PAFPA - 2024 Rules and Regulations

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL LANDOWNERS FALLING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF PAFPA

BURNING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR 2024
The following rules and regulations have been implemented by the executive committee of the FPA in accordance with the Veld and Forest Fire Act (Act 101 of 1998) and the Platorand Area Fire Protection Association 2024 Burning Prohibitions:

1. EVERY OWNER ON WHOSE LAND A VELDFIRE MAY START OR BURN:

  1. Must prepare and maintain a firebreak on his/her side of the boundary;
  2. Is strongly urged to have adequate tracer lines in place before commencing the burning of firebreaks;
  3. Must adhere to the minimum requirements as stated by the FPA;
  4. Must have trained staff;
  5. Must have a responsible person present on the farm if the owner is not permanently on the farm;
  6. Must have protective clothing for staff at fires.

2. EVERY OWNER MUST ENSURE THAT FIREBREAKS ON THE PROPERTY:

  1. Are wide enough to prevent a veldfire from spreading to or from neighbouring land
  2. Do not cause soil erosion
  3. Are reasonably free of flammable material that is capable of carrying a veld fire across it

3. MINIMUM RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR BURNING OF FIREBREAKS

    1. At least one tractor/trailer/bakkie unit of 500l of water with a pump or PTO driven
    2. 2 x knapsack sprayers
    3. 2 x fire beaters
    4. 1 x fire lighter
    5. 1 x Radio or Cell phone
    6. 1 x First Aid kit
    7. 5 x Basic fire fighters
    8. 1 x Responsible person
    9. Persons on the fire line must be equipped with protective clothing
    10. Persons on the fire line should have basic firefighting training.

    If landowners do not have enough equipment and/or resources to meet the minimum requirements they must either buy the relevant equipment, team up with neighbours or hire contractors so that the above can be adhered to.

    In the event that a landowner does not meet the requirements stated above, and the Pafpa management sends the WoF Handcrew to attend a wildfire on that landowner’s property, such landowner shall be liable to the Handcrew for the cost of a callout as laid down in the rules of the Handcrew, whether the landowner has sanctioned such attendance or not.

    4 WHEN IS A VALID BURNING PERMIT NECESSARY?

    1. No burning is permitted without a valid burning permit from 1st May to 31st October
    2. A single permit can be obtained for the period 1st May to the 31st July
    3. Firebreaks should be completed by 31st July
    4. A landowner may apply to the ward chairman for an extension of that permit for the burning of camps and blocks after 31st July.
    5. When burning is conducted by a burning contractor, the burning permit must be valid for the particular property or properties. The contractor cannot burn in terms of their own permit.

    5 ON WHICH DAYS OF THE WEEK MAY BURNING BE CONDUCTED?

    1. Burning may be conducted on Mondays to Thursdays inclusive, except on public holidays
    2. Special permits may be issued by the Ward Chairman for burning on Fridays, except on public holidays or the last Friday of the month. In addition to the normal conditions applicable to the burning of firebreaks and camps the following additional requirements shall be met before such special Friday permits are issued:
      • As is the case of any special permits the ward chairman and neighbours must be informed and given the opportunity of objecting to the burn
      • The FPA Manager or the Ward Chairman shall have the discretion to refuse Friday burning, no matter what the current FDI may be, if the forecasts for the ensuing weekend are unfavourable
      • In the event that the fire resulting from the issue of the special permit stands up over the following weekend, if the FPA Manager deems it necessary he may direct that the WoF Handcrew be sent out to deal with any resultant danger or wildfire The landowner on whose land the Friday burn was conducted will be responsible for all the costs of the callout, even if the wildfire is not on his land and even if the crew is called by a neighbour. There shall be no obligation on Pafpa or the crew to be available for such a callout.
    3. Exceptional permits may be issued for weekend or public holiday burning by the Pafpa Manager and the following requirements shall be met before such exceptional permits are issued:
      • The Pafpa Manager would have the discretion to prevent such burning based on any of several parameters such as weather forecasts
      • Established norms with respect to FDI conditions would prevail
      • A full crew of 2 sticks of Working on Fire firefighters is to be present for the burning
      • Air support is to be available on standby to be called on in event of emergency. Proof of this is to be made available to the FPA manager before the issue of the exceptional permit
      • The landowner shall bear the usual burden of civil responsibility to neighbours.
    4. Apart from burning in terms of Exceptional permits, no burning is allowed on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays.

