Tswelopele Fire 2016- Management Plan 2020

A well designed fire management plan needs to minimize the risk to life and property whilst at the same time enhancing biodiversity. Fire intervals that may be ideal for ecological purposes may be longer than those appropriate for property protection. In addition, ideal fire intervals for different ecosystems may differ. It is thus necessary to identify the different map and the ecosystems present on the property and design a fire schedule appropriate for Tswelopele Municipal area. The fire plan should also identify actions (Contingency plans, MOU’s, Access to funding in cases of emergencies) to be taken in the event of an unplanned Structural and Veldfires as well as specifying equipment maintenance schedules to ensure that appropriate responses can be taken when required. Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

Document Information Document Version Number Draft Short Title TLM - FMP Long Title Tswelopele Local Municipality Fire Management Plan Applicability Tswelopele Local Municipality Status For Adoption – May 2017 Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Main Contributors Fisheries, Lejweleputswa District Municipality, Tswelopele Local Municipality. Author/s NJ Mambalo [DMO] ;Malcom Procter [DAFF] Compilation [ duration of draft] August 2014 – April 2015 Copyright Tswelopele Local Municipality 2015

FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR TSWELOPELE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Municipal Seat Surface area 652 544.3 Ha Population 47 625 Web Page: [email protected] Po Box 3 Bultfontein 9670 3 Bosman street Bultfontein 9670 DISASTER MANAGEMENT: 083 5876 701 Tel: 051 853 1111 Fax: 051 853 1332 Towns 1. Bultfontein 2. Hoopstad Km Roads Access Primary Secondary 4.661 325.680 957.004 Km Railway Km 55 Km ESKOM Lines High Value Assets at Risk 1.Pan Palace 2.Sandvet 3.Lapa 4. Bultfontein Hoopstad Hoopstad 5. 6. 7. 8. Wet or Low Lying Areas where o o o o Vehicles may get stuck Location of Flammable Fuels or Garages Gas Outlets Industrials Hazardous materials are stored Fire Brigade 1.N/A 2. 3. 4. 5. Equipment N/A FPA’s 1.Bultfontein 2.Hoopstad 3. 4. 5. In Place In Place 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. WoF Teams 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. S15 Exemptions N/A

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Introduction Veldfires are a common feature of the African landscape, and are the inevitable consequence of a combination of fire-prone vegetation and a warm, dry climate. The public often regard fires as universally bad, but both the scientific facts and traditional knowledge contradict this view. Grasslands and savanna all require fire as an integral part of their proper functioning. Collectively these fire-prone biomes cover almost half of Africa. However, fires can and do kill people and animals, and destroy crops, grazing and houses, making their deliberate use in land management controversial. Unmanaged Veld fires impede socio- economic development as lives, property and livelihoods are destroyed.

An optimal fire break network is arguably the second most important measure in reducing the spread of Veldfires, not necessarily from the point of fire breaks stopping the advance of a fire front by themselves, but as a defensive line from which back burns can be lit, or along which firefighting resources, usually aided by water, can be used to fight the advancing flames.

The most important step therefore, in establishing an optimal fire break network is an assessment to determine the most appropriate alignment of fire breaks that offer the best opportunities for reducing the spread of fire from a strategic perspective. All re-alignments must from a legal perspective, be formally agreed upon between neighbouring landowners.

Those appropriate for property protection. In addition, ideal fire intervals for different ecosystems may differ. It is thus necessary to identify the different and map the ecosystems present on the property and design a fire schedule appropriate for each area. The fire plan should also identify actions (Contingency plans, MOU’s, SOP,s and Access to funding in cases of emergencies) to be taken in the event of an unplanned veldfire as well as specifying equipment maintenance schedules to ensure that appropriate responses can be taken when required.

The first step in minimizing the fire risk is increased knowledge and awareness. This strategic plan is intended to provide an overview to help identify common fire hazards in agricultural operations, recommend measures that should be employed to minimize the accompanying risks and outline some of the basic steps in preparing a fire prevention plan.

An internal assessment of each sub unit of a region automatically follows the external fire protection assessment programme, once external firebreak and buffer zone routes and specifications have been calculated. The following procedures are recommended: Each area should be sub-divided in to sub-regions. Within each sub-region: o The fire hazard rating results (present and predicted future) must be considered. o Consideration of public roads, railway lines, rivers, riparian zones wetlands and other prominent lines in the landscape. o At this stage the main regional buffer zones have already been mapped roughly. The next step will be to check the routes and specifications of these regional buffer zones in more detail, by sub-region. o Consider, plan and map additional internal fire protection lines within each sub-region. o In all cases, check for optimum measures to reduce the area at risk within each sub- region.

The end results of the outcome of the above external and internal fire hazard assessment and firebreak placement, will need to be mapped at a regional fire protection (probably 1 : 50 000 to 1 : 100 000 scale), which will show at least all regional boundaries as well as main (regional) buffer zones. A second set of sub-regional fire protection maps should also be produced to show all external and internal firebreak and buffer zones in more detail, up to the scale required, and found most suitable.

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1. PURPOSE OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN

The purpose of this document is to chart the planned and co-ordinated implementation of measures that will minimise the occurrence, and mitigate the effect, of Veldfires on the community. This Fire Management Planning document identifies long-term objectives and approaches to managing fire risk in the most critical areas of concern. This strategy also identifies actions that can be taken immediately that will contribute to community safety.

As fire management strategies may require altering to meet changing environment and land use needs, landowners/occupiers are advised that provisions of the Veld Fires Act 101 of 1998 must be enforced in addition to this Fire Management Plan.

Fire Management Planning (prevention and preparedness) is a vital component in the protection of life and property against loss caused by fire. No matter how well trained and equipped FPA’s and Fire Brigades are, the greatest factor in limiting fire damage is the extent to which Fire Management Planning measures have been carried out before the event of fire. This document also identifies plans relevant to the response and recovery phases of fire events.

Integrated fire management is a series of actions that includes RISK MAPPING, FIRE AWARENESS activities, FIRE PREVENTION activities, PRESCRIBED BURNING, RESOURCE SHARING AND CO- ORDINATION, FIRE DETECTION, FIRE SUPRESSION and FIRE DAMAGE REHABILITATION at local provincial and national levels in order to create a sustainable and well balanced environment, reduce unwanted wildfire damage and promote the beneficial use of fire.

