It has been one of the busiest fire seasons we’ve experienced in many years. The wet winter led to huge amounts of combustible materials. And these tinder dry grasses and landscapes burnt hot and fast. 

These fires proved incredibly challenging, to our Overberg Fire Services, to landowners and to the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association team. In fact, I met fairly regularly with the team throughout the fire season, and saw how, as the season crept on, it really took its toll on everyone involved.

Here is our digital annual report. It’s a snapshot of the 2021/22 year. In order to make it easy for you to read, we’ve divided it into three sections:
– goFPA membership
– Activities of the past year 
– And the Fire Season

We hope you enjoy the read.

Dr Paul Clüver
Chairperson: Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association

Fee Structure

PROPOSED goFPA FEE SCHEDULE: 1 April 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

Municipalities, Parastatals e.g. Eskom, Telkom, State land
R 2 407

All other
R 602

Land owner and governmental conservation areas

e.g. CapeNature, OTB. Farm portions with the same land manager/owner/lessee and trading under the same name are recognised as one member and therefore pay one collective fee.

Industrial or Developments (Gated estates & Resorts)

Parastatals: Eskom, Telkom, Sanral, Transnet – as per agreement. This might be subjected to certain umbrella negotiations

Please note that the fees above exclude VAT at 15 %.

Burning permits
issued by municipalities

527

TRAINING EVENTS

16

TRAINING ATTENDEES

444

SITE VISITS & INSPECTIONS

11

MEMBERS SUPPORT

Overstrand goFPA intern: We would like to thank Lester Smith, Fire Chief of Overstrand Fire Services, for integrating Mitch Africa (goFPA Groen Sebenza intern) into their team. The cooperation and joint projects are improving wildfire-risk reduction in the region.

Western Cape Umbrella Fire Protection Association (WCUFPA): Our Manager, Louise Wessels, has been voted as the new Chairperson of the WCUFPA. We are encouraging support for large scale-controlled burns to reduce high-wildfire risks. We are also promoting a positive working relationship between FPAs and their Fire Services.

Events:

• Overstrand Fire Station opening and vehicle handover
• Hermanus Fire Station opening
• ICS USAR Simulation Attendance: A brilliant opportunity offered through the Western Cape Government. Our Project Coordinator Pieter Rossouw participated and is on his way to obtain another ICP qualification.

Risk-reduction effort highlights:

– Grootbos prescribed burn planning and execution: Grootbos Nature Reserve has short-, medium- and long-term plans to address their wildfire risks, especially to protect their infrastructure, biodiversity and risk of spread. Special note of thanks to the landowner, Overstrand Fire Services, Eskom and neighbours.

HIGH-RISK AREAS 2021/22

(These areas were identified prior to the 2021/22 fire season. Hover over the map and click on the fire icon to see details on the highlighted area. We will now build on these identified areas for the next fire season.)

Communications platforms: A look back

Our goFPA digital platforms experienced strong growth over the past financial year. Aside from ongoing communications via these online platforms, we also ran a number of media campaigns, with a focus on grain farmers in the Overberg, and being wildfire ready ahead of the fire season. Here are some of the highlights of the past year.

We would like to acknowledge LoveGreen for the creative support. Full report here.

WEBSITE

MEDIA

goFPA VELD FIRE INCIDENTS MAP

Hover over the map and click on the fire icon for more information on the wildfire incident, including the date of the fire and a description of the fire.

BURN SCARS MAP

Click on each tab above the map to see details of the burn scar in the region, including the date of the fire, and the number of hectares burned.

Aerial suppression: 

TEAMS DISPATCHED

Teams dispatched between Dec 2021 – March 2022: 81% provided air and on-the-ground support, and 19% provided just air support.