Laws applying to veldt fires in the Rietlaagte area

• • • Fire Brigade Services Act, 1987 (Act 99 of 1987)

    • National Veld and Forest Fire Act 101 from 1998

    • Disaster Management Act (Act 57 of 2002)

Fire suppression and recovery plan

The members of the sector in which a fire starts, and the local Fire Brigade, must be notified first. If the fire can’t be controlled by members, notify the Fire Protection Officer, who will then notify the leaders of the other sectors. The landowners on which the fire occurred must guard the fire once it has been extinguished.

Prescribed burning included the burning of firebreaks: 

Owners intending to conduct a prescribed burn or to burn a firebreak must obtain a Burning Permit from the Fire Protection Officer to conduct the burn at any time between 1 March and 31 October. He or she will also require a permit on any day outside this season if moderate or higher fire danger is predicted for that day. Notify your neighbours and the Fire Protection Officers at least 24 hours before you light any fire and keep an eye on weather conditions. Make sure someone is in attendance for the whole time fire is lit. Observe all conditions of your Fire Permit.

Conditions for the issuing of Permits to Burn

No fire will be made, without the necessary permission, given by the FPA Fire Officer.

Special precautions applicable

When the Minister has published a warning in terms of the Fire Protection Associations, no person may light, use or maintain a fire in the open air in the region where the fire danger is high.