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Burning Prohibitions
 

SUMMARY OF THE 2010 BURNING PROHIBITIONS

AS PER GOVERNMENT GAZETTE NUMBER 3317 – MAY 12TH 2010

 

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries hereby:

 

  1. Direct that in the areas and during the said periods indicated in the Schedule no person shall make a fire in the open air, or if such a fire has been made, allow it to continue to burn or add fuel thereto,

Zululand Interior Areas –

1st July 2010 to 30th November 2010


Zululand Coastal Areas –

1st August 2010 to 30th September 2010

 

otherwise than-

 

  1. Fires made within a demarcated picnic or camping area or caravan park or holiday resort, but only at places within such a demarcated area as have been specifically prepared and maintained for that purpose;

 

  1. Fires for the preparation of food on residential stands which are adequately protected against fire;

 

  1. Fires made on residential and industrial stands in proclaimed townships which are adequately protected against fire; and

 

  1. Fires to facilitate the harvesting of sugarcane, which is to be allowed:

 

Zululand Interior Areas –

18:00 on Fridays to Saturdays 07:00

17:00 on Sundays to 06:00 on Mondays


Zululand Coastal Areas –

08:00 on Fridays to Saturdays 07:00

17:00 on Sundays to 06:00 on Mondays;

 

  1. Direct that in the areas mentioned and during the period indicated in the Schedule, no person shall destroy any ground cover, including any slash or harvest residue by burning, subject to regulation 12, promulgated in terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1993 (Act No. 43 of 1993);

 

Zululand Interior Areas –

1st July 2010 to 31st October 2010


Zululand Coastal Areas –

1st August 2010 to 30th September 2010

 

 

 

 

  1. Direct that in the areas mentioned and during the period indicated in the Schedule, the clearing or maintenance of fire belts by burning is prohibited;

 

Zululand Interior Areas –

1st August 2010 to 30th September 2010


Zululand Coastal Areas –

1st August 2010 to 30th September 2010

 

  1. Direct that in the areas mentioned and during the period indicated in the Schedule, the execution of block burns, including the burning of veld, may not take place from 12:00 on Fridays to 06:00 on Mondays subject to regulation 12, promulgated in terms of the Conservation of Agriculture Resources Act, 1993 (Act No. 43 of 1993) and in compliance to the Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act 101 of 1998).

 

Zululand Interior Areas –

1st July 2010 to 31st October 2010


Zululand Coastal Areas –

1st August 2010 to 30th September 2010

 

These prohibitions or part thereof, as well as periods of validity, can be lifted and amended by the Regional Director, where or when circumstances permit, subject to review by the local Fire Protection Association.

 

  1. (5) Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA) (Act 43 of 1983)

Burning of Grassveld can be done under the following recommendations:

 

Zululand Interior Areas – ‘Dry Tall Grassveld’ – Burn from 15th August to 31st October

-       Veld should only be burnt within a period of 5 days after at least 15mm of rain has fallen within 24hrs.


Zululand Coastal Areas – ‘Warm Moist Grassveld’ – Burn from 1st July to 15th September

-       Veld should only be burnt within a period of 5 days after at least 15mm of rain has fallen within 24hrs.

 

 

It is further recommended that grazing veld only be burnt once every 3 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Fire Protection Association rules include:

  1. Landowners intending to conduct a prescribed burn or to burn a firebreak must inform their neighbours.
  2. Permission must be obtained, by means of a burning permit, from the Fire Protection Association Operations Centre. The Fire Protection Officer must use extreme discretion where the Grassveld boundaries on commercial crops or plantations. Fire breaks and fire fighting resources must also be in place.
  3. Neighbours to co-operate when burning mutual fire breaks.
  4. No burning if a Yellow, or higher, fire danger index is predicted for that day.
  5. 5. No burning on Fridays after 12:00, after 12:00 on the day before a public holiday, public holidays or weekends.
  6. Firebreaks to be made around all dwellings.
  7. Where dwellings are in a cluster or close proximity to each other, a firebreak can be made around the perimeter of such an area
  8. Each member is answerable to their Zone co-ordinator.
  9. Any runaway fires to be reported to the FPO, Zone Fire Warden and neighbours immediately.

10.  Any planned controlled burns under Eskom power lines to be reported to the operations centre or Eskom before such burn.

11.  Every attempt must be made to complete burning of firebreaks by end July.  If this has not been possible, then the FPA committee has the authority, in conjunction with the Fire Protection Officer, to extend this period, provided the necessary permits are obtained from the Umbrella FPA or the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.  Members to adhere to the conditions stipulated on permits.

12.  It is a criminal offence to leave controlled burns unattended before the fire is totally extinguished.