Fire Safety and General maintenance

Safety from Fire in National Parks and Gazetted Forests as well as Rural and Farming Areas

Introduction

Every year we experience the severe impact of Climate Change causing uncontrolled fires. During the dry spells, bush fires spread quickly, destroying vegetation  farms and crops and even result in loss of life.

These past years many farmers, farmworkers and firemen and women were treated for burns from these fires.

Making it Easier for Response

1. Create non-combustible zones around spaces where equipment, fuel, hay and chemicals are stored.
2. Facilitate fire service response by working with your fire department to make certain that adequate water supply is available.
3. Remove obstructions from aisles, walkways, driveways, and doors in order to provide fire service with a clear path.
4. Provide a list of stored hazardous materials to your fire department and update regularly.

Long-term disaster risk management strategies

How they can reduce the risks of Bush fires for not only the fragile Forests and National Parks but for those living and working in rural areas

Preparedness to fight Fire
How can we be better prepared for safety from and during bush and forest fires?

• Join a Fire Protection Association.
• Collaborate with others. It is important for farmers to work together and share ideas and solutions on how to tackle risk.
• Maintain Equipment. Faulty machinery can lead to bush fires if it is not checked and kept in good working order. It is essential for equipment to be in working order to protect employees, livestock and other assets in the event of a fire.
• Make certain exhaust systems including manifolds, mufflers and turbochargers, are free of leaks and in good working order.
• Replace worn electrical components, bearings, belts or chains.
• Provide adequate emergency vehicle access and water supply.
• Create a bush fire plan, covering the eventualities of both staying and defending property or leaving it ahead of the veld fire.
• Train workers and staff in firefighting techniques, how to deal with fire problems and safety standards for smoking, burning rubbish, etc.
• Stress the importance of everyday maintenance and housekeeping in preventing fire.
• Install, inspect and maintain appropriate warning and extinguishing systems in residences, farm buildings, on tractors, combines and around mechanized equipment. This should include fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, fire alarms and, ideally in some locations and circumstances, sprinklers.
• Invest in your own well-maintained firefighting equipment (such as a petrol/diesel-powered water pump).
• Reduce fuel loads and avoid uncontrolled alien vegetation infestation on your land.
• Owners of thatched houses must take all necessary precautions such as installing drenchers, using fire blankets and having fire extinguishers to hand.
• Use technology: satellite-based fire information tools such as orgprovides real-time fire information.
• During the cooler months, controlled or prescribed burning is sometimes used and may decrease the likelihood of serious hotter fires. Controlled burning must be overseen by fire control authorities for regulations and permits. Please contact your local municipality or fire brigade.
• Share your plan with your neighbors and fire protection officer, if you have one.
• Make sure your firebreaks are in place and that they are wide and long enough to stop a fire.
• Make sure contact numbers of Fire and Rescue services are easily accessible.
• Consult your fire department for advice and literature on all farm fire safety and fire prevention matters.
• Stay in touch; keep communication lines open. WhatsApp, SMS or radios can be used.
• Formalize who is responsible for what, when a fire breaks out there is no time to allocate responsibilities; everyone must know exactly what they are expected to do. Meet regularly to update your procedures.
• Consult with the Experts such as County Fire Depts. Working on Fire Control Preparedness Measures

  Reducing the Risks of bush Fires
  
  Planning and Readiness

1. Farmers should create risk management strategies to deal with fire risks.
2. They should restrict the use of farm machinery on days when the fire danger is high.
3. Be extra careful when using welding, cutting and grinding equipment.
4. Welders and cutting torches should only be used in clean areas at least 10m away from any flammable and combustible materials. Welding curtains should be used.
5. Store vehicles and machinery, which present special hazards, in buildings separate from those used for other purposes.
6. Post signs and enforce “No Smoking” bans in barns and around machinery and combustible and flammable materials.
7. Never permit smoking in or near barns, outbuildings or flammable material storage areas.
8. Never refuel an internal combustion engine while it is hot or running.
9. Be sure that all electrical wiring is inspected and approved.
10. Install lightning rods on all major buildings.
11. Periodically inspect all wiring and electrical motors and appliances for exposed wires, broken insulation, fraying, and indications of wear or rodent damage, proper grounding and installation.
12. Burn trash only in an incinerator equipped with a spark arrester or a covered burn barrel.
13. Establish firebreaks between land and roads or railways.
14. Identify and minimize the risk of possible fire hazards in your operations and residence.
15. Removing the fuel the fire needs to spread
16. Remove highly flammable and combustible materials and accelerants where possible.
17. Document the location and nature of those that cannot be removed.
18. See that crops are dry before storing, provide adequate ventilation in crop storage areas and repair leaking roofs.
19. Check for other spontaneous combustion hazards such as haystacks, manure piles and oily or paint-soaked rags.
20. Clearly mark and store flammable liquids in approved containers in well-ventilated areas away from heat, sparks, combustible materials and other potential ignition sources.
21. Keep all ignition sources away from combustible materials. Do not store materials such as hay, straw, grains, fertilizers or pesticides with machinery or near any type of electrical or heat source.
22. Remove highly flammable vegetation from within at least 5 feet of residences and farm buildings.