NEWS
Noordwes beleef erge brandseisoenFri, 26th August '11Een man is dood en ses mense beseer in wat as een van die ergste brandseisoene in Noordwes bestempel word, sê Agri Noordwes.
Mnr. Cor van Vuuren sê ’n opname word tans gedoen om te bepaal hoeveel grond weens die afgelope twee dae se brande in die slag gebly het. “Ons verwag dat dit derduisende hektare gaan wees.”
Hy sê ’n man is gister dood nadat ’n veldbrand hom in die distrik Lichtenburg oorval het. Vyf mense is in ’n brand in die Schweizer-Reneke-omgewing beseer. Nóg ’n man in die distrik Zeerust het ernstige brandwonde opgedoen.
Van Vuuren sê ’n swart boer wat hom onlangs by Agri Noordwes aangesluit het, is baie moedeloos nadat hy sowat 100 beeste in een van die brande verloor het. ’n Boer van Schweizer-Reneke het sowat 40 beeste verloor.
Moontlike rekordjaar
Die brande wat die provinsie tot dusver vanjaar getref het, is meer en erger as gewoonlik en Van Vuuren sê hulle verwag dat dit moontlik ’n rekordjaar wat skade betref, kan wees.
“Die toestande is tans ons grootste probleem. Die winde is baie sterk. En dié sterk winde het veroorsaak dat twee kragdrade in die distrik Vryburg aan mekaar geraak het, wat vonke veroorsaak het en so die veld laat vlamvat het.”
“Ons kan wel vandag asemskep, want die wind het gedraai en dit is nie so sterk nie. Die ouens bly maar orals op die uitkyk,” vertel Van Vuuren.
Sterk winde in die VS
Intussen sê mnr. Simon Russouw, ’n verteenwoordiger van Working on Fire in die Vrystaat, buitengewoon sterk winde is ook een van hul grootste probleme vanjaar. “Die brande is nie weer so groot soos verlede jaar nie, maar ons baklei teen sterker winde.”
Hy sê hulle het reeds brande naby Bultfontein, Clocolan, Ficksburg, Zastron en Memel bestry en dié brande kon hulle alles blus.
53 000 ha
Mnr. Malcolm Procter, adjunkdirekteur van bos- en veldbrandtoesig by die Vrystaatse departement van landbou, bosbou en visserye, sê tot dusver het 53 000 ha reeds in die slag gebly in dié provinsie.
’n Rekord is verlede jaar in die Vrystaat aangeteken met altesame 400 357 ha wat toe in die slag gebly het.
Volgens berigte is vyf mense ook al in die brande in die provinsie beseer. Lees meer hier.
Deur ALANI JANEKE, Landbou.com
'Die hel was los', se boer nadat plase afbrandFri, 26th August '11"Die hel was gister hier los. Ek het al baie brande in my lewe help blus, maar ek het goed gesien en beleef wat ek nog nooit beleef het nie."... [Read More...]
Winter wildfires claim three lives and destroy propertyThu, 25th August '11Three days of intense wildfires across northern, central and eastern South Africa has left three dead and destroyed hundreds of head of livestock and a game lodge. A substantial area of bushveld and grazing has also been burned.... [Read More...]
Veld fires cause havoc in Central SAWed, 24th August '11Five people were hurt and several major roads closed due to veld fires fuelled by strong winds in the northern Free State, North West and southern parts of Gauteng on Tuesday night.... [Read More...]
Brande ruk hande uit, vyf beseerWed, 24th August '11Hewige veldbrande wat vererger is deur sterk winde het Dinsdagaand (23 Augustus) chaos veroorsaak in dele van die Vrystaat, Noordwes en suidelike dele van Gauteng.... [Read More...]
Worker killed in Free State firesWed, 24th August '11A farm worker was killed while fighting fires in the Free State on Wednesday, a provincial farmers' body said.... [Read More...]
R16m fire damage at Limpopo game lodgeWed, 24th August '11Fire damage to Sunset Ranch Game Lodge in Thabazimbi, Limpopo, is estimated at R16m, the owner's family said on Wednesday.... [Read More...]
Brandseisoen van die ergste ooitWed, 24th August '11Een man is dood en ses mense beseer in wat as een van die ergste brandseisoene in Noordwes bestempel word.... [Read More...]
Veld fires force road closuresTue, 23rd August '11Five people were hurt and several major roads closed due to veld fires fuelled by strong winds in the northern Free State, the North West and southern parts of Gauteng on Tuesday night.... [Read More...]
