Die Reëls Van Die Brandbestryding Vereniging

Hierdie reëls is bykomend tot die wetlike vereistes soos uit een gesit in die Nasionale
Veld en Bosbrand Wet en moet te same met die Wet bepalings gelees word.

Hoofstuk 4 Brandbane
Breedte En Plek Van Brandbane

1.   Elke grondeienaar moet ‘n brandbaan van ‘n minimum wydte van 4 meter op
sy/haar kant van ‘n grenslyn maak.
2.   Binne brandbane moet die plaas ‘n gebied van ongeveer 500 hektaar verdeel
hierdie brandbane moet ‘n minimum wydte van 4 meter wees.
3.   Die grens brandbane mag weens noodsaaklike redes, soos bv:
om die omgewing te beskerm om natuurlike brandbane bv ‘n rivier en ‘n
bergrug, infra struktuele vuurbane (paaie spoorlyne ens) te gebruik van die
grensheining gemaak te word.
4.   Die betrokke grondeienaars moet hul gesamentlike ooreenkoms om brandbane
weg van die gemeenskaplike grens te maak op skrif te stel en dit behoorlik op
kaart aanteken.
5.   Die sektor leier moet die ooreenkoms endorseer. Hierdie ooreenkoms moet
deur die brand beheer beampte goedgekeur word.

Datum Waarop Brandbane Voltooi Moet Wees

Alle brandbane moet jaarliks op 30 Junie reeds gemaak wees.

Maak Van Brandbane Of Blok Brande

1.   Geen brand van brandbane mag gedurende ‘n naweek, publieke vakansiedag
of op die dag wat ‘n naweek of vakansiedag voorafgaan gebrand word nie.
2.   Geen brand van brandbane sal toegelaat word indien die brandgevaar indeks
55 geel of hoër is nie.
3.   Geen brand van brandbane sal toegelaat word indien die voorspelling vir die
dag na die brand 55 geel of hoër is nie.
4.   Goedkeuring moet ten minste 5 dae voor die datum van beoogde brand van
brand beheer beampte verkry word. Enige goedkeuring mag teruggetrek word
indien die weervoorspelling toestande voorspel wat hoër is as wat oorspronklik
voorspel is.
5.   Alle bure moet ten minste 14 dae voor die bepaalde brand skriftelik van sodanig
brand verwittig word.
6.   Die brand beheer beampte moet in kennis gestel word sodra die brand begin
en wanneer dit klaar gebrand is.
7.   Die plaaslike Polisie moet in kennis gestel word sodra die brand begin en
wanneer die brand klaar is.

Voorsorg Maatreëls Na Brand

1. Die gebied wat gebrand is moet vir ‘n minimum tydperk van 24 uur behoorlik
patrolleer word met die doel om:
1.1   Alle smeulende voorwerpe binne 1 meter van die kant van die brand met water
te doof word.
1.2   Spesiale aandag moet aan smeulende bome en miskoeke gegee word.
1.3   Alle brande moet vir ‘n minimum tydperk van 48 uur patrolleer word, om
moontlike opvlamming te voorkom.

Beskadiging Van Plante

1.   Brandbane moet op sodanige wyse gemaak word dat dit nie grond erosie
veroorsaak nie.
2.   Waar moontlik, enige plante wat ingevolge enige Wet beskerm word, moet
oorgeplant word.
3.   Waar dit veilig en doenlik is om dit te doen, moet die brandstrook so geplaas
word om die boom te vermy.

Hoofstuk 5 Brandbestryding

1.   Elke grond eienaar moet die volgende toerusting vir die bestryding van brande
beskikbaar hê:

1. Rugsak-spuit
2. Standaard Grawe
3. Harke
4. Standaard vuur slaners
5. Houers vir drinkwater

Grondeienaars moet genoeg toerusting vir ten minste 50% van sy arbeid
beskikbaar hê.
2.   Alle brandbestryding toerusting moet ten alle tye beskikbaar en diensbaar
wees.
3.   Toerusting moet gereeld nagesien en gediens word.

Personeel Aanwending

Die eienaar of bestuurder en alle personeel moet beskikbaar wees om te help met
brandbestryding soos deur die Wet vereis en wanneer die brandbestryding beampte
hulp versoek.

Veiligheids Toerusting En Beskermende Klere

1.   Persone wie brand bestry moet wol of kantoen klere en leer stewels met rubber
sole dra
2.   Elke persoon moet ‘n houer met drinkwater toegerus wees
3.   Ten minste een sak noodhulp toerusting per werkspan

Toegang Tot Eiendom Tydens Brande

1.   Grondeienaars moet seker maak dat persone gemoeid met brandbestryding
toegang tot hulle eiendom kan kry
2.   Enige brandbestryder het die reg tot toegang op enige eiendom waar daar ‘n
brand is indien hy glo dat die brand ‘n gevaar inhou vir lewe, eiendom of die
omgewing of om te voorkom dat die brand verspry.

