Aerial water bombardment and support, provided by 24 aircraft and helicopters, will play a critical role in fighting wildfires during the looming hot summer months in the Western Cape, says local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
He said the province responded to more than 15,000 reports of fire outbreaks each year, and this year the department of local government would allocate R16m towards firefighting.
“There are 30 firefighting bases, as well as several volunteer firefighting outfits, in the province. These organisations are staffed by more than 3,000 firefighters who need to be co-ordinated, often at very short notice and under difficult and dangerous conditions.” He added that the provincial rapid response strategy, in place since 2012, prioritised aerial support: “This strategy has resulted in a historic success rate of more than 90% of fires being extinguished within the first hour of being reported. Yes, aerial support is expensive but it is much cheaper than the damage that might be caused by a runaway wildfire.”
He said the disaster management centre was preparing for up to three aerial missions a day during the height of the summer fire season. Bredell cautioned that human behaviour remained the main cause of wildfires. About 55% of fires during the past fire season were started by people — either intentionally or by accident — and a further 14% by mechanical means such as power lines, chainsaws or brush cutters.Would you like to comment on this article?
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Aerial support key to fighting summer wildfires in Western Cape, says MECAerial water bombardment and support, provided by 24 aircraft and helicopters, will play a critical role in fighting wildfires during the looming hot summer months in the Western Cape, says local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
Read more »
Aerial support key to fighting summer wildfires in Western Cape, says MECAerial water bombardment and support, provided by 24 aircraft and helicopters, will play a critical role in fighting wildfires during the looming hot summer months in the Western Cape, says local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
Read more »
Aerial support key to fighting summer wildfires in Western Cape, says MECAerial water bombardment and support, provided by 24 aircraft and helicopters, will play a critical role in fighting wildfires during the looming hot summer months in the Western Cape, says local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
Read more »
Aerial support key to fighting summer wildfires in Western Cape, says MECAerial water bombardment and support, provided by 24 aircraft and helicopters, will play a critical role in fighting wildfires during the looming hot summer months in the Western Cape, says local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
Read more »
Aerial support key to fighting summer wildfires in Western Cape, says MECAerial water bombardment and support, provided by 24 aircraft and helicopters, will play a critical role in fighting wildfires during the looming hot summer months in the Western Cape, says local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell.
Read more »