Veld Fires are very destructive as they can result in the loss of life, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, livelihoods and property. Over the past decade, veld fires have destroyed over a million hectares of land each year; in 2015 alone, sixteen (16) people lost their lives to veld fires, while 1 510 343 hectares of land were destroyed in 2 464 fire incidences recorded nationwide.National fire week launch
The second week of May each year is the Fire Week Launch. The event is commemorated each year to raise awareness on the need to protect the environment from veld fires.
This year’s event will begin with a press conference in Harare where the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Oppah Muchinguri, will read a statement on veld fire management. Thereafter, commemorations will be done in all the provinces and districts.
Common causes of veld fires
1.Improper household ash disposal
2.Deliberate lighting of fires/ arson
3.Children playing with matches
4.Reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs
5.Lighting fire at road servitudes whilst waiting for early morning buses
Fire management
This is the process of planning, preventing and fighting fires to protect people, property and the forest resources.
Best practices in fire management
These are measures which should be put in place before the occurrence of a veldt fire to curb and prevent their rapid spread and the associated destruction.
Fire-fighting equipment should be in areas which are easily accessible through out the fire season.
Form fire-fighting teams or committees which can educate the local people on the best practices to be employed whilst putting out veldt fires in your communities.
The community should also monitor the areas from which most of the veld fires originate from so that they will not be caught off-guard.
Construct standard fireguards which are at least 9metres wide on either side of a boundary line/ fence using either the tractor, ox-drawn plough or hoeing methods.
The communities should put in place fire warning systems like bells in order to warn the local inhabitants about a veldt fire.
What to avoid in fire
management
Do not use flammable material to put out a veld fire.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly, sick, drunken people and the mentally challenged should not be present when putting out a veldt fire.
What does the law say?
Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 Environmental Management (Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection) Regulations state that:
It is the duty of the land user, owner or designated authority to put in place fire prevention measures;
No person shall deliberately cause a fire outside residential or commercial premises during the period between 31 July and 31 October.
The land user, owner, farmer, lessee or designated authority is responsible for extinguishing all fires on their property regardless of the origin of the fire: and
In case of a fire outbreak any person within the vicinity of the fire other than the user or the owner of that land must extinguish the fire.
Report all illegal solid waste dumps and sewer bursts to EMA and your local authority.