Brandbestryding Opleiding Behoeftes

1.   Alle persone wat vir brandbestryding aangewend word moet behoorlik
opgelei wees
2.   Grond eienaars moet toesien dat hulle personeel opleiding kursusse van die
brandbestryding vereniging bywoon

Algemene Reëls

1.   Kom alle bepaling van die Wet na
2.   Rapporteer alle brande, tensy jy oor eerste handse inligting beskik dat dit ‘n
beheerde brand is
3.   Kamp en piekniek vure mag alleenlik by permanente vuur plekke gemaak
word. Die terrein rondom die vuurplekke moet vir minstens 2m skoon wees
van enige brandbare materiale
4.   Geen vuur mag verlaat word alvorens dit nie behoorlik geblus is nie

Reëls m.b.t. Onderling Hulpverlening

Onderlinge hulpverlening ooreenkomste sal met naburige brand bestrydings
verenigings aangegaan word

A. Brand Voorkoming En Gereedheids Grondslag

Gedurende tydperk van groot brandgevaar:
1.   n Totale verbod word op alle oop vure geplaas tydens tydperke van groot
brandgevaar (oranje en rooi)
2.   Gebruik van sweis en snywiel in die buitelug sal nie toegelaat word nie
3.   Kennisgewings t.o.v die verbod op vure en die tydperk van sodanige verbod
moet deurmiddel van TV, radio en nuusblaaie aan die publiek bekend gestel
word

B. Tydperk Van Matige Brand Gevaar

1.   Die periode vanaf 1 Julie totdat 20mm reën in ‘n tydperk van 24 uur geval het
normaalweg is dit voor die einde van November
2.   Goedkeuring om te brand moet van die brandbestryding beampte verkry word
3.   Brandbane moet nagegaan en alle toerusting moet in ‘n staat van gereedheid
gebring word

C. Rook En Besoedeling Beheer

1.   Beheerde brande: Indien rook ‘n sig probleem langs Nasionale en Provinsiale
paaie kan wees moet die nodige waarskuwings voorsorge getrek word
2.   Wanneer onbeheerde brande ontstaan langs Nasionalse en Provinsiale paaie
moet die verkeers afdeling verwittig word

Implementering

1.   n Brandbeskermings beampte het die bevoegdheid om die bepalings van die
Wet af te dwing
2.   Die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie Diens sal op hoogte gehou word aangaande die
B.B.V. se optreders deurmiddel van Polisieforums en die brand bestrydings
bestuurs vereniging

PREPARING FIREBREAKS

• Anyone with experience of veldfires knows that a firebreak cannot stop every veldfire.
• There will inevitably be a time when conditions are so severe that a fire will cross a break, by spotting or otherwise.
• However, firebreaks are useful:

• in stopping many fires
• in providing a line from which to combat veldfires by counterfiring or other measures
• for protection of property generally.

The requirement to prepare firebreaks

• Landowners are required to prepare firebreaks on their side of the boundary where there is a reasonable risk of veldfire (section 12(1)).
• How do we know what a reasonable risk is?
• The courts use the “reasonable person test”:

• if a reasonable person in the position of the landowner would foresee that by not preparing a firebreak, a veldfire could start or spread across his or her land, causing harm to someone else,
• and therefore would prepare one,
• then the landowner should also prepare one.

The “reasonable person”

• Who is the reasonable person? This fictional person is:

• the average man or woman
• not reckless nor overcautious
• aware of their surroundings and the dangers inherent in various activities.

If the person concerned also has particular expertise, then his or her conduct is measured against that of the reasonable expert (e.g. electrician, mechanic, farmer).
Preparing firebreaks

• Firebreaks can be prepared in a number of ways, for example, by grading, ploughing, disking, hoeing or burning.
• However, any soil disturbance is subject to the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act. Owners should ensure that firebreaks are positioned and prepared in such a way as to cause the least disturbance to soil and biodiversity.
• Section 16 allows the owner to damage, destroy or remove any protected plants in making a firebreak, despite what the National Forests Act or any other law says. But the owner must transplant protected plants if possible or position the firebreak to avoid protected plants.
• The National Environmental Management Act requires biodiversity to be protected, so remind landowners of this when advising them about firebreaks.
• The Act sets out a procedure for burning firebreaks.
• Neighbours can agree to reposition a firebreak on a common boundary.

Procedure for burning firebreaks when there is no problem with burning
Discuss with neighbours and reach agreement

• Determine mutually acceptable dates.
• Inform the FPA.
• Burn firebreaks on same day as each other OR be present or have agent present.
• Have enough people present to prevent it from spreading.
• If the neighbour is not present on the agreed day, you can burn in his/her absence.

