The Most Dangerous Criminal of All
Consider – A burglar might rob you of a few possessions, but a sudden fire could sweep away absolutely everything - including the precious lives of your loved ones.
Visit the Cape of Fire website to learn of the danger of wildfires >>>> CLICK HERE
We welcome your comments – to leave a message on the blog, just click on the title of the article you are reading and then scroll to the bottom of the page and fill in the box.
Red Hill Fire
The Recent fire on Redhill should be a warning to us of the increasing risk to our homes as we head further into the fire season.
PLEASE HELP REDUCE THE FIRE RISK IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
The City of Cape Town welcomes participation by South Peninsula communities in the fight against Aliens.
Make your own neighbourhood safe, by reporting any plots in your area that are overgrown or infested with invasive alien plants and send it in to the council at the following address – John.Mathyse@capetown.gov.za with a copy to Gerard.Langenhoven@capetown.gov.za
The Council will then write to the landowners requesting that they clear their land of invasive aliens and take further action as necessary.
Ctr CLICK on the following link to visit the Cape of Fire website to find more information about the risks of runaway fires in our area and ways to make your home safer.
CAPE of FIRE
There are photos and descriptions of the Alien Species that pose the biggest threat on our website on the “Know Your Aliens Pages”.
Cape of Fire http://www.southerncrossroads.info/capeoffire/
Thanks for Improving the Welcome Glen Firebreak
—–Original Message—–
From: Allan & Clare Roy [mailto:royfamily@polka.co.za]
Sent: 23 January 2012 12:03 AM
To: ‘Gerard Langenhoven’
Cc: Geoff Brundrit; ‘Lesley Shackleton’; Arne Soderland; africoe@iafrica.com; ‘Phoebe Barnard’; Aliet Pelt; Fran Black; kenfin@mweb.co.za; Don Stepto; Roy Burnie; John Mathyse; ‘Felicity Purchase’; ‘Simon Liell-Cock’; Louise Stafford
Subject: Thank you!!
Dear Gerard,
Thank You very much for the new boundaries to the Welcome Glen Fire Break – cut last week! The fire-break on the South Eastern border of Welcome Glen was widened – more than its been in previous years – which is a great relief!
I regard the South Eastern border as our most vulnerable because of the prevailing fire season wind combined with the fuel load in that corner – so to have a more thoroughly cut fire break is a huge bonus – Thank You!
I sincerely hope the City will pressure the Dept of Public Works more effectively this year, to clear the land behind the fire break in the near future.
Besides greatly reducing our wild fire risk - it would also be a huge advantage to the City, by reducing the magnitude of future maintenance of the newly sharpened fire-breaks.
Many thanks again,
Clare
Clare Roy
Glencairn Fire Watch
021 781 0942
CONTROLLED BURN – DIDO VALLEY
Steve,
I can assure you the burn is in very good hands. Dalton Gibbs is the fire boss, supported by Working on Fire, the SA Navy, Volunteer Wildfire services, Philip Prins and we contracted a very experienced fire fighting team to do the actual burn.
Regards,
Louise Stafford
Invasive Species Coordinator
City of Cape Town Invasive Species Programme
Environmental Resource Management
Nature Conservation, Westlake Office
Ou Kaapse Weg, Tokai
Postnet Suite 80, Private Bag X 26,
Tokai, 7966
South Africa
Tel: +27 21 712 1944/1434
Fax: +27 86 578 0410
From: steve [mailto:africoe@iafrica.com]
Sent: 29 September 2011 11:59 AM
To: Louise Stafford
Cc: ‘Sandy Barnes’; ‘Royfamily’; ‘Rob Erasmus’; Simon Liell-Cock; Felicity Purchase; ‘Phoebe Barnard’; ‘Chad Cheney’; ‘Cilla Bromley’; ‘Lesley Shackleton’
Subject: RE: Planned controlled burn – Dido valley
Dear Louise,
Thanks for the information.
We fully understand the need to burn, and acknowledge that it is your right as a landowner to do so in terms of the law. However we can’t help being extremely nervous about the planned operation, as it is now very late in the year for safe burning – especially in view of the low rainfall experienced this winter and the huge patches of uncontrolled biomass remaining on the hillside above the area you are to burn (notably Erf 1).
The clearing of Erf 1 particularly is a very sore point with us, as it seems that there has been no progress in this matter, in spite of many representations to the council by concerned residents in this regard. If all that thick bush were to catch fire there would be terrible consequences both for our valley and also for Da Gama Park.
