Highlands is not exempt from the dangers of fire. Fire has many elements to it, but owners are kindly requested/strongly urged to read at least the first three sections.
1. Your Fire Responsibility
We recently noted that many building contractors are using cooking fires without supervision or sufficient preventative measures in place. We also note that some owners have done nothing to prevent the spread of fire around their houses and therefore we take the opportunity to remind you of the realities in this regard. While the law expects of Highlands to take reasonable precautions to prevent the spreading of fires to and from the estate’s common property, each owner remains responsible for fire prevention on his own stand. This implies that you will legally remain liable for any fire originating on your stand. Be that from cooking fires from your builders or yourself as well as any other fire which originates on your stand. Conversely, your fire prevention activities will also act as preventative measure to protect you in case of any fires, be that from your own site or any other source. For insurance purposes you are also expected to prove reasonable preventative measures. A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen to stay lit. Often the easiest way to prevent a fire is to remove the fuel. Tall grass or a bed of dry leaves on your site can create a fire of sufficient magnitude to put your home at risk. As a minimum measure, it is suggested that there should not be flammable materials within an 8 meter radius of your house. The suggestion is not to leave bare ground, but to keep grass short, remove dry leaves and especially Mexican Marigold (kakiebos) which, with its high oil content, burns vigorously. Low branches of trees can also be trimmed. During a fire there are many volunteers, neighbours, and labourers who may not be familiar with the specific environment. Often fire alarms come at short notice and those present may not be sufficiently equipped to fight a fire at that moment. Therefore it is in your own interest to mark taps clearly and ideally make provision for conveniently placed and clearly marked additional fire fighting equipment. These can be things like fire extinguishers, sand and/or fire swats. Familiarise yourself with the location of the closest fire hydrant. The intent is not for the fire hose to directly reach your home, but rather to fill the tanks of high pressure fire fighting pumps. Obviously time wasted by these driving around in order to reach a hydrant is not ideal.
2. General
Veld fires are supposed to be part of nature, but humans are often also co-responsible for the outbreak of a fire and in most instances man is also at risk when fires do ignite. Veld fire related issues are regulated by the “fire act” (101 of ’98). According to this act owners have certain responsibilities and the trustees try to ensure that we, collectively, operate within these confines
3. Implications and suggestions with regard to your fire responsibilities
If negligence (Article 34) can be proven, you, as owner, could be held liable. Not only for damage to your own property, but also for damages accrued by other owners on Highlands and/or neighbouring farms. It is in this light that we kindly request you to, at all times, but especially during the dry months (usually from beginning of June up to the end of October) ensure that neither you nor any of those persons making use of your property, shall make an open fire on any other place other than that specifically prepared for this purpose. Such a place has:
- a diameter of at least 4 metres which is cleared of any flammable material.
- on the direct parameter of the fireplace itself, a border which is either masoned or packed with stone. This border acts as a wind screen. Therefore the height of the fire packed should be in reasonable relation to the height of the said border.
- a form of first line fire extinguishing equipment in close proximity. This can be something like a purpose made fire extinguisher, a sand bucket, a tap equipped with a suitable hose or fire swats.
Even with all the above mentioned measures in place, no open fire may be left alone. This implies that all fires be properly extinguished after use. Please take extreme care as especially hard wood can absorb so much heat energy that a fire which may at first inspection appear to be dead, can still be smouldering at the bottom or inside and can naturally be kindled and blown up during the night. Also note that all individuals are, by law, obliged to help when a fire ignites in an area. This also applies to fires on neighbouring property as fires which are not stopped in time can burn out of control and raze whole districts.
4. Additional owner options
A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen to stay lit. Often the easiest way to prevent a fire is to remove the fuel. Tall grass or a bed of dry leaves close to your house can create a fire of sufficient magnitude to put your home at risk. Therefore it is suggested that there should not be flammable materials within an 8 meter radius of your house. The suggestion is not to leave bare ground, but keep grass short, remove dry leaves and especially ‘kakiebos’ which, with its high oil content, burns vigorously. (If anybody has the English for ‘kakiebos’ I will gladly learn). Low branches of trees should also be trimmed. While the ideal is to prevent fires and actively keep them outside our property, it is still possible for a fire to burn close to your home. During a fire there are many volunteers, neighbours, and labourers who may not be familiar with the specific area. Often fire alarms come at short notice and those present may not be sufficiently equipped to fight a fire at that moment. Therefore it is in your own interest to mark taps clearly and ideally make provision for conveniently placed and clearly marked additional fire fighting equipment. Again, these can be things like fire extinguishers, sand and/or fire swats. Familiarise yourself with the location of the closest fire hydrant. The intent is not for a fire hose to directly reach your home, but rather to fill the tanks of high pressure fire fighting pumps. Obviously time wasted by driving around in order to reach a hydrant is not ideal.
5. Legislation
The National Act on Veldt and Forest fires of 1998 applies. Accordingly there are lists of accountabilities and responsibilities listed for those who do not participate in the local Fire Protection Association. This association comprises local land owners. Because we are active in both associations in our proximity, these legal risks do not apply to us and therefore I will not elaborate on them. Collectively these associations take care of: the drafting and application of a fire strategy coordination of actions with neighbouring associations setting rules for members organising training and the management and prevention of fires . This said, reasonable precautions are still legally expected of us. These are specified as, amongst others, the creation and maintenance of sufficient fire breaks, available and functional equipment as well as trained staff.
6. Highlands’s current position
- Along the public roads where risks of cigarette butts are especially great, major removal of brush, shrub and grass took place. This was a huge task and will help a lot.
- Contact with adjacent farms has been re-established
- Fire breaks were made in conjunction with Lekkerbreek
- On the Zwartkloof side, the rocks along the fence are such that normal fire break practices can not be followed safely. Consequently we graded the road where possible and use manual labour to remove fuel along the rocky fence lines.
- We purchased a fire engine in the form of a high pressure pump connected to a water tank as well basic fire fighting equipment.
- Dave gave basic/refresher fire fighting training to our staff. Most of them are experienced in fighting veldt fires. May the only fires on Highlands be those we intentionally make!