Discuss with neighbours and do not reach agreement

• Give 14 days’ written notice to neighbours and FPA of day/s on which you intend burning.
• Neighbour must burn firebreaks on same day/s as each other OR be present or have agent present.
• Have enough people present to prevent it from spreading.
• If the neighbour is not present on the notified day, you can burn in his/her absence.

Procedure for burning firebreaks: neighbours agree but on the day, burning can’t go ahead
Discuss with neighbours and reach agreement

• Determine mutually acceptable dates.
• Inform the FPA.

But burning cannot go ahead

• FPA objects.
• High fire danger rating.
• Conditions not conducive.

Inform neighbours and FPA if there is one:

• that burning cannot be done
• of additional day/s you intend to burn.

You do not have to give 14 days’ notice of these additional days.

Burn firebreaks on same day as each other OR be present or have agent present.

Have enough people present to prevent it from spreading.

If the neighbour is not present on the agreed day, you can burn in his/her absence
Procedure for burning firebreaks: neighbours do not agree and on the day, burning cannot go ahead
Discuss with neighbours and do not reach agreement

• Give 14 days’ written notice to neighbours and FPA of day/s on which you intend burning.
• Neighbour must burn firebreaks on same day/s as each other OR be present or have agent present.

But burning cannot go ahead

• FPA objects.
• High fire danger rating.
• Conditions not conducive.

Inform neighbours and FPA if there is one:

• that burning cannot be done
• of additional day/s you intend to burn.

You do not have to give 14 days’ notice of these additional days.

Burn firebreaks on same day as each other OR be present or have agent present.

Have enough people present to prevent it from spreading.

If the neighbour is not present on the agreed day, you can burn in his/her absence.
Procedure for burning firebreaks

• If an owner will be absent for longer than 14 days during the period in which firebreaks are usually burnt, s/he must give neighbours an address and phone number where s/he can be contacted.
• An FPA may make rules different to what is in the Act if the Minister approves them. The new rules will apply to members of the FPA.
• But the FPA can always object to the burning of firebreaks by anyone within its area, whether the person is a member or not. In that way, the FPA enforces its own rules on members and non-members.

Requirements for firebreaks

• The Act doesn’t specify requirements for firebreaks.
• This is because requirements will vary from one situation to the next. For example, on the Cape Peninsula, firebreak requirements would be different to what is needed in the eastern Free State.
• Local practice and local issues must determine what the requirements are.
• The Act states that the owner must pay attention to weather, climate, terrain and vegetation in deciding on how to prepare the break.
• The break must:

• be wide enough and long enough to have a reasonable chance of stopping the veldfire
• not cause soil erosion
• be reasonably free of inflammable material (section 13).

Exemption from preparing firebreaks

• An owner can apply to the Minister to be exempted from preparing firebreaks. The Minister can grant an exemption “for good reason” (section 15).
• The FPA in the area (if one exists) must be consulted before granting the exemption.

Policy on exemptions: when the Department will not grant an exemption

1. For blanket requests as in the previous example.
2. When there is no alternative measure in place to mitigate against fire.
3. Where there is no or little risk of a fire arising on the property because a firebreak is not needed in the first place.
4. Where there is a risk of a veldfire and no FPA exists.
5. Where there is a risk of a veldfire and the land owner is not a member of an FPA but falls in an area where an FPA exists.

Under what conditions the Department will grant an exemption

• Where the request forms part of an FPA’s veldfire management strategy and the Minister is satisfied that there are alternative measures in place for mitigating against fires which protect the public interest.
• In addition, one or more of the following conditions must be met:

• The alternative measures in the veldfire management strategy have been agreed to by affected FPA members AND the FPO certifies that the alternative measures provide equivalent protection to what a firebreak would have given OR
• Affected owners agree to bear the risk and provide documented alternative ways they will use to bear the risk AND the FPO certifies that the public interest will not suffer.

Co-ordination with other legislation

• Burning of firebreaks must co-ordinate with other legislation and regulations.
• Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA):

• Regulation 12 contains provisions dealing with prevention and control of veldfires, preventing land users from burning or grazing burnt veld without written permission from the executive officer
• Rules of an FPA for burning veld (firebreaks and controlled burns) must not contradict the procedure set out in CARA.

Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act:

• Although the Act does not apply to smoke caused by veld fires, it may apply to smoke caused by management practices such as burning firebreaks and controlled burns.
• If occupiers of premises make representation to the local authority regarding smoke that is causing a nuisance, the authority is obliged to serve an abatement notice.
• Failure to comply with the notice (i.e. failure to abate or stop) constitutes an offence.
• FPA rules must take this Act into consideration when dealing with controlled burns.