province
28 November 2007
The Department of Local Government and Housing has received the report from
the team of fire investigators, who were appointed to investigate the cause of
the fires that recently ravaged some parts of the province. The team
investigated the causes of the fires in 13 of the 18 municipalities in the
province.
The report indicates that most of the fires were caused by natural
occurrences such as lightening, exacerbated by strong winds, and some of the
fires were caused by human negligence in the form carelessly discarded
cigarette buds and unguided and unprotected domestic fire usage. In all the
municipalities lack of fire breaks worsened the situation.
The department will be implementing the recommendations of the report which
include the following:
* All local authorities ensuring that they have detailed disaster management
plans and frameworks, disaster management centres and satellites, detailed
disaster hazmat and status quo for protective gear and a health and safety in
the work place.
* A provincial wide radio network is installed to cover the entire province and
be linked to the disaster management centres, emergency services, police,
traffic and aviation at all times.
* That fire protection associations are formed in all areas and that a three
monthly progress report be submitted to the Provincial Disaster Management
Centre.
* That regulations be enforced for landowners to make fire breaks each year
prior to the fire season and to ensure safety precautions when doing so.
* Education for school children, road signage as to danger of fires and area
patrol in high season should be increased.
As part of preparing the province to be able to deal with such disasters,
the Department of Local Government and Housing will ensure that the Provincial
Disaster Management Framework is in place no later than the end of November
2007.
Contact Person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Mpumalanga Provincial
Government
28 November 2007
