With the dry winter months upon us, veld and forest fires are again a reality. 

Left unchecked, fires can cause widespread destruction to property. The risks include not only the fire itself but also the road safety risks of poor visibility caused by smoke and the health risks of smoke inhalation. 

Safe Driving Recommendations

• When planning a trip during the fire season, check to see what the weather conditions will be like in the area and listen to local radio stations for news on any fires in the area

• Keep maps of your route and frequent travel destinations in your car and know at least two ways of getting anywhere. If an emergency happens and your primary travel route is closed, you’ll know another route to get where you’re going or you’ll need to pull over and read the map to figure it out

• There will be limited visibility due to smoke and there may be large volumes of slow moving traffic – drastically reduce speed, drive carefully and be on the alert 

• If visibility becomes very poor, don’t attempt to drive through thick smoke or flame – many accidents occur when drivers do this, only to find that they run off the road, collide with stationary obstacles such as other vehicles, or are involved in headon collisions with other vehicles attempting to drive through from the opposite direction

• Put your headlights and hazards on so that you are as visible as possible to other vehicles, particularly fire tankers and emergency workers

• If you are caught in your vehicle during a veld fire, your vehicle will provide a good degree of protection – look for a clear area, preferably off the road because areas clear of grass or bush cannot sustain fires of high intensity

• Do not leave the vehicle – people have lost their lives by leaving the vehicle, only to be trapped on foot in the open. Your vehicle will help to protect you from radiant heat, which is the main hazard. Close all windows and vents and switch the ignition off. It is unlikely that the fuel tank will explode from the heat of a passing veld or grass fire

• Stay in the vehicle, as low down as you can get, until the fire front has passed, then exit and inspect the vehicle for damage before proceeding

• If you are in the veld, away from your vehicle, and see that a fire has started, move from the fire immediately

• Never ignore the fire, even if it seems far away – it can quickly become large and engulf you! The most dangerous situation to be in is when a veld fire is moving up a steep slope, and you are above it with bush and grass between you and the fire. Every 10% increase in the gradient of the slope doubles the rate of fire spread

• If you feel threatened and you don’t think you can outrun the fire, or if you are surrounded, then find a ‘Safe Zone’ – this is an area that has already been burnt or is completely clear of any fuel that can burn, such as a wide road or an old homestead. The clear area should be as large as possible

• Do not panic and run at the last minute!

• Remember that what will hurt you is the heat that the fire makes and the lack of oxygen to breathe

• Lie down on the ground, cover your head, breathe deeply before the smoke gets too close, and hold your breath when the fire passes over and around you. If you have blankets or extra clothing with you, try to cover any exposed parts of your body

Respect Emergency Operations

The police, traffic officials and fire fighters do their best to avert the dangers from veld fires and protect the public and motorists from these dangers. They also control crowds near the emergency scenes and will provide the most convenient detour for traffic when roads are closed. It is important to obey and pay close attention to these officials. The following should be kept in mind:

• Slow down when approaching an emergency scene

• Move over when you see flashing lights at the side of the road or the presence of emergency vehicles or fire engines

• Try to stay at least 200 metres from the emergency vehicle

• Be patient and keep in mind that fire and emergency personnel did not cause the accident and they did not start the fire

• Detouring traffic may cause everything to slow down, but it is better to get through slowly rather than get stuck

• Driving into an emergency scene may result in a collision with a fire engine, or worse, a firefighter

Golden Guidelines 

• If you cannot see –don’t drive

• Try to move away from the vicinity of veld and forest fires

• Respect and obey the guidance of fire, emergency and traffic officials

• Do not throw away burning cigarette ends 

• Do not leave an open fire unattended

• If you see someone playing carelessly with fire, tell them to stop

Are you adequately insured? 
Talk to Indwe Risk Services today about tailor-made personal and business insurance for you.  
Visit www.indwerisk.co.za or call 0860 13 13 14 to talk to one of our consultants.