To be effective, everyone in the community must practice fire prevention, and where it involves a number of people there must be coordinated planning. This document is designed to provide a strategy for the co- ordination of fire prevention measures. As well as being relevant to the community generally, it particularly concerns relevant public authorities such as the Tswelopele Local Municipality, Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, South African Police, Telkom, SANRAL Provincial Roads, Spoornet, ESKOM and FPA’s, together with Tswelopele Local Municipalities and the Fire Protection Associations, when planning fire prevention for their areas of responsibility.

The effect of this action is that these organisations’ are indicating that all the plans/risk treatments and their associated commitments in personnel and monetary or other resources are reflected in their organization priorities, budgets and works programs. The ‘who, how, when, what, and where’ of these commitments will be delivered as set out in the Integrated Fire Management Plan.

Tswelopele Local Municipality Fire Management Plan [TLMFMP] needs to be considered as the first step in an evolutionary process of transition from the current (Non-existent) TLMFPP. Structural and chemical fires have not been considered in this plan as they do not fall within the Forest and Veld Fire Act. This TLMFMP addresses both public and private land across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery continuum. The integrated TLMFMP will be reviewed and updated every fourth year of inception to ensure it incorporates any new strategies, programs and tools developed by DAFF, WoF, FPA’s and Tswelopele Local Municipalities to ensure it meets Council and community needs and expectations.

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Fig Integrated Fire Management Planning Process

Ongoing monitoring and review is essential to ensure that the Tswelopele Local Municipal Fire Management Plan remains relevant and up to date.

1.1 Period of Plan

TLMFMP’s have a five year planning cycle and this plan must be endorsed for a period of four year commencing from the date of adoption.

2. LEGISLATION RELATED TO VELD FIRES

The Constitution of  Section 24 A safe Environment for all  Section 33: Good Administration  To not impair the economy

The Municipal Services Act • Requires Municipalities to render a service to the full extent of the local Municipality.

Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 This Act places several duties upon municipalities, those relevant to Veldfire management are: • Section 4: Rights and duties of Municipal Councils • Section 12: Legislative Procedures By-Laws • S 16 & S17 Community Participation • To promote and undertake development in the community. • To promote a safe and healthy environment in the municipality.  Section 77: Municipal Services (Jurisdiction) Furthermore it sets out the requirement for Integrated Development Plans (I.D.P.’s), the principal strategic planning instrument of the municipality, which is also the prerequisite for municipal budgets.

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The IDP must contain a disaster management plan.

Advantages of Integrated Development Planning for Natural Hazard Management As Veldfire cause harm and damage to people, property, infrastructure, economy and the environment, the goals of sustainable development are put to jeopardy. Disaster recovery and rehabilitation efforts require enormous funds that, amidst insufficient contingency funds, are taken out from other development programme that are planned or underway, thereby impeding development efforts. Therefore, it is important that veldfire mitigation programmes are made an integral part of developmental programme.

Disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and relief are four elements that contribute to and gain from the implementation of sustainable development policies. These elements, along with environmental protection and sustainable development, are closely interrelated. Therefore, Local Municipality should incorporate them in their development plans and ensure efficient follow-up measures at the community level.

Even though integrated development planning and hazard management are usually treated as parallel processes that intermix little with each other, it is clear that they should be able to operate more effectively in coordination, since their goals are the same-the protection of investment and improved human well- following:

- A disaster can also have many flow or knock-on effects, commonly categorised as indirect and secondary effects. Indirect effects relate to disruption to the flow of goods and services, including, for instance, reduced output, loss of earnings and job losses. Secondary effects concern both the short- and the long- term broader socio-economic impacts of a disaster, such as gross domestic product growth, fiscal and monetary performance, indebtedness and the scale and incidence of poverty. These indirect and secondary effects should also be carefully explored. However, in economic terms, direct physical losses are valued as the future flow of resources from the affected assets, implying that aggregate figures on total direct, indirect and secondary effects should be carefully scrutinised for any double counting.

- Consideration of disaster risk concerns as part of the economic appraisal process is an essential step in ensuring that development gains in hazard-prone municipalities are sustainable and in highlighting related issues of responsibility and accountability. Veldfire can have potentially serious implications for the economic viability of development projects, damaging or destroying physical infrastructure and capital equipment, and resulting in additional indirect and secondary project and broader socio-economic effects. However, such losses are not inevitable. Indeed, there can be potentially high returns to risk reduction investments in hazard-prone municipality, in the form of both specific risk reduction projects and the disaster-proofing of other development projects. Such investments can also have significant additional indirect benefits for the broader economy and sustainable development.

- Pre-loss financing helps get mitigation measures on to the policy agenda. Often disaster risk management projects are not undertaken in isolation, but rather combined with other considerations bringing about improvements in conditions. Post-disaster assistance at current law levels is largely beyond the control of policy makers. After a disaster assistance policy is enacted and a loss has occurred, its cost is largely sunk. Disaster response alone is not sufficient, as it yields only temporary results at a very high cost.

- It is also possible that if the Local government’s policy response is developed in advance of the urgency of loss, the policy will be more cost-effective, efficient, and consistent with long-term objectives. Well-specified and established policies will also permit those at risk to adopt mitigation measures and make plans for their recovery, consistent with their own preferences and the government’s planned response.

- The economic case for a disaster risk reduction initiative is typically based on the need to reduce potential direct and indirect losses, rather than to generate a continual flow of positive benefits. As regards the rationale for public sector involvement, some disaster risk reduction measures may be justified on the basis of the fact that they constitute public goods – that is, non-rival in consumption (users do not reduce the supply available to others) and non- excludable – and so markets fail to provide them. - There is a greater possibility that vulnerability reduction measures will be implemented if they are part of a development package. The possibility increases if they are part of specific development projects rather than stand-alone disaster mitigation proposals. Furthermore, including vulnerability reduction components in a development project can improve the cost-benefit of the overall project if risk considerations are included in the evaluation.

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- The cost of vulnerability reduction is less when it is a feature of the original project formulation than when it is incorporated later as a modification of the project or an "add-on" in response to a "hazard impact analysis." It is even more costly when it is treated as a separate "hazard project," independent of the original development project, because of the duplication in personnel, information, and equipment.

- Exchanging information between planning /landowners and emergency Disaster management strengthens the work of the former and alerts the latter to elements whose vulnerability will not be reduced by the proposed development activities.

- Incorporating vulnerability reduction into development projects builds in resiliency for the segment of the population least able to demand vulnerability reduction as an independent activity.

- Incorporation of the costs and benefits of hazards mitigation into economic appraisal makes sense to the extent that decisions are made on the basis of economic returns, that the information on which to base the economic calculations is available, and that the analysis is geared towards improving project design. It is hard to generate support for a new activity unless it can be justified on the basis of financial and economic returns. From this point of view, it is an advantage to be able to show that hazard mitigation can save financial and economic costs in the conventional cost- benefit framework.

Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004  Section 3-6: Adoption and contents of a Rates Policy and Community Participation.  Section 7-15: Levying of Rates –

Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 Section 53: Disaster Management plans for Municipal areas its roles and responsibilities w.r.t.  Emergency response and post disaster recovery and rehabilitation;  Capacity to fulfil its roles and responsibilities;  Particulars of its disaster management strategies; and  Contingency strategies and emergency procedures in the event of a disaster, declaration of a Municipal Disaster; including measures to finance these strategies Section 54: Municipality is primarily responsible for the co-ordination and management of local disasters. Section 55: Declaration of a state of disaster. It indicates that if a local state of disaster is declared, that this must be promulgated in the Provincial Gazette. The Disaster Management Act also requires local disaster management plans to conform to the requirements of the Integrated Development Plan for the area. The Veld fire management plans of FPA’s must therefore form part of the Disaster Management plan of the district.

National Forest and Veld Fire Act 101 of 1998 (1)The purpose of this Act is to prevent and combat veld, forest and mountain fires throughout the Republic. (2) The Act provides for a variety of institutions, methods and practices for achieving the purpose.

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Chapter 2 of the NVFFA deals with formation of voluntary organizations referred to as Fire Protection Associations. These are voluntary in nature in terms of private landowners. The National Veld and Forest Fires Act of 1998 requires that landowners take particular measures for fire protection, and that communities should establish Fire Protection Associations (FPA’s) to address the need for coordinated fire management. FPA’s are created in terms of the National Veld and Forest Fires Act.

It is compulsory for owners of State land and municipal land to [s4 (7)] belong to these organizations where they have been formed. It is therefore necessary for each government department owning land to engage in formation of FPA’s or to join these where they already exist.

Chapter 4 deals with the making of Firebreaks • A firebreak is a natural or artificial construction which obstructs the spread of veldfire and which can be used as a line of defense or attack on a Veldfire. Section 13 states that; the break must: – be wide enough and long enough to have a reasonable chance of stopping the Veldfire – not cause soil erosion – Be reasonably free of inflammable material. • In the construction of a firebreak, the primary goal is to remove deadwood and undergrowth down to mineral soil. Various methods may be used to accomplish this initially and to maintain this condition. Ideally, the firebreak will be constructed and maintained according to the established practices of sustainable fire protection. The general goals are to maximize the effectiveness of the firebreak at slowing the spread of wildfire, by using firebreaks of sufficient size and density is hopefully reduce the ultimate size of wildfires. Additional goals are to maintain the ecology of the veld and to reduce the impact of Veldfire on air pollution and the global climate, and to balance the costs and benefits of the various projects. • Firebreaks alone are not designed to stop fires. They are used to provide access and a prepared environment for a fire management team to respond and effectively manage a wildfire. Establishing thousands of kilometers of firebreaks, at great expense, without having the capacity to respond and manage a wildfire on the ground is also an ineffective use of funds. • Depending on the environmental conditions, and the relative effectiveness of a given firebreak, firebreaks often have to be backed up with other firefighting efforts. Even then, it is still sometimes possible for fire to spread across a seemingly impenetrable divide. During the worst part of the fire season in the , strong North Westerly winds will blow carpets of burning embers across highways. • Every owner on whose land a Veldfire may start or burn or spread must prepare and maintain a firebreak on his or her side of the boundary. Section 12(1)  An owner who is obliged to prepare and maintain a firebreak must ensure that, with due regard to weather, climate, terrain and vegetation of the area-  It is wide and long enough to have a reasonable chance of preventing a Veldfire from spreading to or from neighbouring land;  It does not cause soil erosion; and  It is reasonable free of flammable material capable of carrying a Veldfire across it.

 An owner or group of owners can be exempted from the duty to prepare firebreaks only for “good reason” by a Minister (Sec 15)

There are statutory requirements that landowners, including owners of State and Municipal land have to comply with. These include: P a g e | 7 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

a) To have trained personnel equipped with adequate Personnel Protective clothing and b) To have adequate firefighting equipment that is, each landowner has to meet readiness standards. c) Local municipalities are in terms of the NVFFA obliged to become members of FPA’s if one exists in their area. d) Government departments owning land are not exempted from these and are expected to comply but more importantly to lead by example (in line with co-operative governance imperatives).  Firefighting services is an area of local government competence.  This means that in terms of the NVFFA local government must be involved in Veldfire prevention and management under the NV&FFA.  For this reason, municipalities must join FPA’s where they are set up.

Finances for Veldfire fighting

The finances for Veldfire fighting and management will come from: – local government budgets through IDPs – FPA members’ fees – additional contributions for FPA’s e.g. donations, bank loans, funding granted by the Minister  The financial plan & annual budget for a local government depends on its IDP being approved. Without an IDP, no money can be transferred to a local gov’t by the province. Therefore, if the requirements for Veldfire management haven’t been integrated into the IDP, there won’t be an amount in the local gov’t budget and financial plan to help finance Veldfire management and prevention.

By Laws on Veld Fires not applicable within Tswelopele Local Municipality

 To be developed – after adoption of the plan

Making FPA rules binding on Non-members  FPA rules only bind FPA members.  If there is co-ordination between the FPA and the local fire service (council), by-laws can be passed by the council which are in harmony with the local FPA’s rules, or which fill in where there are no rules.  By-laws are pieces of local legislation, and will bind everyone in the municipal area. In this way, non-members will be bound by the same rules as FPA members.

3.0 LOCATION AND DETAILS Tswelopele is an administrative area situated in the Central Free State approximately 100km north west of Bloemfontein in the Lejweleputswa District. The Name is a Sesotho word meaning “progress’ Tswelopele local municipality is comprises of two towns, Hoopstad and Bultfontein. The area has one of the best tourist attractions the Sandveld Nature Reserve in Hoopstad.

4.0 SITE DETAILS P a g e | 8 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

Ecological effects of fires depend on their frequency, intensity (influenced by amount of dry fuel load, weather conditions), season of burn (with consequences for plants at different stages of their growing cycles) and type of fire (along the ground or in canopies, with or against the wind). Thus fire appears to be a major cause of mortality for seedlings that have yet to establish (Skarpe 1980, 1991), and for large trees (Van der Walt and Le Riche 1984). Fires are usually more common and intense after good rains, because of higher grass fuel loads.

