The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of dangerous fire conditions for the Cape region as temperatures continue to soar this week. On Sunday the temperature in Cape Town reached 34 degrees, high temperatures are expected for the entire week.
While most of South Africa will experience rain, no rainfall has been forecast for the drought-stricken Western Cape.
On Monday, SAWS has warned that extremely high fire danger conditions are expected in the Cape area with temperatures reaching 32 degrees.
Tips to avoid starting a fire:
- No fires are allowed on the mountain fringe areas, except in specifically demarcated areas and pre-authorised areas. If you are unsure whether fires are allowed in an area, do not make a fire
- Do not discard burning cigarettes from your vehicle. They are pollutants and can cause vegetation fires. Please dispose of cigarettes in the vehicle’s ashtray
- Ensure that fire hydrants remain unobstructed at all times, especially by parked vehicles. Tampering with hydrants can delay a firefighter’s ability to bring a fire under control timeously
- Ensure that your braai fire is completely extinguished before leaving areas where fires are allowed
- Keep ignition sources such as matches and lighters out of the reach of children
- Comply with the legal requirements for burning vegetation off-cuts
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