goFPA: Looking back on the 2018/19 fire season
(And our preparations now for the next fire season)
Looking Back
Introduction: Counting the costs of the fire season
The 2018/19 fire season was one of the most difficult ever experienced in the Overberg. During the season, we had to fight 20 major wildfires – which proved to be very damaging, and very costly. Not only did we lose lives and infrastructure to some of these ferocious fires; but the environmental damage was also immeasurable.
It was a difficult and traumatic time for fire-fighters and Overberg residents alike.
However, we also learned important lessons during this time. We were reminded how important it is to work together. Many of these fires would have created EVEN MORE damage, were it not for our GoFPA members and partners: our farming community, our corporates and our conservation agencies.
It captures the role of the GoFPA, as the support and communications channel bringing these partners together.
From the GoFPA team, thank you for all your help during this extreme season. In this report, we look back on the season and its impact. And we look forward to how we can start preparing ourselves now already for the next fire season.
The 2018/19 fire season burn scar
OVERBERG | CAPE AGULHAS | OVERSTRAND | SWELLENDAM | THEEWATERSKLOOF
HECTARE BURNED
|
yyyymm |
calc_HA |
name |
|
201811 |
43 |
|
|
201811 |
1 288 |
Platbosriviers / Sptiskop |
|
201812 |
21 |
|
|
201812 |
4 722 |
Waenhuiskrans / De Mond |
|
201812 |
1 867 |
Riviersonderend / Die Poort / Tierhoek |
|
201812 |
5 043 |
Bergfontein |
|
201901 |
537 |
Fisherhaven |
|
201901 |
1 438 |
Hermanus |
|
201901 |
1 438 |
Franskraal / Uilenskraalmond |
|
201901 |
86 |
|
|
201901 |
9 915 |
Bettiesbaai / Pringlebaai / Rooiels |
|
201901 |
13 048 |
Grabouw / Elgin |
|
201902 |
21 |
|
|
201902 |
43 |
|
|
201902 |
2 318 |
Steenboksberg |
|
201902 |
86 |
|
|
201902 |
4 989 |
Franschhoek |
|
201902 |
343 |
Napier / Nuwerus |
|
201902 |
21 |
|
Aerial suppression: A busy season for our pilots
718.9: Overberg Summary Total Hours Flown on fires
6.7
MILLION
Overberg Overall Liters of water usage during fire suppression
6.5
HUNDRED
Overberg Overall Liters of water usage during fire suppression
Fire ignitions
ESNA STUUR
A timeline of the fire season
More than 30 wild fires burned during the season. Around 20 of these were very damaging and very costly, with many fires burning across more than one municipal district.
The major fires of the 2018/19 fire include:
Communications platforms: A look back
Donors
Thank you to all these donors who supported our fire-fighters and our fire-fighting coordination efforts during the past fire season:
LOGO IMAGES x 8
PIETER STUUR
Looking Forward
Preparing for the 2019/20 fire season
High-risk areas 2019/20
ESNA STUUR
Preparing yourself for the next fire season:
Fire Management Unit leaders: Your responsibility
Now that we’re in our winter planning phase, it’s your job to meet with your FMU members. Together you need to assess:
- Risks in your area, and mitigating actions already undertaken to deal with these risks.
- Risks in your area, and actions NEEDED to mitigate the risk.
- Risk in your area for which you need additional help.
- The training requirements in your area.
- The self-audit checklist register.
- Each FMU member must complete the self-audit checklist. Members keep their audits, but you record that they have completed it. The checklist is available here.
Training Schedule
Here’s your training schedule for 2019:
PIETER STUUR
We recommend using registered contractors, including:
kyk goFPA website
“There’s so much knowledge across the landscape on how to fight wildfires. And no one knows the land better than a landowner. So as the goFPA, we work with these existing strengths, to support integrated fire management and coordination.”
Louise Wessels, Manager; Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association
Wildfires affect communities in the Overberg in many ways. We’ve seen loss of lives, and of course, loss of livelihoods. The cost of fire suppression, and the damages and losses suffered also come at a heavy price. We can work even harder to prevent and suppress wildfires. But we can ONLY do this together. And I say with confidence that the Overberg has seen a huge increase in responsible and accountable behaviour by our landowners. These are hardworking members who stand together and work hard during fires, and who develop smart plans to reduce their fire risks before fire season starts. Thank you!
A final note: Financial self-sufficiency is hard to achieve and maintain, especially when having to buy capital items. We would like to recognise and thank the Overberg District Municipality and Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, for the continued support during the past season. And all our donors, who gave time, money and in-kind support, to help us through the most challenging fire season we’ve experienced to date.
We now look forward to the 2019/20 fire season – to ensure that together, we are as READY as we can be.
Louise Wessels
Manager: Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association
reduction | readiness | response | recovery
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