Fire also has effects on the spatial distribution of trees. Fire damage amongst clumped trees is lower, owing to lower grass fuel loads (Skarpe 1991). With burning, the clumping effect increases, as trees respond to fire by producing multiple sprouts (Skarpe 1991), and also because trees in clumps have a higher chance of survival. As tree size increases, however, distributions become random to regular, presumably driven by a balance between competition for soil moisture and fire sensitivity, which shifts when canopies are high enough to escape fires (Skarpe 1991).

Demographically speaking, then, fire can be expected to exert the greatest influence on the youngest and the oldest trees within an A. erioloba population. Spatially, fire is likely to lead to clumped distributions, owing to both patterns arising as a result of low vulnerability to fire and the patterns induced by fire (e.g. sprouting).

CONTROL OF BUSH ENCROACHMENT WITH FIRE IN ARID SAVANNAS (<500 mm p.a.)

• Fire alone cannot be used to control bush encroachment • Low & erratic rainfall prevents adequate accumulation of grass fuel loads to support regular intense fires • A fuel load of more than 3 000 kg ha is needed to “carry fire” • Interactions of Fire & Herbivory essential for controlling bush encroachment

Prof. Winston S W Trollope Department of Livestock & Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa

Photo: Prof. Trollope Assessing Grass Fuel loads with a pasture meter Hoopstad 02/08/2012

5. FIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT Management of risk is an integral part of good business practices and quality management. Understanding risk and learning how to manage it effectively enables municipalities, fire services, government agencies and the broader community to reduce hazards and risks by identifying and analysing issues which could threaten communities and providing a systematic way to make informed decisions to mitigate or reduce those threats to an acceptable level. Ongoing monitoring and review is essential to ensure that the Fire Management Plan remains relevant and up to date with specific attention to: o Changes to community demographics and level of risk, o Changes to organisational responsibilities or legislation as a consequence of the National Forest and Veld Fire Act; o Changes in Ownership of land o After a major fire event P a g e | 9 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

The assessment of fire risk takes into account existing site conditions which include:

 Climate and Season Veldfire occur mostly during winter, from early May to late November (but have been known to occur during December as well), especially after the first frosts and before the first spring rains. During this period the winter climate and daily weather are dominated by two patterns: o high-pressure cells that cause deep atmospheric inversions, and which persist for periods of days, resulting in relatively still air and moderate fire danger o intermittent periods of one or two days or less when the passage of cold fronts to the south and east cause strong westerly winds and very low atmospheric humidity, causing high and extreme fire danger conditions.

 History of Veld Fires in the area; Tswelopele Surface area; 652 544.29 ha Area burnt; 100 ha in 2013 in 3 Reported fires of an average size of 33 ha Average annual area burnt 2004-2013 = 5 029 ha

Veld Fires in Lejweleputswa 2004-2013

Masilonyana Matjibeng Nala Tokologo Tswelopele

 Topography with particular reference to ground slopes and accessibility;  Vegetation cover – both remnant and likely revegetation; and  Relationship to surrounding development  The Veld Fire Hazard Assessment (Conducted 2009) is ‘Extreme’ in the vegetated areas including the Veld sites and ‘low’ in cleared areas (e.g. market gardens). The hazard rating for the adjoining properties is ‘Extreme’ in the remnant vegetation. (Diagram 3)

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Fig 3: Veld Fire Risk Map for Tswelopele Local Municipality (DAFF2009)

 Because the risk from wildfire is prominent within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, the annual review will occur prior to each fire season. The review process shall also ensure new strategies; programs and plans developed by DAFF and FPA’s are considered and incorporated where appropriate and meet Municipal and community expectations.

6.0 FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN The objective of this component of the TLMFMP is to develop a strategic framework at a provincial level to minimise and manage the threats posed by fire to the environment thus ensuring the sustained production of food from a major provincial economic asset.

This will involve a number of initiatives: • Formulate strategic options that enable and advise decision makers on policy instruments to mitigate outbreaks posed by fires; • Develop strategic actions for the control of veld fires in the Free State coupled with a detailed implementation plan with measurable outcomes on short-term, medium term and long term basis;

• Provide a logical and strategic framework to facilitate integration and co-ordination between various fire management organizations to achieve operational effectiveness at operational, technical and financial levels; • Establish a framework of principles for responsible fire management activities in accordance with inter- provincial law taking into account economic, social, environmental and technical perspectives; • Provide support for sustainable land and resource management programmes that consider appropriate use of fire for ecological purposes and suppression of unwanted fire; • Provide a basis for the equitable funding of the various facets of fire management planning of all stakeholders.

Recommended actions

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 Investigate and take action regarding the repeated incidences of fire North of Bultfontein near the Sand River, as well as in the Sand River Nature reserve.  Investigate the use of the R 59, R 700, and R 708 as Buffer Zones.  Prescribed burning of camps on the Urban Fringe of and Wesselsbron.  Prescribed burning within Vals River adjacent to the Municipal area of Bothaville.  Prescribed block burning of camps on farms to reduce fuel load.

Photos: Ladder Fuels adjacent to Regional Roads in the north west of Tswelopele

Making Firebreaks The most important step therefore, in establishing an optimal fire break network is an assessment to determine the most appropriate alignment of fire breaks that offer the best opportunities for reducing the spread of fire from a strategic perspective. All re-alignments must from a legal perspective, be formally agreed upon between neighbouring landowners. North-south alignments Fire breaks placed at a 45 degree angle serve to “funnel” the head of the Fire into a confined area and make it easier for firefighting. The north-south aligned fire breaks could be beneficial in reducing the spread of Veldfire caused by lightning strikes and occur at a 45 degree angle to the prevailing wind direction, which normally spread from the North West. East-west alignments Tend to run parallel to the path of fires and serve predominantly to restrict the width of the fire or fan the fire parallel to the Fire Break and provide minimal opportunities for back-burning.

Firebreaks and access tracks should be located where they will have the least impact on the environment, unless there are no acceptable alternative. Environmental considerations include - significant flora and fauna, reduced scenic values, cultural sites, wilderness value and erosion (related to soil type/steepness and rainfall). Implicit in the planning process is the clear understanding of why a firebreak or access track is in a certain location and how it will perform. Included in this consideration are the limitations of a firebreak or access track and the fire conditions when it will not be safe.

The range of firebreak treatments can extend from total removal to partial modification of components of its vegetation, leaving trees and only reducing the understorey and fine litter fuel may achieve a significant reduction in fire intensity while retaining some vegetation to maintain soil stability and aesthetic value.

It is important to understand that firebreaks cannot be expected to prevent the forward movement of moderate to high intensity fires, particularly where spotting is likely to occur.

