home   Events   contact us  

press room

"Open dissemination of news to the media has placed the dangers and reality of veld, forest and urban fires firmly on the national agenda as a public debate."

Pressroom Articles  Press Cuttings  E-Newsletters

Aerial 'fire starter' launched in SA - to control wild fires

Mon, 17th November '08

Incendiary "fire starter" capsules that can be dropped with precision from helicopters or fixed wing aircraft to ignite prescribed burns in forests was launched in South Africa today (Monday, November 17)

The device will be used to assist firefighters reduce the impact of devastating veld and forest fires. It was launched at a function in Sabie in Mpumalanga - the centre of recent devastating forest fires.

The Raindance Aerial Incendiary Device - the R2 - has been brought to South Africa by the government-funded Working on Fire (WoF) programme in partnership with Komatiland Forests.

The device was developed in Western Australia by fire management experts in search of an effective and reliable way of implementing aerial ignitions in forests. It has been used with great success in the USA and Australia with more than two million capsules being dropped annually.

"Recent forest fires in South Africa destroyed close to 10% of our timber reserves," said Chris Austin, a director of WoF and CEO of Forest Fire Association Operations. "Once a fire starts it is fuelled by the undergrowth, called the fuel load, which builds up on the floor of the forest. The risk of runaway fires is minimised if these fuel loads are reduced in prescribed burns."

"Using the new airborne incendiary system," said Ben Bothma, Fire Risk Manager of Komatiland Forests, "will allow foresters to increase the extent of prescribed burns from an average of 50 hectares a day to more than 1 000ha a day."

"Komatiland Forests is the only forestry company in South Africa which has done a great deal of prescribed burning under tree canopies," said Bothma. "Last year we burned just over 8 000ha. It is thus logical for Komatiland to take the next step, which is aerial ignition. This will improve productivity, and bring costs down. It is also a relatively safer operation for our employees," he added.

In essence the device, which can be attached to helicopters, or fixed-wing aircraft, drops capsules of potassium permanganate under the "canopy" of trees in a forest. The chemicals combine to create a flame that ignites fires.

"We can drop pellets, with accuracy at 20 to 30 metre intervals over the area set aside for a prescribed burn in a matter of minutes. Using traditional methods with hand-held igniters would take hours, if not days, to burn the same area.

"This incendiary device will allow managers to complete prescribed burns over larger areas in short periods of time - the few days a year when there is the right temperature, fuel moisture, humidity to ignite a fire that is controllable and the fuel load burn does not harm the living trees," said Bothma

According to Austin, exclusive rights to market and supply the R2 in Africa have been granted to Working on Fire.

"We are certain that in time this device will become an essential tool in the armoury of foresters, conservation agencies and local council veld fire fighters as essential equipment in their efforts to prevent the spread of uncontrolled runaway forest and wildland fires by reducing fuel loads.

Meanwhile later this month Komatiland Forests and Working on Fire will embark on a series of large-scale field trials to develop safe and effective operating procedures for South African conditions.

Burning trials will be undertaken in commercial stands of pine across the full spectrum of the Mpumalanga landscape, which will include the Lowveld, Middleveld and the Highveld. All trials will be based on Komatiland Forest's plantations. The plan is to burn a total of 1 500ha from 17 - 30 November 2008.

"Rob Stevenson, an experienced Western Australian fire manager, who has extensive experience in the use of aerial incendiary devices, will be on hand to advise and assist with the project" said Chris Austin. Working on Fire will, through its aviation division, supply the required Bell 206/R44 Helicopter and pilot for the project.

KLF will undertake to pay the basic cost per hour for the use of the helicopter. Working on Fire will supply all the required management; incident commander, ground resources and personnel, to plan and safely implement the burning exercise.

A Storm King Mountain burn over shield that can be fitted to vehicles to protect them from fire was also introduced to local markets in Sabie on Monday.