All we can say is – please take no risks at all, especially with the wind, have major firefighting resources present throughout, and be very, very careful. It would only take one spark!
Regards
Steve Coe
—–Original Message—–
From: Louise Stafford [mailto:Louise.Stafford@capetown.gov.za]
Sent: 28 September 2011 10:23 AM
To: Steve Coe
Cc: Sandy Barnes; Royfamily; Rob Erasmus; Simon Liell-Cock; Felicity Purchase; Phoebe Barnard; Chad Cheney
Subject: Planned controlled burn – Dido valley
Dear Steve,
You might have noticed that we are clearing invasive plants at Dido valley, next to the Navy and the Scratch patch. The property is managed by the City housing department and it is also the planned site relocation of the Redhill community.
The clearing resulted in a lot of biomass which need to burn before summer to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard. The burning permit has been approved by City fire, air pollution and the sub-council.
This mail is to inform you that the fuel reduction burn will take place before the 15th of October. We are just waiting for suitable weather conditions.
The FPA, WoF, and relevant City departments will be involved. Dalton Gibbs from City biodiversity management is the fire boss.
Regards,
Louise Stafford
Invasive Species Coordinator
City of Cape Town Invasive Species Programme
Environmental Resource Management
Nature Conservation, Westlake Office
Ou Kaapse Weg, Tokai
Postnet Suite 80, Private Bag X 26,
Tokai, 7966
South Africa
Tel: +27 21 712 1944/1434
Fax: +27 86 578 0410
Enviro Wildfire Services
Good morning
Attached, please find the June 2011 edition of the WILDFIRE newsletter.
Please feel free to circulate it to others in the field of wildfire management.
Regards
Rob
To open – click on the link > > > > 03 Newsletter June 2011
Rob Erasmus
Enviro Wildfire Services
P.O. Box 425, Bergvliet, 7864
Cell: 083 411 3378
Fax to email : 086 571 1809
Tips from Firewise
The following tips were given out in the April Newsletter of the STCA
Firewise
We will all have seen the terrible fires across the Bay at Somerset West and felt for the fear and loss of the residents there. Some valuable tips from the ‘Firescaping Your Garden’ pamphlet.
- “Within the entire area extending at least 10 meters from the home the vegetation should be kept lean (ie small amounts of flammable vegetation) and regularly maintained.
- Keep the area clean, don’t let dead vegetation or other flammable debris accumulate. Remove dead branches or leaf litter.
- Trees should be de-limbed well above the height of ground vegetation.
- Group shrubs and trees in small clumps or islands, with plenty of space between clumps.
- Remove any branches overhanging the roof and any vegetation or flammable material that can act as ladder fuel (eg leaf litter accumulating in gutters, fine leaved shrubs, climbers.)”
Volunteers needed
The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) plan to set up a dedicated base for the Far South for a faster reaction to wild fires in our area. They are asking for volunteers to train not only as fire fighters, but in logistics, planning, control and driving. If you feel you might be able to help, please contact Allan Roy on 021 781 0942.
VWS Needs Recruits in the Far South
Dear All,
The Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) plans to set up a dedicated base for the Far South to provide faster reaction to wild fires in the area. Many of our mountains have not seen fire since 2000 – there are large areas that could burn - so we need to be prepared for it in the next fire season.
To achieve this, we need volunteers who are prepared to be trained to man this new Far South base in various areas:
We require people to run the logistics, planning,control and driving and people who are physically fit who could be trained as fire fighters – without a full team we cannot fight fires.
All training will take place at the existing Newlands Base during the next 6 months - to be ready for the official fire season that begins on the 1st November.
The VWS relies completely on sponsorship and donations to operate, so if you can assist us financially that would also help as the new base does require a vehicle and equipment.
For more information on the VWS, visit our website on: www.vws.co.za
Don’t worry that the dates for the recruitment meetings posted on the website have already past, but we are extending the application time for the Far South to accommodate a new base.
If you are interested in either joining or supporting or know someone who might, please reply to this email.
