Vegetation fires – time to ‘buffer up’

19 October 2024

Cape Town has seen a steady increase in vegetation fires over the past few years – while the City’s Fire & Rescue Service and its partners go all out to ensure an effective response, residents along the urban edge too have a duty of care to ensure adequate buffer zones around their properties. Read more below:

Between October 2021 and January 2022, the Fire and Rescue Service recorded 5 331 vegetation fires.

During the same period in 2023/24, this number increased to 7 190 – representing an increase of 35%.

'The past summer in particular was a massive drain on resources, particularly in the south peninsula. I think the City's playbook for vegetation fires is quite well established, and we are constantly looking to see how we can expand on those resources and existing plans. But it's important to acknowledge that the public has a role to play. Living on the urban edge comes with great responsibility and property owners must ensure that their properties are safeguarded, in the event of fire. That responsibility also extends to ensuring that they aren't responsible for starting a fire,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Apart from ensuring that fire breaks comply with the National Veld and Forest Fire Act 101 of 1998, property owners can further extend the buffer zone around their homes by:

Managing fuel loads by controlling invasive alien plants and trees in their fire break, but also on their property
Clearing dry leaves, weeds and pine needles from roofs and gutters
Removing dead branches hanging over roofs and keeping branches at least three metres away from chimneys
Trimming trees regularly and keeping grass short
Keeping patio furniture, firewood etc. away from vegetation
Removing vegetation or other materials that could catch fire from underneath or around decks
Ensuring fire hydrants are accessible at all times in the event of a fire

Should a fire occur, residents are reminded to close windows to mitigate the risk of smoke or embers entering the home; damp down their garden if there is an immediate threat to their property, but most importantly, to abide by any evacuation instructions from emergency personnel.

Residents are advised to keep a 'go' bag ready, just in case they need to evacuate, and to consider alternative sheltering arrangements for their pets in such instances.

Items to consider for a 'go' bag are any prescription medication and spectacles, important documentation, cellphone and charger, a change of clothing, personal hygiene items and infant formula if there are young children in the home.

'We need everyone to be on high alert – not just those living on the urban edge. To the public in general, I want to ask that they report any signs of fire, no matter how big or small. Don't assume that someone else has made that call. Also, if it is very windy or hot, don't make fires in areas where it is clearly prohibited, or work with flammable materials. Fire prevention is the ultimate goal, and it starts with all of us,' said Alderman Smith.

For more detailed information on minimising the risk of wild fires visit: https://bit.ly/CCTUrbanEdge

Residents can report any fire-related incidents by phoning the City's emergency call centre at 021 480 7700 from a cell phone or 107 from a landline.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office