SUPPORT the #firefighters battling the Overberg Fires
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What is a Fire Protection Association?
In areas where wildfires are a high risk, it’s vital that landowners work together to prevent and manage these fires. They can achieve this as members of a Fire Protection Association. In fact, the National Veld and Forest Fire Act of 1998 encourages landowners living in high-risk areas to form a registered FPA, where the cost of organising an FPA is justified.
THE OVERBERG
The Overberg region, in the Western Cape of South Africa, is home to a combination of agricultural and natural landscapes. The Overberg District municipal area offers great biodiversity – with large tracts of often threatened fynbos and renosterveld vegetation found here.
Because of the large amount of natural veld and fynbos, the Overberg region is considered a high fire risk area.
What’s more, invasive alien species grow uncontrolled on many parts of the Overberg. These species burn hotter than indigenous vegetation – increasing the risk of wildfires.
For many people, their livelihoods depend on the region’s natural resources. For example, many people pick fynbos for local and international markets. Other land users are dependent on the agricultural potential of the Overberg. That means when a wildfire moves through landscapes, it not only affects the environment, but in many cases could also have economic and social impacts.
Does your property fall within the Overstrand Fire and Rescue area?
The origins of the goFPA
So, in order to address these threats, a study was undertaken in 2013 under the Global Environment Facility Fynbos Fire Project. The study looked at improving integrated fire management strategies in the Overberg.
It concluded that, while most landowners belonged to smaller FPAs across the district, an umbrella Fire Protection Association could help support landowners by centralizing administration, training and planning. It could also help bring additional resources to the district.
That set the path for the establishment of the goFPA. Today the goFPA functions as a voluntary association and membership covers approximately 660,000 hectares (about 60%) of the Overberg. Membership and the support services offered are ever-expanding.
The Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association works according to a Constitution and a set of rules.
Read the Constitution here.
Read the goFPA’s rules and regulations here.
Read the latest Chairman’s Report here: English.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD
Why a changing climate is fuelling wildfire
Changes to our climate lead to bigger wildfires that are more difficult to control. As a result, wildfire management is becoming more important in order to reduce the damage to people, the economy and the environment. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Fynbos Biome
How to stay safe when a wildfire threatens
You clearly don’t have much say on weather and topography. But you CAN manage the fuel in your home.
So we’ve compiled a few critical, and achievable actions that you, as a homeowner can take to reduce the risk of wildfire damaging your home (these are taken from Canada’s FireSmart: Protecting Your Community
Do you live in nature? This is for YOU
You live in a wildland interface area. That means it’s an area where homes and businesses are built in or near natural areas, among trees and other vegetation that can catch fire easily. The challenges around wildland interface fires are becoming more pronounced for a number of reasons: • If you live in the interface
SUPPORT #FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING
THE OVERBERG FIRES.
All funds raised will SUPPORT fire-fighters battling the overwhelming Overberg fires. ALL monies raised will be: – used for making the fire lines more bearable, including; – cellphone airtime to talk to their families at home; – foodstuff like ice to keep their drinks cold, that warm meal to supplement their ration packs, and any other essentials. goFPA is a registered PBO.
GIVE
You can get involved by providing goods to energise our fire-fighters. Here’s a list of non-perishable items you can drop off – that help sustain our fire-fighters working hard to protect our homes and nature
DONATE
Donations are made through the secure PayFast system.
SNAPSCAN
reduction | readiness | response | recovery
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR MEMBERS
CONNECT WITH US
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