EMA Urge Locals To Abide To Safety Protocols During Fire Season

Posted by admin on 2023-09-13 21:09:31 | Last Updated by admin on 2025-10-30 19:59:43

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Wed 13 September 2023, 17:00CAT

By Kudakwashe Kutinyo 

BULAWAYO residents have been encouraged to join the fight against veld fires to reduce the risk losing valuable property, human and wildlife as the fire season has arrived.

Speaking to BANO NEWS, Mrs Memory Kapumha the Environmental Education and Publicity Officer at Environmental Management Agency(EMA)-Bulawayo highlighted that communities are encouraged to construct fire guards to block the veld fires from rapidly spreading. 

"We expect people to construct standard fire guards to control fires and these standard fire guards. These are belts of land measuring atleast 9 metres of width on either sides of boundary fence that are cleared of biomass and atleast 4.5metres for internal ones". 

"Fire guards are cleared using oxdrawn ploughs or mechanically using tractors. From the month of April to June is when he fire guards should be constructed just before the fire season" . 

"Establishment of fire command centre, identify water points and ensure there is water all the time, take note of the fire danger index warning",she added. 

She also highlighted how veld fires are caused. 

"Veld fires are also caused by negligence, land clearance using fire, careless throwing away of ciggerate stubs, improper use of fire by gold panners, children playing with fire without adult supervision and improper ash disposal"

According the Environment Management Agency (EMA) the fire season is gazetted to start from 31 July stretching to 30 November.Veld fires are a menace to the biophysical and social-economic environment because they cause total distruction.

In recent weeks the city of Bulawayo has experienced an increase in fire related incidents most notably the fire which brought down Mtize market and Mzilikazi carpark into ashes resulting in most people losing valuable assets worth thousands of dollars.

Eight veld fires have been noted which were alarming within Bulawayo and a total of 106,5 hectares were burnt within this 8 veld fire incidents. 

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