Fire line: The part of a control line that is scraped or dug to mineral soil. Sometimes called fire trail P a g e | 12 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

A strategic break is a break (fire and/or fuel) constructed/maintained in a strategically useful location to provide an effective and safe means to undertake fire prevention or suppression activities in advance of a future bushfire event occurring. It is designed specifically to protect assets assessed as having national, state or regional significance; and where possible, to provide essential linkages between fire control systems across the landscape.

This firebreak must be at least 6 metres wide, 4 metre vertical clearance and have a 4 metre trafficable surface for firefighting appliances. In some places road base material will be required due to heavy sand conditions as large fire trucks may use these firebreaks. Passing bays 6 metres wide are required every 200 metres and turn around areas every 500 metres.

A buffer Zone; is a wide burnt strip of up to 1km wide able to stop an approaching fire without human intervention. A buffer zone should be able to prevent embers from crossing during periods of high winds.

The following main criteria must be considered when placing buffer zones:  Incorporation of natural protection features as much as possible, such as watersheds and constantly flowing rivers and savannah forests.

 Include major roads, suitable prescribed burning areas and cultivated lands.

 Incorporate recent Veldfire areas.

 Placement of zones (as near as possible) at a 45 degrees angle with the most likely direction of maximum fire spread.

 Ensuring that the buffers form continuous lines from the safest possible starting and ending points.

 Provide adequate width along favourable topography, from where a counter-firing line can be constructed, from where an approaching Veldfire can effectively be attacked.

Under high fire danger conditions, well-located firebreaks assist with containing lateral fire spread rather than preventing the forward spread. However, this is critically important in the Free State’s climate where the passage of dry-cold frontal systems on 2-5 day cycles commonly causes uncontained fire edges to become fire-fronts, and rapidly increases fire area and impacts. The greater the slope of land in the area, the greater the width of the firebreak is needed. For a flat slope, a firebreak can be 5 – 7 meters wide. For angle of 20 – 40 degrees, a firebreak at 10 – 15 meters wide should be considered, and for anything steeper at least 25 meters should be considered. It is important to keep in mind that the width of a firebreak will also be dependent on what vegetation borders your firebreak. A ratio of 1-10 is recommended where for every meter of natural vegetation height the firebreak should be 10m wide. Type of Method Reducing Risk of Veldfire Spreading break Natural Used in conjunction with black- lines and A natural firebreak can include waterways like Firebreaks mowed wet lines to take advantage of dams, rivers and large streams. May be used in natural features such as rivers, rock conjunction with various other firebreaks to take outcrops and cultivated lands. advantage of natural features.

Green Green firebreaks (also known as living Highly suitable around structures, however Firebreaks firebreaks) are made up of fire-retardant branches should not overhang structures. plants. P a g e | 13 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

Green firebreaks work in several ways. In order to maintain firebreak fire-resistance, mow Large trees will provide a canopy that or allow grazing to ensure there is no buildup of can trap burning material carried by the flammable foliage and weeds. Prior to fire-season, wind, preventing it from blowing into your remove any dead trees and vegetation near the property. In addition, a green firebreak firebreak. They can be planted in-between fields to can provide property protection from the prevent the jumping of fires from one field to heat of the fire. another, or as a border around properties to prevent the spread of Veldfire to structures. Access Roads that are void of vegetation can Access roads along with Grazing/mowing/haying Roads. serve as firebreaks. Extra width may be areas directly adjacent to them can serve as an (T roads) needed through the use of other types of excellent firebreak for reducing the spread of a firebreaks, such as mowing or haying Veldfire. areas directly adjacent to them. Ridge They can be augmented by mowing areas directly tops are excellent locations for access adjacent to them. roads and make good firebreaks. Annual maintenance is needed. Vegetation occurring in road reserves has important values and should be protected where possible. Any modification of this vegetation requires the consent of the District Roads engineer and requires consent under the clearance controls Grazed A grazed firebreak is a strip of land at When well managed (this includes mowing if there Firebreaks least 5 meters wide that livestock keeps is now enough livestock to keep it closely grazed) closely grazed this can be achieved by it can be an effective firebreak. applying a diluted mixture of molasses. This area could be planted with ryegrass, legumes or other fire- retardant fodder. Mowed Vegetation may need to be raked inward This is regarded as a fuel load reduction activity. Firebreaks or removed if done in conjunction with a Needs to be done prior to risk of Veldfire. Will need black-line or if residue is too heavy. to remove vegetation if residue is too heavy. A Needs to be repeated annually prior to mowed firebreak alone will not serve as an Veldfire season.. adequate firebreak in most cases Manually Used to remove flammable material prior Can be constructed for the prevention of a Constructed to a burn. Often made with the pre- Veldfire; may need maintenance to keep woody Firebreaks season application of chemical tracer growth away from them; water bars may be lines that dries out quickly allowing the needed if areas are too steep and erosion is likely. strip to be burnt when the adjacent vegetation is green, and then followed by Ladder fuels adjacent to Firebreaks should be burning. removed

The removal of dead trees, or those with significant hollows a reasonable distance from the firebreak is more important than increasing firebreak width beyond 20 meters if the conditions that back burning operations can reasonably be conducted under are to be utilised. Burned A burned firebreak is created by making Mowing/raking or haying may be needed first if Firebreaks two parallel disked or ploughed strips. excess fine fuel load exists. Used with prescribed The strips should be at least a metre burns only. The FDI needs to be closely monitored wide, and should be placed at least 5 metres apart. The area between strips should be cleared of all vegetation, and is then burned to create the firebreak Mowed Wet Water is sprayed on the mowed Used with burning only. This method requires strict lines vegetation to create a wet-line observation as fire can dry the wetted vegetation immediately in advance of ignition of the and attempt to creep across the fireguard. fire. Wet lining is used just prior to P a g e | 14 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

prescribed burn in conjunction with mowed firebreaks. Disked Level of tillage will vary depending on A disked firebreak is made by clearing the land in Firebreaks residue type and quantity. May be used in a strip of all vegetation, then mowing, and then conjunction with annual and perennial disking the strip in one direct, and then disking it vegetation firebreaks. again in the opposite direction. It is important to keep with the contour of the land to prevent erosion. Ploughed Tall vegetation is cleared in a strip, and Particularly useful when applied late in the season Firebreak tall grass mowed. The strip is then bladed of Preparation. along its length. The scraped soil should Most suitable around Dump sites, urban fringes, be removed from the area if it contains and on frat terrain on property boundaries. grass or other fire fuels. This firebreak must be at least 2x the width of the plow. Attention should be given to the potential to cause erosion Open ended New technology developed in Australia Fire Breaks has now been tested in South Africa with considerable success, which allows for the burning of large fire breaks very quickly in inaccessible areas. Made with a Helicopter known as Open Ended Firebreaks (OEFB’s)

Depending on the environmental conditions, and the relative effectiveness of a given firebreak, firebreaks often have to be backed up with other firefighting efforts. Even then, it is still sometimes possible for fire to spread across a seemingly impenetrable divide. During the worst part of the fire season strong North Westerly winds can blow carpets of burning embers across wide firebreaks. The width of a fire-break therefore ceases to be significant once spotting becomes the major method of fire propagation. The only way to then control spotting is by attempting to back-burn away from the fire break. This option is most successful in Low-Moderate Fire Danger condition. However, back-burning becomes marginal High Fire Danger Conditions, and generally fail unless prevailing winds are consistently pushing away from the fire break.