Kind regards,
Allan
Allan Roy
Volunteer Wildfire Services
Recruitment for VWS
Glencairn and Simonstown Firewise at Navy Festival
Warning Sent to Owner of Erf 1
Dear Neighbour
Further to earlier communication – the following is a copy of the warning sent to the owner of Erf 1 from the Glencairn Fire Watch regarding the extreme fire risk that his overgrown property poses for the residents of Glencairn valley
Glencairn Fire Watch
c/o 23 Glen alpine Road
Welcome Glen
7975
Telephone: 021 781 0942
Email: glencairnfirewatch@gmail.com
23 March 2011
Martin Kelly
Cape Town Coastal Properties Pty Ltd
32 Cockburn Close
Simon’s Town 7975
Dear Sir,
Further to: Alien Vegetation Fire Hazard – Erf 1, Simon’s Town
On 9th of February 2011, we sent you a letter regarding the serious threat to the lives and property of Glencairn residents from the heavy infestation of invasive alien plants species that has been allowed to develop on your property, Erf 1, Simon’s Town. We informed you of our concern that there is a very real threat of a runaway fire crossing from your land into the adjacent suburb at this time of year. We offered to meet with you or a representative to discuss the problem
To date, we have had no reply from yourself, nor from any of your representatives. We are therefore left with no alternative but to take the legal route to support efforts to have the land cleared at your expense and for you to be compelled to comply with all aspects of the Fire Safety regulations in terms of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act and municipal fire safety bylaws.
We further give formal notice that you will be held directly responsible by our community should a fire break out in the interim and cross over from your property, if the land has not been adequately cleared and the required fire precautions (as per the national Veld and Forest Fire Act and other regulations) are not in place, (i.e. firebreaks, management plan, standby firefighting team etc.). In such an event we would not hesitate to lay charges against you directly in your personal capacity for criminal negligence and would also support any civil action against you and/or your company(s) for damages, should any of our residents suffer loss as a result.
Yours faithfully,
Clare Roy
Chairperson
Glencairn Fire Watch
Fire Alert
Press releases from City Council 
Posted on 09/04/2011 by 
admin
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
MEDIA RELEASE
07 APRIL 2011
Gusting south-easterly winds continue: fire danger warning for Cape Metropole
The South African Weather Service has forecast that the gale force south-easterly winds (35kt or 65km/h) will persist for the remainder of the day between Table Bay and Cape Agulhas.
This morning the Weather Office issued an additional warning of a high veld fire danger rating across the Cape Metropole.
The current weather conditions for the Cape Metropole are cloudy and cool. For the weekend high temperatures between the high 20’s and 30’s are forecast.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre and Fire and Rescue Service are accordingly advising the public to take precautions against wind damage and to be alert about fire safety.
These conditions are favourable for runaway fires that could easily become major blazes.
”The risk of fires spreading in informal settlements is extremely high in these conditions – residents should ensure that domestic cooking fires and heating or lighting devices are placed in safe and secure places” says the City’s Chief Fire Officer, Ian Schnetler.
FIRE SAFETY WITH REGARD TO STRUCTURAL FIRES
- Every home should have more than one exit to ensure escape if a fire breaks out.
- Informal homes should be built at least three metres apart to stop fires from spreading.
- Keep matches, lighters, paraffin and poisons out of reach of young children.
- Use child-proof caps on flammable products such as paraffin.
- Extinguish all candles and lamps before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Avoid smoking in bed – it is dangerous.
- Keep stoves on a flat surface away from drafts and flammable objects.
- Never leave fires and cooking stoves unattended.
- Always keep a bucket of sand and a bucket of water handy, in case a fire breaks out.
- Switch off all electrical appliances when not in use.
- Do not overload plug points.
- Do not sleep with heaters switched on.
The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre is appealing to residents to take the following measures to prevent wind damage:
- Install straps or additional clips to your roof to secure it to the frame structure, in order to prevent roof damage.
- Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed
- Determine how and where to secure your boat
- Protect windows and doors with covers
- Reinforce double entry doors
- Reinforce or replace damaged garage doors
- Secure metal siding and metal roofs
- Secure built-up and single-ply roofs
- Brace gable-end roof framing
- Ensure adequate insurance cover for possible storm damage
- Motorists must watch out for fallen trees/branches and broken power lines along roads
- Exercise extreme caution in mountain areas
“It is important to secure your property by affixing permanent wind shutters, which offer the best protection for windows, or utilising boarding,” said Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Acting Head: Disaster Risk Management Centre.
The fire danger warning for the Cape Metropole will be enforced for today and the general public are requested to apply fire safe practices.
Solomons-Johannes appealed to the general public to heed to the public advisory issued and to listen to the radio or watch television news for the latest weather forecast.
Any emergency and/or distress call can be reported to the 107 emergency number from a Telkom line. Cellphone users need to dial 021 480 7700. The sooner you phone, the sooner