Noordwes loop deur onder brandeTue, 23rd August '11Brande saai groot verwoesting in Noordwes met meer as 20 000 ha wat reeds in die slag gebly het, aldus Agri Noordwes.... [Read More...]
Mpumalanga: Gevaar van veldbrande baie grootTue, 16th August '11Mpumalanga se Hoeveld met sy groot droe grasvlaktes is 'n tydbom. So meen mnr. Trevor Wilson, hoofbestuurder van Working on Fire (WoF) in Mpumalanga en bestuurder van die provinsie se sambreelliggaam vir brandbeskermingsverenigings.... [Read More...]
All women structural fire fighting team Wed, 10th August '11A team of women structural fire fighters, trained by the Working on Fire Programme, have started a three year programme with the Eden Fire Department following their completion of an intensive Fire Fighter 1 and Hazmat course.... [Read More...]
Cold weather brings fire risk tooWed, 27th July '11Cape Town - Amid the Mpumalanga Highveld... [Read More...]
KZN fire-fighters have hands full Tue, 12th July '11Fire-fighters have had to put out 24 veld fires in the KwaZulu-Natal area since the start of the fire season last month.... [Read More...]
Wildland fire fighters braced for winter wildfire seasonTue, 28th June '11Frost and icy weather in South Africa... [Read More...]
Mpumalanga Veld and Forest Fire Fighters are well prepared for the coming fire season.Thu, 21st April '11Working on Fire (WoF) veld and forest fire fighters attended a training camp held from 9 to 15 April in Ermelo to prepare for the coming fire season. The province... [Read More...]
Eastern Cape Wildland Fire Fighters prepared for the coming fire season Mon, 4th April '11Veld and forest fire fighters in the Eastern Cape are prepared for the coming fire season. The province... [Read More...]
Planned burn carried out in Tygerberg Nature Reserve Tue, 15th March '11The planned ecological burn at Tygerberg Nature Reserve took place yesterday, 14 March. On two earlier occasions the burn had to be postponed due to unfavourable wind conditions.... [Read More...]
400 new firefighters for KZNMon, 14th March '11This afternoon, 400 newly recruited firefighters will be jogging through Howick as they take part in preparations for their graduation on Wednesday.... [Read More...]
Wildland fire fighters contain over 250 fires in the Western CapeFri, 11th March '11Wildfire fighters from the Government's Working on Fire programme (WoF) have fought and contained 270 fires in the Western Cape since the beginning of December.... [Read More...]
Incident Command System Course : 16 - 21 May 2011Wed, 23rd February '11Hosted by the Working on Fire Programme, a team of highly qualified Incident Managers, with over 100 years' experience in Wildfire Management and All Risk Incidents, presents this unique training opportunity.... [Read More...]
Custom-built buses make wildfire fighters more efficientSun, 6th February '11Veld fire fighters will be able to get to and from wild fires quicker, more
safety and in greater comfort thanks to the development of a fleet of
10 customized buses especially built for the Governments... [Read More...]
Veld Fires stretch firefighters to the limitThu, 20th January '11Free state wildland firefighters were called in to assist local firefighters as Veld Fires stretch firefighters to the limit.... [Read More...]
Veld fire fighters extinguish West Coast fires Tue, 18th January '11Veld fire fighters have contained wild fires burning in the Paardeberg region of the Western Cape.... [Read More...]
Fire fighters warn of more fire in Western CapeMon, 10th January '11Wildland fighters in the Western Cape are bracing themselves for a busy January and February as days get hotter, fynbos dries out and winds increase heralding the climax of the province... [Read More...]
Cape managers learn new fire control management skillsWed, 8th December '10Leading Western Cape managers who could be called upon to coordinate emergency resources at a time of disaster successfully completed an intense course this week (course ends December 9) at which they were instructed on the Incident Command System (ICS).... [Read More...]
Overberg Fire Fighters ready for a busy Fire SeasonTue, 7th December '10Veld and forest fire fighters in the Overberg have prepared themselves for the Fire Season which is now upon us. The area experiences very warm to hot, dry summers, conditions in which veld and forest fires are usually started.... [Read More...]
Cape Wildland Fire fighters geared up for busy season of fire.Wed, 1st December '10Veld and forest fire fighters in the Western Cape are preparing for a busy fire season as dry conditions with no prospect of heavy rain raise the risk of wild fire.... [Read More...]
