Cape Town Fire/Smoke Alert Thread

There was alot of smoke in the Platterkloof area going into Table View at around 17:00 yesterday afternoon.

Whats FDI?
 
Fire Danger Index

Basically "rates" the weather conditions in a certain area so you know the chance of a fire.

Safe
Moderate
Dangerous
Very Dangerous
Extremely Dangerous

With each 'rating' there are things/precautions that you can't do/need to take etc.

Safe:
Low fire hazard. Controlled burn operations can normally be executed with a reasonable degree of safety.

Moderate:
Although controlled burning operations can be done without creating a fire hazard, care must be taken when burning on exposed, dry slopes. Keep a constant watch for unexpected wind speed and direction changes.

Dangerous:
Controlled burning not recommended when fire danger index exceeds 45. Aircraft should be called in at early stages of a fire.

Very Dangerous:
No controlled burning of any nature should take place. Careful note should be taken of any sign of smoke anywhere, especially on the upwind side of any plantation. Any fire should be attacked with maximum force at hand, including all aircraft at the time.

Extremely Dangerous:
All personnel and equipment should be removed from the field. Fire teams, labour and equipment are to be placed on full stand-by. At first sign of smoke, every possible measure should be taken in order to bring the fire under control in the shortest possible time. All available aircraft are to be called for without delay.

Today (5th Feb 2009) I would think it would get a "Very Dangerous" rating.
 
Check this:

BEST OPERATING PRACTICES

Fire Danger Rating

The sole purpose of any fire danger rating system is to attempt to indicate with a rating on how things will burn or will burn in the future.

The South African Weather Services (SAWS) each day develops a rating for the day and a prediction for the following day. This is in the form of a number and associated color coding.

This information will be e-mailed to all managers in TMNP, from the month of October, Monday to Friday before 07:15 in the morning.

Due to the chance or likelihood of a fire occurring as a result of an increase in the FDI, the following activities will not be allowed within TMNP when the FDI exceeds 60, i.e. on Orange and Red days.

These activities includes (although not limited to) the following:

1. The use of brushcutters for bushclearing or maintenance of fire breaks as this can result in sparks igniting the vegetation.

2. The use of chainsaws for tree felling as this can result in sparks igniting the vegetation - sparks are usually caused due to poor maintenance of the machine.

3. The use of angle grinders for cutting causing sparks.

4. The use of welding equipment that can also cause sparks.

5. Any other ancillary equipment which is likely to cause ignition to the vegetation.

General rules to be observed:

1. No open fires or gas fires for cooking will be allowed.

2. No smoking other than in designated areas determined by the supervisor.

3. No burning of rubbish or any other material even in containers will be allowed.

Please report all fires immediately to the Newlands Control at telephone numbers 689-7438/9 or the Bellville TOC 0861 106 417
Click to expand...
 
Thanks gdiza. Didn't know there was a rating system like this. It is a relatively hot day in CT today.
 
There is alot of reasons that I'm sure we (VWS) are not going but the main reasons I think are:

1. The FDI is high in CPT so we are being held back incase something happens.
2. VWS is here for Table Mountain National Parks so if anything happens, we have to give priority to that (Stellies is not TMNP)
3. We are not covered if anything happens to us there, but if anything happens to us on TMNP area, we are fully covered (medical etc)

And a few other reasons but I'm not sure - remember, I'm just a member, I'm not top management - we are always told to trust top management as they know best.

I also know that even though we are not 'covered' if we goto Stellies, alot and I mean ALOT of us would go anyways.

As a matter of fact, I chat to alot of the members and we all itching to go, but the top people in Stellies need to request us (there are channels they have to go down) and then people at VWS (top managment) discuss it and send us.

*sigh*

All the action is out THAT side of the world this year. :(
 
Sounds like alot of red tape to me, but I can tell you very dedicted. Its a shame alot of ppl are unaware of the sacrifices made by you and other firefighter guys.
 
PythonFSi said:
Sounds like alot of red tape to me, but I can tell you very dedicted. Its a shame alot of ppl are unaware of the sacrifices made by you and other firefighter guys.
Click to expand...

