BUFFALO CITY ISSUES WARNING TO RESIDENTS CAUTIONING VIGILANCE AS FIRES INCREASE
The Buffalo City Metro is warning residents to be on the high alert for ravaging veld and windy fires which are on the increase. If the fire blazes experienced thus far are anything to go by, then residents can brace for a challenging winter dominated by fires.
Winters are generally windy with dry vegetation and these are thriving conditions for easily spreading fires.
Furthermore, the cold weather is compelling a lot of households to use paraffin and candles, which have devastating effects, if not handled with cautions.
According to the BCM Fire Department, fire is made out of 3 components: namely; flame, oxygen and organic.
Organic is all the burning material.
And if one is able to eliminate one of these; then there will be no fires.
⮚ The very 1st lecture is to inform our KIDS because they are the 1s who create most of these fires.
⮚ If there is load shedding, please switch off your appliances or your electrical main box before you leave your house.
⮚ If you use gas, please double check your pipes, for any leaks.
⮚ If your house is on fire, please close all your doors and windows, before you leave
your house, because you CUT off the fresh air supply. The Fire will smother itself or die out, because there is no fresh air coming in.
⮚ Do not attempt to put the FIRE out yourself, because you will worsen the situation. Please call us, straight away.
TIPS
⮚ Firstly, your wind direction is an important aspect to be aware of.
⮚ Always approach a bushfire from the wind wood side.
⮚ If you attack a bushfire on the wind side than you will be overcome by smoke.
⮚ To avoid spread of fire, try and cut worse side of the blaze.
⮚ If you are an owner of a farm or a big plot, try and have fire brakes.
⮚ If you are qualified, like Firefighters, than you can apply ‘ backburn’. This is being used in huge fires, namely forest fires.
The City is advising residents to contact fire department on 043 7059000/04307059890 immediately when they spot a fire, as early reactions can prevent a lot of damages and save lives.
2025-08-12