Threats to environmental values Hazard Potential Impacts Vegetation removal Reduced habitat. Isolation of fauna/flora species resulting in reduced recruitment, which may lead to their local extinction. Modification to tree canopy including increased light and wind Weeds and pathogens Reduce or prevent the regeneration and establishment of indigenous plants, altering the composition and structure of indigenous vegetation communities. Loss of habitat for dependent fauna. Death of susceptible indigenous plants. Change in composition and structure of indigenous vegetation communities. Loss of habitat for dependent fauna. Potential soil erosion with mechanical weed removal. P a g e | 15 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

Pesticide/herbicide use Non target spraying of indigenous species. Pollution of aquatic environments. Change in in-stream macro-invertebrate communities. Altered fire regimes- Decline in the cover and abundance of fire-adapted species (in the case of fire frequency, seasonality, exclusion) or, conversely, a decline in the cover and abundance of fire- intensity sensitive species (in the case of too frequent fire) - changing the composition and structure of indigenous vegetation communities. Loss of habitat for dependent fauna. The potential loss of indigenous flora and fauna caused by fire, smoke and ash. Erosion and soil Creates conditions favorable to weed germination and growth. Wind erosion. disturbance Loss of vegetation cover, land slip and conversely compaction. Sedimentation of stream beds, smothering stream-beds and biota. Degradation of water quality. Changed channel shape. Increased access Theft of flora and fauna. Vehicles causing soil disturbance and erosion. Introduction and spread of weeds and pathogens. Sedimentation of stream beds, smothering stream beds and biota. Degradation of water quality. Changed channel shape. Creates conditions favorable to weed germination and growth. Mountain bike access. Impact of heavy machinery Soil erosion and compaction. Impact of heavy Soil erosion and compaction. Loss of indigenous vegetation. machinery Introduction of weeds and pathogens. Poor management of land also impacts on river biodiversity Cost Benefit analysis Effectiveness of cleared firebreaks is dependent on: the width of the break; the . fuel type in which the fire is burning; the fire intensity or flame length and the distance of spotting ahead of the fire. The cost of a firebreak establishment and maintenance can vary depending on its prescription. For example an access road will be less expensive than a 20 - 40m wide cleared break. Very wide, non-vegetated breaks may actually increase the risk of fire moving across since they act as channels for increasing wind speed and causing turbulence

Ban on Burning All of the Fire Protection Associations have a Ban on open air burning from May, up until 25mm of rain has fallen in a Local Municipality within one week.

The aim of the Fire Management Plan is to reduce the threat to residents and fire fighters in the event of veld fire within the Local Municipality. The Fire Management Plan has been developed to incorporate the following fire management:- 6.1 Firebreaks along roads. 6.1a Toll roads 6.1b Sanral roads 6.1c Provincial roads 6.2 Firebreaks along Railway lines. 6.3 Eskom Power lines (Including Power Stations and Sub stations) 6.4 Strategic Firebreaks on Private Properties 6.5 Firebreaks on Boundaries 6.5a Firebreaks on Municipal Boundaries 6.5b Firebreaks on provincial Boundaries 6.5c Firebreaks on International Boundaries 6.6 Fire breaks on Urban Fringes and dump sites 6.7 Fire breaks around new Developments 6.8 Fire breaks on Rural Development Properties 6.9 Fire breaks around High Value assets (Game farms, Fuel Pipelines, etc.) 6.10 Initiation school, heritage sites and cultural sites 6.11 Firebreaks adjacent to Rivers 6.12 Firebreaks on Military sites P a g e | 16 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

6.13 Other Firebreaks including Buffer Zones

6.1 Road Network What is many times overlooked is that wide-enough prescribed burning strips (sometimes burned in rotation of 2 – 4 years) on both sides of a road can not only solve this fire hazard problem, but be used to advantage (with the fuel-free road surface itself added) to create formidable (continuous) protective lines (buffer zones) through the landscape[1], which can restrict – and sometimes even stop – veld fire spread1.

Taking into account the basic tenets of fire break alignments, if one considers the road network in place there are in fact numerous opportunities for the establishment of breaks from north to south. Opportunities for back burning are increased as the Fire is “funnelled’ in to a confined area. Safety issues are enhanced as escape routes offer avenues of escape.

Roads interact with fires in other ways as well. In particular, they increase the public’s access and, hence, distribute the risk of human-caused fires over the landscape. Conversely, however, during a fire, roads can become essential to fire- suppression efforts by giving firefighters faster access to lands ahead of the fire and by serving as a firebreak. On balance, it is hard to weigh the overall interaction between fires and roads, although there is strong evidence that; overall, roads have strongly negative impacts on natural ecological systems

Not all roads are regarded as being of strategic importance to the LMFMP however they should be maintained in such a state that they remain accessible and cleared of ladder fuels at all times. (A fuel ladder is a firefighting term for live or dead vegetation that allows a fire to climb up from the landscape into the tree canopy. Common fuel ladders include tall grasses, shrubs, and tree branches, both living and dead. )

Roads are effective fire breaks, but as soon as it becomes overgrown, it loses its effectiveness. Overgrown verges can also increase changes of fires to ignite by people passing by.

