Winter Fire Season draws to a close

The 2020/2021 Winter Fire Season officially drew to a close on 31 October 2021. However, the Department of Fisheries, Forestries and the Environments Working on Fire Programme’s firefighters remain on standby and ready to assist partners, Fire Protection Associations, and landowners in Integrated Fire Management Services. The season officially began on 1 June 2021, however, Working on Fire Mpumalanga’s 24 teams attended to fire suppression operations prior to the official opening. The teams, based in the Lowveld and Highveld, assisted in a total of 267 fires throughout the season. This is a decline from the previous season, where teams assisted in 288 fires.

WOF Mpumalanga General Manager, Martin Bolton, gave acknowledgment to valued stakeholders, partners, management and especially the teams on a job well done, adding: “Well done to our firefighters and management for persevering through the season, while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Your tremendous support and work are noted and celebrated.” The WOF Programme shifts its attention and resources to the Western and Eastern Cape, where the Summer Fire Season begins on 1 December 2021. The provinces have been hard at work with preparations and have concluded their Yellow Card Training Assessment and Fire Safety Campaigns.

The globally recognized WOF Programme is also celebrating 18 Years of its existence under the theme: “18 Years of Sustainability. The Programme continues to make a sustainable contribution to protecting the environment, saving lives, making a difference and restoring the dignity of South Africa’s disadvantaged youth by recruiting and training them in the specialized veld and forestry skills.