PAFPA - 2024 Fire Prohibition Notice

WHEREAS the Platorand Area Fire Protection Association covers an area exceptionally prone to wildfires and,

WHEREAS the said Fire Association has determined a period of extraordinary fire hazard, the said Fire Association therefore directs:

1.That, within the boundaries of the Platorand Area FPA, and subject to paragraph 2 below, no person shall from 1 May 2024, up to and including 31 October 2024, 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, otherwise than –

1. fires made within a demarcated picnic or camping area or caravan park, or holiday resorts, but only at places within such an area which have been specifically prepared and maintained for that purpose; provided that such fires are properly extinguished with water and/or sand; 

2. fires for the preparation of food on residential stands;

3. fires made on residential and industrial stands in proclaimed townships;

4. fires made for initiation school purposes, but only at places, which have been specially prepared and maintained for that purpose to prevent fires from spreading; 

2.That, within the boundaries of the Platorand Area FPA, no person shall from 1 May 2024, up to and including 31 October 2024,

a.    Burn harvest residue on cultivated crop fields;

b.    destroy by burning slash originating from any timber plantation or self-sown exotic trees,

c.    destroy by burning of harvest residue, cultivated crop fields and veld, clear or maintain a fire belt by burning, or execute block burns;

provided that such fires may be made on days that the regulations regarding FDI and other conditions, as determined by the Fire Protection Association, are conducive thereto, and such fires are conducted in terms of a valid burning permit issued by the FPA and the terms and conditions of the permit are adhered to; provided further that no burning may take place on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday except in terms of special or exceptional permits. Notwithstanding the aforegoing no slash may be burnt during the prohibition period.