The Municipal Disaster Manager in Conjunction with the FPA, Roads dept. and Communities would have to identify these potential hazards, and incorporate them in to the Annual work-plan

Likelihood Ratings Likelihood rating Indicative frequency Description

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Almost certain once in 2 years Is expected to occur Likely once in 5 years Will probably occur Possible once in 10 years Might occur at some time; as likely as not Unlikely once in 20 years Could occur at some time Rare once in 100 years May only occur in exceptional circumstances

P a g e | 18 SCHEDULE OF FIREBREAKS IN TSWELOPELE Annually Once in Two Years Once in Three Years Once in four Years 1/5yrs or ad Hoc 6.1a FIREBREAKS ALONG TOLL ROADS (None) 6.1b FIREBREAKS ON SANRAL ROADS (None) 6.1c FIREBREAKS ON PROVINCIAL ROADS Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF why not Burnt Completed A 173 Bultfontein- road Provincial 40 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass Rds. C P 46/2 - Hoopstad Provincial 25 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass Rds. C P21/2 Bultfontein-Bloemfontein Provincial 40 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass Rds. C R 59 Hoopstad-Bothaville Provincial 32 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass Rds. C R 700 Hoopstad--Hoopstad Provincial 142 Yes Farms Possibl Cut Grass and Grade Bultfontein Rds. e R 710 Bultfontein- Provincial 30 Yes Farms Likely Cut Grass Rds. R 719 Bultfontein - Wesselsbron Provincial 30 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass Rds. C S 1144 West-South of Bloemhof dam Provincial 50 Yes Farms Possibl Cut Grass and Grade Rds. e S234 South West Bultfontein Provincial 50 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass and Grade Rds. C S 303 South West of Hoopstad Provincial 25 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass and Grade Rds. C S342 South West Bultfontein Provincial 60 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass and Grade Rds. C S895 Bloemhof -Christiana Adjacent to Provincial 28 Yes Farms Almost Cut Grass and Grade River Rds. C 320

6.2 RAILWAY LINES AS STRATEGIC FIREBREAKS Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein-Wesselsbron Spoornet 50 Yes Farms Possible Burn 50 6.3 ESKOM POWERLINES AS FIREBREAKS Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Brandfort Bultfontein ESKOM 36 No Farms Possible Fuel load Reduction Bultfontein ESKOM 60 No Farms Possible Fuel load Reduction 96 6.4 STRATEGIC BREAKS ON PRIVATE PROPERTIES (excluding internal firebreaks) Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein N/A Hoopstad N/A

6.5a FIRE BREAKS ON MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES (None Planned) 6.5b FIRE BREAKS ON PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES (None) 6.5c FIRE BREAKS ON INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES (None)

6.6 FIREBREAKS ON URBAN FRINGES AND DUMPSITES Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein Urban Fringe – Municipality 12 YE Farms Almost C Grade or Burn Dump site S Hoopstad Urban Fringe – Municipality 05 YES Farms Almost C Grade or Burn Dump site 12

P a g e | 20 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

6.7 FIRE PROTECTION AROUND NEW DEVELOPMENTS (Solar Farms, etc.)

• The main threat to each stage of development from a veldfire is from a fire originating in the public open space or undeveloped areas. • To provide protection to residents in the various stages, each stage is to contain the following veld fire protection requirements:- o A strategic firebreak is to be constructed on the outside of the development on the alignment of internal roads in the next stage. o A 30 metre building protection zone is to be established between the last lots in each stage to be sold and the strategic firebreak described above.

Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein N/A Hoopstad N/A -

6.8 FIRE BREAKS ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROPERTIES

Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein Farms Famers No No - - Annually - Hoopstad Farms Famers No No - - Annually - -

6.9 FIRE BREAKS AROUND HIGH VALUE ASSETS (GAME FARMS, FUEL PIPELINES, ETC.)

Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets

Bultfontein Pan Palace Tswelopele 30 No No N/A N/A Annually N/A Municipality Hoopstad Lapa Tswelopele 32 No No N/A N/A Annually N/A Municipality - P a g e | 21 Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

6.10 INITIATION SCHOOL, HERITAGE SITES AND CULTURAL SITES Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein Hoopstad ? ?

6.11. FIREBREAKS ADJACENT TO RIVERS (None Planned)

6.12. FIREBREAKS ON MILITARY SITES Town Description Responsibility KM Do spread Likelihood Method Schedule Comments / Reasons % DAFF Fires and why not Burnt Completed Frequ reach ently? assets Bultfontein N/A Hoopstad N/A

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6.13 Monitoring and assessment

Monitoring the affectivity of the Firebreaks made is an essential step in mitigation. Monitoring and assessment are important at several levels. Monitoring of the effects of both fires and suppression activities is needed in order to achieve a balance between stopping the fire and protecting the resource. Monitoring the effectiveness of the fire organization will help managers determine if the programme is working. Cost/benefit assessments are useful in assessing the effectiveness of various types of resources. Effective monitoring and assessment of the prevention programme can reduce the occurrence of specifically identified types of fires and the costs of suppression. Annual audits of fire break status should be undertaken in the field from FPA management unit level up to District Municipality level. This should eventually dovetail into a compliance management system, where landowners whose fire breaks are considered to be important at a district or regional level, should be compelled to comply (or assistance given), should their fire breaks not be consistently and/or adequately maintained. Actions for monitoring and assessment include but are not limited to:  A comprehensive plan for monitoring and assessing all aspects of the fire management programme should be implemented.  A safety programme, including analysis of near-miss incidents, accident reports and a review of lessons learned, should be implemented and monitored to reduce the risk to firefighters, fire managers and the public.  Information and data from the fire prevention programme should be used to develop a monitoring system that measures the effectiveness of fire prevention efforts  A programme should be implemented to monitor the ecological effects of fire and of suppression methods and it should include cooperation with universities, other research organizations and local communities.

6.14 Fire Protection in Undeveloped Areas.

Areas that have not been developed must comply with the rules of the FPA.

6.15 Fire Protection in Public Open Space-Development Interface

Areas of Public Open Space/retained vegetation are to have fire protection measures implemented to adequately protect the adjoining urban development in the event that these areas will at some stage be affected by wildfire. The fire protection requirements for the Public Open Space (POS)-Development interface areas are as follows. • A road is to be constructed around the outside of the housing area to separate the housing development from the veld areas. • A 30metre building protection zone is to be established between the housing area and POS to consist, road reserve/access way, footpaths and setback at front of houses facing the POS. See Section 5.7 for Building Protection Zone Standards. • Public Open Space Management Plans will need to include a Section on the management of fire and veld fire fuel loads within the areas.

6.16 Dwelling Construction Standards

Individual new dwellings on each lot adjoining veld land/POS shall be designed and built to conform to Local Municipality Specifications and Requirements.

Construction of Buildings in a Veldfire Prone Area: All habitable dwellings adjoining Veld are to be constructed to Tswelopele Local Municipality Building standards.

