rain, before the veld could start regrowing, he said.
“We call on the public to help the affected farmers. Donations of animal feed or funds to buy animal feed would be much appreciated,” Armour said.
Breytenbach said it was difficult and time-consuming to determine the true cause of any wildfire, and in most cases it could only be determined through a forensic investigation. He stressed that veld fires were a reality in the province, and risk mitigation was the most important tool in their management and prevention.
However, this year the situation had been exacerbated by, among other factors, the high fuel-load of the vegetation following the good summer rainfall across the province.
“Fire protection associations [FPAs] have to [undertake] proper risk mitigation planning at the beginning of the dry winter season,” said Breytenbach.
He said the potential for fires needed to be determined through a fire risk audit, and must be followed by preparations for such eventualities.
It is also vitally important for FPAs to ensure their internal structures operated in terms of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act. He advised FPAs to always follow the Act’s protocols .
According to the Act, landowners are responsible for preventing and extinguishing veld fires on their properties. In to the risk mitigation plans by FPAs, it is important for landowners to also conduct fire risk audits on their properties.