Well, I (as well as the rest of us) are very dedicated and trust me when I say that we are all gagging to go fight any and every single fire we can but yes, it's up to the big boys to send us.

The VWS opens for new recruits in April and if you want PythonFSi, you more than welcome to join and I'm sure you'll have a blast, especially if we (VWS) start going to fires like at Stellies.
 
Been getting a few SMS's about a 'big' fire in Tamboerskloof.

I've informed the necessary people and well, now awaiting a call out (if there is going to be one of cause)
 
I've been asked a few times about the latest on the Stellenbosch fires, here is what I was told this morning:

The fire is still going - but...

The wind is pumping in the Strand! And I mean it is strong! Don’t think the choppers can fly in that gale force wind. It looks like it was burning behind that pine tree plantation I showed you on Saturday. I will keep you updated regarding the fire status.

Oh - The fire in Stellenbosch also flared up this morning, behind Paul Roos High school. The wind is blowing there too.
Click to expand...

Me and a few friends might head out there after work again to see if we can help with anything - but we'll just have to wait and see on the status later in the day.

It's nice knowing people in the right places ;)
 
Update regarding fires in the Stellenbosch / Somerset West area:

This comes straight from the one of the Fire brigade officers I know in the Strand.
Hope you can read Afrikaans.

Dit gaan bietjie gerook (letterlik en figuurlik) daar!! Daar is helicopters op die toneel. Net 2 van ons voertuie is daar. Die area is inaccessible vir ander voertuie.
Click to expand...
 
Another update:

The report from other family members is that the area is still burning well, with dark clouds (heavy fuels) in between. The reports are that it is burning behind the pine forest and the dark clouds might be areas burning into the forest area. The choppers are still very busy there. The wind however is pumping still in the area!
Click to expand...

Hopefully, I'll be heading out that way today.
 
So I just heard on the news, apparently fires raging out of control at Gordon's Bay! Any news on this?
 
Well, nothing more than what is on the news.

It's apparently hit a pine plantation field and went up - and remember, from what I've been told, the wind is blowing like a mother trucker so that's not helping.

It also started a little over Sir Lowries pass... friend says he thinks the origin is next to a squatter camp there so maybe they started it.
 
I couldn't hear the news report, only picked up on the headline! Holy crap though! Hope it doesn't spread too much! You be heading out?
 
Was supposed to head out last night, but I couldn't - things came up and everyone else in our little team was unable to go... so we decided to leave it and see how CTFES deals with it - maybe we'll go out tonight for a visit - the thing is, Gordon's Bay is not exactly around the corner.

Driving out there and not helping (because CTFES have it under control) is not worth it to us.
 
And, we in the process of purchasing our own tools so that if we go out, we can help more effectively.

Rakehoes are about R200 each.
Beaters are about R100 each.

Anyone know a company who wants to sponsor a small team of fire fighters who go to any and all fires? ;)

I'm going to buy 1 of each and I'm sure the rest will do the same.
 
18th Feb 2009!

There is a fire in Somerset West on the Helderberg mountain again.

Rumors have it the Lourensford fire burned at root levels and has sprung up in the Pine forest. The smoke is dark so the fuel is heavy.

Guys, this is what happens when you let CTFES do the job, they just put the fire out, they forget that the damn fire goes down to the roots and springs up elsewhere. :mad: They must get their hands dirty and try lift the roots out and sort those out too! :mad:
 
gdiza said:
18th Feb 2009!

There is a fire in Somerset West on the Helderberg mountain again.

Rumors have it the Lourensford fire burned at root levels and has sprung up in the Pine forest. The smoke is dark so the fuel is heavy.

Guys, this is what happens when you let CTFES do the job, they just put the fire out, they forget that the damn fire goes down to the roots and springs up elsewhere. :mad: They must get their hands dirty and try lift the roots out and sort those out too! :mad:
Click to expand...

Just heard on CapeTalk that it has spread into the orchards at Lourensford Estate and Vergelegen Winery. A number of helicopters are in attendance.
 
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