6.17 Building Protection Zone Standards

The aim of the Building Protection Zones is to reduce veld fire intensity close to dwellings, and to minimise the likelihood of flame contact with buildings. • A building protection zone is a low fuel area immediately surrounding a building. Page | 23

Tswelopele Fire Management Plan

• Non-flammable features within the front setback with each lot roads, footpaths, lawn, or landscaped gardens (including deciduous trees) should form part of building protection zones. Isolated trees and shrubs may be retained within building protection zones. • A building protection zone of 30 metres wide is required for properties adjacent to veld and Public Open Space.

It must fulfil the following conditions:

• Veld Fire fuels and dry grass must be maintained below a height of 15cm. • The spacing of trees should be far enough apart to provide for a separation between crowns when trees mature. Prune lower branches so they are at least two metres off the ground to stop a surface fire spreading into the trees. • All tree branches must be removed for a minimum of 2 metres from building eaves. • All leaves, tall grass, and clearing slash of trees must be removed from within the building protection zone area. • The aim must be to maximize the area of non-flammable ground cover, especially the area abutting the buildings.

Building Protection Zones are to be established prior to any dwelling construction commencing.

7.0 FIRE FACILITIES. 7.1 Water for Firefighting

Overhead Filler Points (To be completed) Dams (To be completed) Dams deeper than 3m (To be completed)

7.2 Resources for Fire Fighting Fire Stations: N/A Trucks: N/A 0 Water Tankers: N/A Tractor drawn Tankers: 1 x 9 000 Lt @ Bultfontein, 1x 650lt @ Bultfontein and Hoopstad 3 LDV’s with Slip in Units: N/A Staff: Yes - Trained 6 Control Room: N/A Additional Resources WoF Teams Bultfontein moved to WoF Trucks N/A Extra Resources Landowners in Tswelopele have more than 120 Skid units

8.0 IMPLEMENTATION The responsibility for compliance with the law rests with individual property owners and occupiers and the following conditions are not intended to unnecessarily transfer some to the responsibilities to either the Tswelopele Local Municipality or the Fire Protection association.

8.1 FPA's Responsibility

 Notify the Local Municipality Disaster Manager of all veld fires  Facilitate the members’ needs regarding: co-ordination of resources in the FPA through the dispatch Centre using maps; telephone lists and resource availability and resource positioning database.  Identify and facilitate training as and when required by members, for e.g. training of incident commanders; fire fighters; crew leaders; and any other fire related activities  Source funds to cover basic costs such as administration; advocacy; co-ordination and dispatch centers.  The FPA may charge a membership levy to cover running costs only Align and co-operate with District and Local Municipalities in order to access government support and to be part of the official operational structure.

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 The Veldfire management strategy of FPAs will therefore at the same time be the Veldfire plan within the disaster management plan required for District Municipality or by the Disaster Management Act  Supply fire weather forecast to FPAs  Co-ordination of air and ground support  Collaborate with the Provincial Coordinating Centre and the provincial Disaster Management Centre.  Align the policies; rules and regulation with those in the province.  Participate in the provincial umbrella organization which should ideally operate on a provincial level and be aligned to the provincial Disaster Management Centre and structure.  The UFPA represents the province on the national fire coordinating committee.

8.2 Local Municipality Responsibilities

The Local Municipality shall be responsible for:

 Coordination and Implementation of this plan.  Ensuring that Veldfire are reflected in the IDP.  The Contents of this plan are recorded in the District Disaster Management plan  Developing and maintaining District Fire Fighting Facilities under its control.  Maintaining in good order the condition equipment and apparatus for firefighting purposes  Manage Public Open Space in accordance with the Fire Management Plan.  Monitor fuel loads in Veld and liaise with relevant stakeholders to maintain at safe levels and  Ensure compliance with the FPA Firebreak Regulations.

8.3 Fire Management Contingency Plan for Municipality

Emergency Contacts Details

DESIGNATION: NAME: CONTACTS Director : Community Services Me.Zingisa Tindleni 051 8531 111 / 071 4610 556 Public Safety and Disaster Management NJ Mambalo 051 8531 111 / 083 5876 701 FPA J Terblanche 082 9543 160 FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION – Chairman AJ Venter 084 8008 040 WoF FIRE AWARENESS OFFICER T Mokoena 073 2451 650 WoF Provincial Dispatch Saayman Rossouw 082 9226 329 DAFF Regulations and Oversight M. Procter 076 4983 383 DAFF Regulations and Oversight M. Dladla 082 0991 538 SAPS MP Motaung 051 8531 222/ 10111 EMS SP Moalusi 072 7082 570 Department of Agriculture and Rural DT Tele 051 8532 209 Development ESKOM Hazmat SPCA Solid Waste

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HAZARD VELD FIRES / STRUCTURAL FIRES

AGENCIES AND ORGANISATION PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITY

FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION  VELD FIRE FIGHTING

 Veld Fire Fighting second WORKING on Fire response mopping up

RED’s  Unified Coordination of Assists with evacuation of Regional Response affected stakeholders actions in terms of veld fires

Disaster Management Centre  Dispatching of response Assists with evacuation of agencies affected stakeholders  Coordination of response actions  Facilitate incident assessments  Request additional assistance if required  Provide blankets and food packs for emergency warmth and feeding  Reports incident to Provincial and National Disaster Management Centre – in terms of Disaster Management Act No.57 of 2002

Emergency Services  Order evacuation of area if Assists with evacuation of necessary affected stakeholders  Provides search and rescue services  Provides medical and first aid services  Provides ambulance – transportation of the injured  Fire Fighting

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 Hazmat

SAPS  Provides security to Assists with evacuation of affected site - secures the affected stakeholders origin of the fire  Ensures security of stakeholders and their possessions  Provides security to temporary housing facility  Providing safe passage/s for vehicles entering / leaving disaster scenes  Provide escort services to emergency vehicles entering and leaving disaster scenes if required  Conduct security patrols within the disaster area if required  Do laud – hailing to inform affected members of the Community.

Roads, Transport and Civil Works  Provides engineering services  Provides rehabilitation services to the site

SRAC  Provides facilities for temporary emergency housing  Provides basic humanitarian services, e.g. shelter and warmth

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Signed:

Fire Protection Association

………………. Date…………………

Municipal Disaster and Fire Management Coordinator: NJ Mambalo ………………. Date ……………….

District Disaster Management Centre - Manager: SJ Nzume

……………… Date …………………

OS

Tswelopele Local Municipality Municipal Manager: MRE Mogopodi

………………… Date……………….

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