SUPPORT the #firefighters battling the Overberg Fires
WINTER PLANNING
Most of the work to prepare for a wildfire takes place before fire season even starts – as part of our integrated fire management support.
During this time, we work with our members to identify wildfire risks, and look for ways to reduce them.
Members should follow a few steps during the winter months, to prepare themselves for fire season. So as a member, here’s what you should do:
1. Plan on your farm/property through a ‘self-audit’:
a. Identify your wildfire risks, and look for ways to reduce these.
b. Complete a ‘self-audit’ form, and discuss the concerns identified at your FMU meeting.
c. If you can’t mitigate the wildfire risks, then this must be raised at your FMU meeting.
d. Establish what training you and your team need, and inform your FMU leader.
SELF-AUDIT FORM
Download ‘self-audit’ form
2. At the FMU Meeting, here’s what should happen.
a. Look at risks on these 3 levels:
i. Those risks identified by members, and the mitigating actions taken.
ii. Those risks identified by the FMU that require combined mitigating actions.
iii. Those risks identified by the FMU which may need additional assistance.
b. Training requirements – the FMU leaders will collect the training forms.
c. The FMU leader will complete a register to verify which members have done their self-audits. This will be shared with the goFPA team. Individual members keep their own self-audits.
3. The goFPA team will host FMU Leader Meetings:
a. We’ll hold 5 meetings to accommodate all FMU Leaders. They’ll be in Grabouw, Caledon, Bredasdorp, Hermanus and Swellendam.
b. Here we’ll assess risks and actions in your FMU.
c. If you need help to deal with your risks, we’ll bring these into our operational planning.
d. If we can’t deal with the risks, we’ll identify these as hotspots for the next fire season.
e. All training requirements and Self-Audit registers will be collected.
The goFPA team will make use of all the information to compile our OPERATIONAL PLANNING and BUDGETS. If you’re not on the list, your concerns can’t be included in our planning. So be sure to complete the above steps.
Here are some examples of steps to take before the start of the fire season (you’ll see these in your Self-Audit form):
Make sure your home and buildings have been made safe against fire.
Undertake your annual fire hazard assessment.
Share your plan with your Fire Management Unit.
Reduce your fuel loads where possible.
Make sure your firebreaks are in place – and that they’re wide enough and long enough to stop a wildfire.
Make sure you’ve signed your Firebreak agreement with your neighbours.
Make sure you have the right equipment and clothing as is reasonable for you.
Make sure you’ve done your basic fire-fighting and refresher courses.
Meet with your insurance brokers to check your fire and wildfire insurance options, and that your insurance schedule is correct.
Make sure you have the Fire & Rescue numbers on your phone. Overberg: 028 425 1690. Overstrand: 028 312 2400.
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
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