Firefighters on standby in Western CapeFri, 26th November '10The government-funded Working on Fire programme will deploy fire prevention teams in the Western Cape following wildfire warnings, WoF said on Thursday.... [Read More...]
Government issues veld fire warningThu, 25th November '10A department of Agriculture warning on fire danger ratings has been welcomed by the government funded Working on Fire programme.... [Read More...]
Demo plane crash helps firefighters in trainingMon, 22nd November '10A live plane crash simulation, held at the Working on Fire Training Academy in Nelspruit on Friday , November 19 gave trainee fire fighters the opportunity to demonstrate how they would handle this kind of emergency situation.... [Read More...]
FS Agriculture urges better relationships between farmers and FPA'sThu, 11th November '10The Free State Agriculture Department has appealed to farmers to strengthen their working relationships with Fire Protection Associations.... [Read More...]
WoF wins Lion's Bed Race for third timeMon, 8th November '10The team members of Working on Fire proved they could not only put out a fire quickly, but also run at the speed of light.... [Read More...]
Fires burned through 100 000 hectaresFri, 22nd October '10More than 100 000 hectares were burnt in the Northern Cape this week due to wildfires, Working on Fire said on Thursday.... [Read More...]
Verskroeide aardeFri, 22nd October '10OLIFANTSHOEK. - Erge veldbrande wat deur weerlig veroorsaak is, het na raming reeds meer as 110 000 duisend hektaar (220 000 rugbyvelde) sedert Maandagaand in di... [Read More...]
CSIR unveils fire monitorMon, 18th October '10The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has upgraded its Advanced Fire Information System (Afis) to deliver information on locations of active fires in southern and east Africa in real time, it said on Monday.... [Read More...]
Rampfonds gestig oor brande, droogteThu, 14th October '10... [Read More...]
Grazing lands ruined by fireThu, 14th October '10Fires have destroyed 500 000 hectares of grazing land in the Free State and Limpopo, Working on Fire (WoF) said on Wednesday.... [Read More...]
Thabazimbi fire under controlWed, 13th October '10Wild fires in Thabazimbi which had destroyed some 88 000 hectares had been brought under control, Working on Fire (WOF) said on Tuesday.... [Read More...]
Vlamme bedaar; 88 000 ha brand afTue, 12th October '10Die verwoestende veldbrand in die Waterberg in Limpopo is in bedwang gebring en die brandbestryders was gistermiddag hoopvol dat re... [Read More...]
VS-brande onder beheerTue, 12th October '10Brande wat die afgelope paar dae in die Oos-Vrystaat gewoed het en die lewe van 'n 21-jarige boer gee... [Read More...]
Limpopo fires under controlTue, 12th October '10Wild fires in Thabazimbi which had destroyed about 88 000 hectares had been brought under control, Working on Fire (WoF) said on Tuesday.... [Read More...]
Fires in WelgevondenTue, 12th October '10Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg is battling to control a fire.... [Read More...]
Thabazimbi blaze consumes veldTue, 12th October '10A Working on Fire (WoF) spokesperson, Evelyn Holtzhausen, said on Monday that more than 250 firefighters supported by fire-fighting aircraft were struggling to control the fire which has burnt about 80 000ha of veld in the Thabazimbi area since Friday."... [Read More...]
Free State farmer dies in veld firesMon, 11th October '10A 21-year old man has died while trying to put out a veld fire on his parents... [Read More...]
Wof's new Community Based Fire Management Wed, 22nd September '10Funding from the Expanded Public Works Programme's Wage Incentive Programme has enabled WoF to provide training and support to five beneficiary communities. This will allow approx. 150 people from each of the five communities to be employed for 5 months, during the fire season.... [Read More...]
Free State Fires UpdateWed, 8th September '10Fires that have ravaged the Free State since Saturday have been contained, said Roelof Geyser, Working on Fire... [Read More...]
Dept Water Affairs
2010 Budget Vote DayThu, 29th April '10Thursday the 15th of April was the Parliament Budget Vote for the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). Projects falling under the DWA were invited to exhibit their material with the aim of interacting with Parliamentarians and officials, showcasing their work and how the funds extended to them are being put to good use relevant to conserving and protecting our natural resources whilst uplifting the lives in poorer communities.... [Read More...]
Free State Farm community receives basic fire fighting trainingWed, 13th January '10Farm communities in the Free State are benefitting from wildland firefighters sharing information on preventing and fighting wild fires with their local communities.
