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Natural disaster wildfires claims 8 lives in Southern Cape




Fire and weather conditions have given the residents of George, Southern Cape,  little chance for a breather and to save what's left of their belongs as the fire claimed 8 lives.

Destruction

More than 16,000 hectares of vegetation and forest have been reduced to ash while more than 400 firefighters have been deployed to battle the blaze.

According to online sources, the Western Cape Environmental Affairs MEC, Anton Bredell says this is not the first big fire that they've had – it’s the seventh big fire in two weeks and the region also lost about 2,500 informal houses.

The fires have largely been contained, although the main concern right now, according to sources, is the De Vlugt area, about an hour out of George where a blaze remains volatile.

Maintenance and care of fire protection system

The goals of fire prevention are to prevent loss of life, property damage and downtime in use of a building. Fires often cause disruption of business activities, loss of documents, loss of employee work hours and liabilities claim, resulting from the spread of fire to adjacent properties.

Fire prevention program in place

The fire prevention program is said to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of fires by training occupants in fire safety, as well as proper maintenance and care of the fire protection system. By controlling potential ignition sources and fuels a successful fire prevention program is part of the day-to-day operations of every property.

This includes issues such as:

  • Methods of minimizing fires
  • Responsibilities for carrying out fire risk management
  • Maintenance and testing requirements for fire safety equipment
  • Evacuation procedures and responsibilities for all staff
  • Specific procedures for special events


Natural disaster wildfires

Unlike many natural disasters, most wildfires are caused by people—and can be prevented by people, too. While it is not easy to forecast wildfire outbreaks, people in fire-prone areas should plan ahead and prepare to evacuate with little notice.

Below are some tips on how to prevent wildfires and what to do if you're caught in the middle of one.

- Contact emergency firefighter company, your local fire department, or the park service if you notice an unattended or out-of-control fire.

- Never leave a fire unattended. Completely extinguish the fire—by dousing it with water and stirring the ashes until cold—before sleeping or leaving the campsite.

- When camping, take care when using and fueling lanterns, stoves, and heaters. Make sure lighting and heating devices are cool before refueling.

- Avoid spilling flammable liquids and store fuel away from appliances.

- Do not discard cigarettes, matches, and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Be certain to completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

- Follow local ordinances when burning yard waste. Avoid backyard burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water, and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check. Remove all flammables from the yard when burning.



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