The Western Cape has had a record number of fires in the last year, with 153 in the province so far. This is according to biodiversity agency CapeNature, who warns that this is the highest number of fires per annum in the last 17 years, with many more expected as we move deeper into summer.
The Cape was rocked by a series of devastating fires earlier this year, which destroyed property and claimed lives.
Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, told IOL that CapeNature’s financial resources are under serious strain as they have to deal with an ever-increasing number of fires each year. He says an addition R3.1-million in funding will be allocated to the agency to help alleviate the pressure on their resources this fire season. Bredell made the comments earlier this week when CapeNature tabled its latest annual report (having received a clean audit) – read the full story on IOL.
Earlier this week, the South African Weather Service issued a warning about high fire danger conditions expected over the western and central interior parts of the province, particularly in the Klein Karoo. A severe lack of rainfall across the Cape is also making matters worse.
Regretably there’s very little the majority of us can do when it comes to preventing fires in Cape Town and across the province, but just keep in mind the extent of damage you can cause just by throwing a cigarette butt out your window as you drive. In case you need a reminder, here’s a stunning video by Ginkgo Agency from earlier this year about the 2015 #CapeFires:
Photography Juliette Bisset/HSMimages.co.za and Ginkgo Agency
Is this an old or new photo ??
Old pic fortunately
Those fires were set by malicious people,not smokers