WoF State veldfire fighters identified farms communities close to their respective bases, with the aim of raising fire awareness, and providing basic fire fighting training to school learners, teachers and parents.... [Read More...]
First fire fighting training for Fire Wise Community in the Free State Wed, 13th January '10Thirty Thaba Nchu Fire Wise Community committee members successfully completed a two day basic fire fighting skills training course. The training course, held at the local library on November 26 and 27, was presented by by Working on Fire (WoF) wildland fighters from the Zastron Team and Fire Wise Trainer, Goodness Motloung. rom the 26th till the 27th November 2009.... [Read More...]
Silvermine and Rondevlei attend MEP trainingTue, 15th December '09JASA (Junior Achievement South Africa) is a non profit organisation which was formed in 1979 to offer mini business skills to unskilled workforce. Junior achievement mini-enterprise is an educational programme which offers participants the opportunity to participate in the running of a company. It is an experiential programme which simulates a real business. This unique experience provides a realistic view of the world of business, and demonstrates practically how wealth creation occurs and how this benefits society.... [Read More...]
Update of KwaMemela Firewise Community Video ReleasedWed, 18th November '09Firewise South Africa has produced a new video outlining the effects the Firewise Community has had on the community of KwaMemela, in Kwa-Zulu Natal. You can watch the two-part video below:... [Read More...]
F.S Advocacy Funded Team Fire Awareness Events - Rolled out!Thu, 27th August '09Four Free State teams :Zastron, Golden ; Eagles & Undertaker Hot Shots kick started with their events at their respective adopted schools from last month, Zastron event was held on the 27th, Golden Gate the 31st July ; Senekal-Eagles Hot Shot on the 07th August & Harrismith – Undertaker Hot Shot one on the 14th August. These events were all facilitated successfully as planned, and the main aim was to raise fire awareness in various activities to school learners.... [Read More...]
Mparel and Nkau Communities become FireWiseFri, 7th August '09Two communities were trained on basic fire fighting and on FireWise for communities. The two communities were Mparel and Nkau communities.... [Read More...]
Impendle Fire Awareness DayTue, 4th August '09On the 25th July 2009, the WoF Underberg team held a fire awareness event.
The event was held at the Impendle Sports ground. Impendle is a rural community near Underberg.... [Read More...]
Silvermine Team introduces WOF to WC Life Orientation TeachersMon, 6th July '09Life orientation is a mixture of the subjects that were known as; Guidance, Physical teaching or education and Religious studies. Teachers are meant to be knowledgeable about the various characteristic of these old subjects and so it is advantageous, if guests come and enrich these teachers’ minds with further knowledge.... [Read More...]
DWAE Budget Vote 2009/10Mon, 29th June '09Congratulations to WOF team for pulling together and being able to participate to ensure this was a fantastic event that saw WOF receiving fantastic exposure both at the exhibition stand and having 30 plus people in the gallery of the Old Assembly Hall during the DWAE Budget Vote 2009/10.... [Read More...]
Prevention is better than cureWed, 10th June '09In the firm belief that prevention is better than a cure, Working on Fire has been partnering with community orientated based projects initiated by timber growers SAPPI and MONDI to bring the benefits of Firewise teachings to local communities:... [Read More...]
Agricultural Information DayFri, 8th May '09On the 6th May 2009, the Department of Agriculture at Lindely – Free State Province, held an Information day meeting at Kalaagte Farm situated between Bethlehem and Lindely towns. The theme of the event was the “Bethlehem".... [Read More...]
Working on Fire Senekal Veld Fire Fighter Annual EventThu, 28th August '08The Matwabeng community in Setsoto Municipality were treated to a Fire Awareness Clean Up campaign by Working on Fire's Senekal Veld Fire Fighters Team on Tuesday, 26 August 2008. The purpose of the event was to raise Fire Awareness & Education for the community.... [Read More...]
Operation Firewatch activates aerial water bombing campaignThu, 14th December '06Operation Firewatch, which successfully pioneered the deployment of camera monitoring and aerial water bombing to curb the destruction wrought by runaway shack fires in the Cape Peninsula, has been expanded to include additional cameras to watch over more informal settlements during the fire season this summer.... [Read More...]
Working to improve life in the communitySun, 29th October '06Apart from fighting forest and veld fires, the WoF fire fighters are trained to work within their own communities, to teach rural people about fire prevention and to contribute to the improvement of the overall living conditions in these communities.... [Read More...]
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