Dry weather raises risk of wildfire

Mon, 16th August '10
... [Read More...]

Wildland firefighters battle runaway fires

Wed, 21st July '10
South Africa's northern veld and forest fire season started in earnest this week with major blazes reported in the Free State near Clarens and in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands.... [Read More...]

Wild firefighters join hands across continents

Wed, 7th July '10
Close links have been forged between South Africa's wild fire fighting community and fire fighters from the United Kingdom. This builds on strong relationships that have already been established between wildland fire fighters from Working on Fire the South African government-funded job creation programme, and fire fighters in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Mediterranean countries.... [Read More...]

Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) Training Passing out Parade

Wed, 9th June '10
The peaceful Outeniqua Nature Reserve was brought to life with this event as a marquee tent was pitched decorated with arts and crafts, and with the arrival of partner representatives like, amongst others, EMS, High Angle, FPA, Cape Nature, Department of Water Affairs.... [Read More...]

Dept Water Affairs 2010 Budget Vote Day

Thu, 29th April '10
Thursday the 15th of April was the Parliament Budget Vote for the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). Projects falling under the DWA were invited to exhibit their material with the aim of interacting with Parliamentarians and officials, showcasing their work and how the funds extended to them are being put to good use relevant to conserving and protecting our natural resources whilst uplifting the lives in poorer communities.... [Read More...]

Rain eases fire-fight but it’s not over in Southern Cape

Wed, 10th February '10
Welcome rain in the Southern Cape has eased but not ended the fight against several out-of-control wild fires – the worst burning near Knysna. Gerhard Otto, head of Disaster Management in the Southern Cape, said the focus now was on a fire near Homtini (Knysna) as it was racing towards farmland and buildings.... [Read More...]

Fire fighters desperate for rain as Western Cape fires rage on

Wed, 10th February '10
Cooler weather with a possibility of rain will give fire fighters in the Southern Cape and Franschhoek relief today after a week of devastating blazes. An out-of-control wild fire is still burning at Phantom Pass near Knysna while a second blaze is out-of-control at Homtini Plaat also in the Knysna area.... [Read More...]

Free State Farm community receives basic fire fighting training

Wed, 13th January '10
Farm communities in the Free State are benefitting from wildland firefighters sharing information on preventing and fighting wild fires with their local communities. WoF State veldfire fighters identified farms communities close to their respective bases, with the aim of raising fire awareness, and providing basic fire fighting training to school learners, teachers and parents.... [Read More...]

First fire fighting training for Fire Wise Community in the Free State

Wed, 13th January '10
Thirty Thaba Nchu Fire Wise Community committee members successfully completed a two day basic fire fighting skills training course. The training course, held at the local library on November 26 and 27, was presented by by Working on Fire (WoF) wildland fighters from the Zastron Team and Fire Wise Trainer, Goodness Motloung. rom the 26th till the 27th November 2009.... [Read More...]

Silvermine and Rondevlei attend MEP training

Tue, 15th December '09
JASA (Junior Achievement South Africa) is a non profit organisation which was formed in 1979 to offer mini business skills to unskilled workforce. Junior achievement mini-enterprise is an educational programme which offers participants the opportunity to participate in the running of a company. It is an experiential programme which simulates a real business. This unique experience provides a realistic view of the world of business, and demonstrates practically how wealth creation occurs and how this benefits society.... [Read More...]

WOF Programme Wins Top Award

Mon, 7th December '09
In November, Working on Fire (WoF) was awarded the Kamoso Award for the Best Environmental Programme for the work done by wildland fire fighters in reducing the impact of unwanted fires on people and the environment.... [Read More...]

Court Ruling puts Firefighting Helicopters back in the Air

Wed, 25th November '09
A full compliment of wildland fire fighting aircraft — including helicopters — will be available for the fire season in the South and Western Cape from December. This follows a judgement by Justice Dennis van Reenen in the Cape High Court on Friday, November 20, releasing two helicopter engines and one helicopter attached in May this year, by the Sherriff of the court.... [Read More...]

