We’re ready for a busy 2024/25 fire season. And we know you are too.

Here’s what you should know, now that we’re in the fire season:

In the Overberg:

• Operational vehicles and fire services personnel are on season standby.
• Working on Fire teams are also on standby, as are additional teams that can be brought in if needed.
• 24h Fire Control room number: 028 425 1690 

In the Overstrand:

• Operational vehicles are on standby.
• Working on Fire teams are also on standby, as are additional teams that can be brought in if needed.
• The Overberg District Municipality and the Overstrand Municipality assist each other with resources as and when required.
• 24h Fire Control room number: 028 312 2400  

Resources available to you

A helicopter and spotter plane are based at Bredasdorp from the beginning of December to end April. Additional resources can be contracted.

Except for the response from the Fire Services, additional resources could be made available in the form of ground crews and aerial support.

Aerial support is at your own cost and will be guided by the Incident Commander/Fire Chief. Please follow this link to the required MOU (or request for aerial assistance form) from the service provider. These rates are renewed at the beginning of each month. Alternatively, please email Keith: info@overbergfpa.co.za. It’s best to keep a copy of the form on hand during fire season in case you urgently need aerial assistance. 

REMEMBER: Landowners MUST telephonically confirm the request for aerial assistance, before the service provider will activate the service. No aerial resources will be sent without your verbal confirmation.

Check out our summary on fire suppression insurance to ensure you are covered. 

Your responsibility at a veldfire

Whether a veldfire is on your land or your neighbour’s land, if it’s threatening to spread and endangers lives, livelihoods, infrastructure or the environment, then it’s your responsibility as a landowner to try and extinguish the fire urgently. This is true even if it’s on your neighbour’s property.  

Mop-up operations

Once the fire is extinguished, it can be handed over to the landowner who is responsible for mopping up and guarding the fire for at least 24 hours, or until the fire is completely out and cold. Should you not have the capabilities to do this, then contact the Fire Services. They can deploy resources to guard the fire, at the full cost to the landowner. Or make use of these contract services.

Landowner – are you going away?

• Have a responsible representative present on, or nearby your farm throughout the festive season. If you aren’t home, please make sure the person responsible is present, and in regular contact with you.
• Also let your neighbours know if you’re not at home, and give them the contact details of the person who is manning your property while you’re away. You can also forward your contact person’s details to the goFPA.
• NOTE: The emphasis is on the first hour. We put all our resources into putting the fire out in the first hour. Thereafter we determine the best strategy, based on the fire’s location and immediate threats.
• Should a fire start on your property, or threaten your farm, please get in touch with the fire department IMMEDIATELY. For the Overstrand, phone: 028 312 2400; or the rest of the Overberg: 028 425 1690. Quick action is vital this year.

Be sure to check your high-risk areas

1. Is it safe around your and you personnel’s houses?
2. Are your contractors aware of their responsibilities:
   1. Not to make fires
   2. To report fires immediately
   3. What equipment to have with them
   4. To not work on Red FDI days

Check your equipment

There is nothing worse than arriving at a fire, only to have your equipment fail you. 

1. Make sure that your skid units / fire fighters / bakkie sakkies have been serviced. 
2. Check that it starts, and that the starter rope is in good condition. 
3. Replace or mend any leaking hoses, fittings and nozzles.
4. Check that your hand tools are still in working condition. If your fire beaters are “curled” then they are due for replacement.
5. Test your radios, including batteries.

Check your protective clothing

Everyone at a veldfire needs to have adequate protective clothing. Here’s what you need: 

1. Leather boots (no gum boots)
2. Overalls, safety wear, jeans, or any clothes that are 100% cotton.
3. Goggles and balaclava
4. A bottle of drinking water
5. A torch for fire-fighting at night

Check your basic training

It’s crucial that you and your staff have the right skills and knowledge to be safe on the fire line. It’s a good idea to run through a refresher with your staff covering at least the following: 

–       How to operate your equipment to suppress a fire
–       Maintaining a lookout for dangers at all times
–       Always maintaining communication at a fire
–       How to identify escape routes, and when to use those escape routes
–       Identifying safety zones

Make sure your home has defendable space.

Here’s more on what we mean.

Contact us if you have any questions: Louise, Pieter, Mitch and Keith: 063 690 7899