    6 ARE THERE CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY DURING WHICH BURNING MUST BE CONDUCTED?

    1. Because the FDI characteristically rises between the early morning and 14h00, it is highly recommended that burning does not commence before 14h00
    2. If burning begins at 14h00, the FDI at this time should be 50 or below but if the fire base approves, and if there are more resources than the minimum, the FDI may be 55 or below
    3. If burning begins earlier than 14h00, the FDI must be 45 or below on commencement and also at 10h00 and the FDI must be 55 or below at 14h00
    4. In the event that the FDI rises to unacceptable levels after burning has commenced, burning must cease and careful extinguishing and mop-up must take place to ensure no wildfires arise thereafter
    5. If burning begins before 14h00 it is highly recommended that more resources than the minima listed above be used
    6. No burning may be conducted if the FDI is higher than 55.
    7. When a vlei is to be burnt as part of a firebreak, such  burning may not commence before 14h00 because once such a burn commences it is impossible to shut down at will in the event of need.

    7 REGULATIONS FOR THE BURNING OF CAMPS AND BLOCKS

    1. Camps and blocks may only be burned with the authority of a Special Permit issued by the Ward Chairman.
    2. All external firebreaks must be in place before conducting any camp or block burns.
    3. Because a block or camp burn cannot be stopped once it has started, burning is only permitted after 15h00.
    4. The FDI shall be 55 or below.
    5. All neighbours must be informed of the intention to burn camps and blocks and they must have the opportunity of objecting to the burns.
    6. The FPA Manager may, taking into account any factors such as weather forecasts, prohibit the issue of any Special Permits including those for burning of camps and blocks.
    7. All the conditions listed above must be complied with on each day of burning camps and blocks.
    8. Notwithstanding point 3 above, if a specific ward receives good rainfall during the period of the fire prohibition, the Chairperson of that ward may request the Pafpa Manager to consult with the Dagbestuur to relax this rule. The outcome of the consultation is to be conveyed to the Base Manager who must act accordingly when issuing clearances.

    8 WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE FIRE DANGER INDEX (FDI) TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN CONDUCTING CONTROLLED BURNING

    1. In terms of the so called 15/20/20 rule, notwithstanding the actual FDI, no burning of firebreaks is permitted when the following components of the index are applicable:
      • If the wind speed is above 15kph;
      • If the temperature is above 20 degrees C;
      • If the relative humidity is below 20 percent.
    2. The FPA Manager or anyone acting with his authority may prohibit burning at any time, and no matter what the current FDI, if weather forecasts predict hazardous conditions.

    9 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS DURING THE FIRE PROHIBITION PERIOD AND FURTHER REQUIREMENTS WHEN BURNING FIREBREAKS

    1. Daily clearance must be obtained from the Dullstroom Fire Base before burning commences and again at 10h00 and 14h00.
    2. A reference number must be obtained from the Base and retained by the responsible person if burning is permitted
    3. Neighbours and the ward chairman must be informed on each day of intended burning
    4. In the Nederhorst area the fire tower must be informed of each instance of burning.
    5. When burning ceases, mop up and correct procedures for extinguishing the fire must be observed and everything in one’s power must be done to prevent the spread of wildfires.
    6. When a firebreak is being burnt in the morning, it must at all times be possible to cease burning and shut down the entire burn within 30 minutes in the event of necessity. It follows from this that if a vlei is to be burnt as part of a fire break, such burning shall only commence after 14h00 because once such a burn commences it will be impossible to shut it down at will.
    7. No slash may be burned under any circumstances during the fire prohibition period
    8. Ward chairmen, in consultation with their ward members, shall have the authority to issue regulations for their wards that are more restrictive than those applicable elsewhere.
    9. Rules of wards form part of the Rules and Regulations of the FPA and must be obeyed.
    10. As the landowner is primarily responsible for the burning on his farm, it is strongly recommended that where a third party is responsible for the burning on the farm, he obtain the written consent of the owner. You can download a draft document relating to such consent here.
    11. Where there are no firebreaks in place, it will first be looked at whether help can be offered during a runaway fire. Safety always comes first and human lives cannot be unnecessarily endangered.

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY OF THESE REGULATIONS.

     Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this website is accurate and up to date, neither Pafpa nor its agents accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions herein

    The information given on this page is intended to assist landowners and may not be comprehensive. It remains the responsibility of landowners to inform themselves fully of the provisions of the Veld and Forest Fire Act and any other laws, rules and regulations that apply.

    This page last edited on 27 March 2024


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