Update of KwaMemela Firewise Community Video Released

Wed, 18th November '09
Firewise South Africa has produced a new video outlining the effects the Firewise Community has had on the community of KwaMemela, in Kwa-Zulu Natal. You can watch the two-part video below:... [Read More...]

Top US Disaster Management Specialists Train Local Rescue Workers

Wed, 4th November '09
Three top disaster management specialists from the United States will be in South Africa in November to train Western Cape emergency service leaders on how to co-ordinate services in an emergency. The annual training course in the Incident Command System (ICS) is being hosted by the state-sponsored job creation programme Working on Fire.... [Read More...]

Interesting Courses Coming Up

Wed, 30th September '09
There are some interesting courses happening before the end of this year. The following is a quick overview: Intermediate And Advanced, Incident Command System Training Modern training techniques and practical exercises empower course candidates to fill a position within an Incident Management Team and to gain competence in the utilization of the ICS for events and incidents such as the 2010 World Cup,... [Read More...]

F.S Advocacy Funded Team Fire Awareness Events - Rolled out!

Thu, 27th August '09
Four Free State teams :Zastron, Golden ; Eagles & Undertaker Hot Shots kick started with their events at their respective adopted schools from last month, Zastron event was held on the 27th, Golden Gate the 31st July ; Senekal-Eagles Hot Shot on the 07th August & Harrismith – Undertaker Hot Shot one on the 14th August. These events were all facilitated successfully as planned, and the main aim was to raise fire awareness in various activities to school learners.... [Read More...]

Special Premiums for Members of Fire Protection Associations (FPAs)

Tue, 25th August '09
In future, farmers and landowners who hold policies with Santam Agriculture will benefit from belonging to fire protection associations (FPAs), with lower premiums and excess contributions, and more lenient terms of accountability. Those who don’t belong to FPAs might even be denied insurance against veld fires. Annelie Coleman spoke to Pierre Rossouw, relationship manager of Santam Agriculture.... [Read More...]

Mparel and Nkau Communities become FireWise

Fri, 7th August '09
Two communities were trained on basic fire fighting and on FireWise for communities. The two communities were Mparel and Nkau communities.... [Read More...]

Impendle Fire Awareness Day

Tue, 4th August '09
On the 25th July 2009, the WoF Underberg team held a fire awareness event. The event was held at the Impendle Sports ground. Impendle is a rural community near Underberg.... [Read More...]

History in the Making

Wed, 22nd July '09
History in the making: FFA, Working on Fire and KMI Airport Fire Fighters in joint training at the KMIA Fire training ground. WOF Fire Fighters are on a training programme with KMIA in a Fire Fighters Skills Development Programme.... [Read More...]

WOF on top of Africa

Thu, 9th July '09
Dr Guy Preston,Chairperson / National Programme Leader of the Working for Water Programme,Co-Chair of the Working on Fire Programme,Co-Chair of the Working for Wetlands Programme and Co-Chair of the KwaZulu-Natal Invasive Alien Species Programme, at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro... [Read More...]

Silvermine Team introduces WOF to WC Life Orientation Teachers

Mon, 6th July '09
Life orientation is a mixture of the subjects that were known as; Guidance, Physical teaching or education and Religious studies. Teachers are meant to be knowledgeable about the various characteristic of these old subjects and so it is advantageous, if guests come and enrich these teachers’ minds with further knowledge.... [Read More...]

DWAE Budget Vote 2009/10

Mon, 29th June '09
Congratulations to WOF team for pulling together and being able to participate to ensure this was a fantastic event that saw WOF receiving fantastic exposure both at the exhibition stand and having 30 plus people in the gallery of the Old Assembly Hall during the DWAE Budget Vote 2009/10.... [Read More...]

Prevention is better than cure

Wed, 10th June '09
In the firm belief that prevention is better than a cure, Working on Fire has been partnering with community orientated based projects initiated by timber growers SAPPI and MONDI to bring the benefits of Firewise teachings to local communities:... [Read More...]

Agricultural Information Day

Fri, 8th May '09
On the 6th May 2009, the Department of Agriculture at Lindely – Free State Province, held an Information day meeting at Kalaagte Farm situated between Bethlehem and Lindely towns. The theme of the event was the “Bethlehem".... [Read More...]

Communications training gives fire fighters combat edge

Mon, 2nd February '09
Fire fighters, pilots and the organisations coordinating Veld fire fighting operations, sharpened up procedures at an intensive training session arranged by Working on Fire (WoF) in Tulbagh last week.... [Read More...]

Well-earned rest for wildland firefighters

Tue, 25th November '08
Working on Fire's Wildland firefighters were deployed to assist in 737 wild fires from May to November this year. According to WoF's National Co-ordinator Michelle Kleinhans, at the height of the season 155 teams were deployed in September and 79 teams where deployed in October fighting fires in the northern part of the country including Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng as well as in KwaZulu/Natal.... [Read More...]

Wild Fire Alert

Wed, 15th October '08
Fire fighters are currently (Wednesday, October 15, 16h00) battling to control a veld fire that is threatening to engulf the Free State town of Clarens, near Golden Gate.... [Read More...]

Controlled Burns Banned as Veld Fires Run Wild

Mon, 8th September '08
Veld fire fighters were fighting 12 fires in three provinces today, as weather conditions across the north-eastern parts of South Africa continued to favour wild fire.... [Read More...]

Death toll rises as wild fires rage - KzN and Mpumalanga hardest hit

Mon, 1st September '08
Uncontrolled wild fires have claimed the lives of at least 11 people and left 23 seriously burned in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal over the last three days in what is considered to be the most devastating fires this season. One death was an experienced fire fighting pilot who was killed in KwaZulu Natal when his aircraft crashed.... [Read More...]

Howling Gales Ground Aerial Veld Fire Fighting Teams

Sun, 31st August '08
Some of the most devastating veld fires of the year raged through the north eastern parts of the country this weekend with wind speeds of 85km/hour recorded in some areas grounding aerial fire fighting resources and endangering ground veld fire fighting teams.... [Read More...]

Working on Fire Senekal Veld Fire Fighter Annual Event

Thu, 28th August '08
The Matwabeng community in Setsoto Municipality were treated to a Fire Awareness Clean Up campaign by Working on Fire's Senekal Veld Fire Fighters Team on Tuesday, 26 August 2008. The purpose of the event was to raise Fire Awareness & Education for the community.... [Read More...]

All Systems Go for Wild Fire Fighters and Water-bombing Pilots

Fri, 30th May '08
A crack team of South Africa's top wild fire fighting pilots and more than 400 wild fire fighters today completed training for the winter fire season in what is regarded as the most intensive fire preparation ever undertaken in South Africa.... [Read More...]

SA to Host World Wildfire Conference

Fri, 18th May '07
South Africa has been selected to host the 5th International Wildland Fire Conference (Wildfire) to be held in 2011. This announcement was made yesterday ( May 18) at the closing of this years conference held in Seville, Spain, which brought together over 1500 delegates from 88 countries.... [Read More...]

Operation Firewatch activates aerial water bombing campaign

Thu, 14th December '06
Operation Firewatch, which successfully pioneered the deployment of camera monitoring and aerial water bombing to curb the destruction wrought by runaway shack fires in the Cape Peninsula, has been expanded to include additional cameras to watch over more informal settlements during the fire season this summer.... [Read More...]

Working to improve life in the community

Sun, 29th October '06
Apart from fighting forest and veld fires, the WoF fire fighters are trained to work within their own communities, to teach rural people about fire prevention and to contribute to the improvement of the overall living conditions in these communities.... [Read More...]