Cape Town - The fires are deliberate?

[Vatniek]

I can't understand why there are so many fires at this time of year. Yes, it's hot and dry, but that does explain why so many happen in the township where there is no grass and few trees. My guess is that some are doing it deliberately to get some sort of reward. At least they get blankets and building material just in time for Xmas.

If someone can convince me otherwise I would be grateful.

 

[BTTB]

Fire Hazards

Dear Vatik@ki

I am so glad there are other people in this town that are miffed about the constant fires that burn at this time of year.
It is so annoying. The air stinks and in some circumstances we are choking from the smoke.
Just when you think things are fine, some poopal lights another bush fire.

The poor Fire Department are up and down like Yo-Jo's trying to quell all the blazes.
Not an hour ago the sirens were going past again.
This time the Fire Department spotted some kids with firecrackers on an open field. They doused the small fire, but only seconds later had to douse a second fire from the same bunch of hooligans that set the other side of the field alight.
We could hear the Fireman shouting at the hooligans.

Early summer is the worst as the long grass and weeds start to dry out and this makes for fire hazards.
Council also don't help the situation by effectively doing one of their core functions and that is to keep Council Property clean from debris, Port Jackson and long grass.
One has to constantly remind them of their functions.

Just heard recently that the guy in our area that used to always keep the place neat and tidy has resigned as he was overlooked for promotion.
So it sounds like there is more to the story why the grass isn't being cut.

But we still pay a fortune in Rates and Taxes, for which we receive very little.

 

[supersunbird]

Go light a fire under Helens ass then

 

[Vatniek]

Go light a fire under Helens ass then

Can we blame the flame on Helen too? What can one woman do.

 

[supersunbird]

Light a fire under their ass, or appoint others to do it, arent they (the veld cutters and whatever) municipal employees?

 

[Nickste]

Helen has done more in this short space than anyone before her ever managed to do.
Vatnie***nie: Yep, I definately think that the idea of christmas blankets/food causes many of these fires.

 

[kingmonty]

none of the millions of spring/summer fires in and around cape town can prepare one for the fires that rage in Jhb throughout winter. Jhb is ugly at the best of times, and when the place is burnt to a black cinder it is absolutely appalling.

 

[kilps]

That argument is completely wrong ... I have a relative who works for the Paraffin Safety Association ... the number one cause is unsafe stoves which are sold for R28 being knocked over and setting a shack alight - the occupant has only about 40 second to get out before they are burnt alive

They are trying to get legislation passed to force stove makers to make stoves which turn off when knocked over ...

 

[Skeptik]

That argument is completely wrong ... I have a relative who works for the Paraffin Safety Association ... the number one cause is unsafe stoves which are sold for R28 being knocked over and setting a shack alight - the occupant has only about 40 second to get out before they are burnt alive

They are trying to get legislation passed to force stove makers to make stoves which turn off when knocked over ...

I think the point is are there more fires nearer Christmas than any time of year. I can see you are blaming the stoves, but there would be more gas and paraffin use in Winter...right...so more fires in Winter than now?

Remember that people are getting burnt and miserable so is it likely they are starting fires themselves.

 

[noxibox]

Vatnie***nie: Yep, I definately think that the idea of christmas blankets/food causes many of these fires.

Why would that make any difference? Relief materials are gathered no matter what time of year a disaster happens.

They doused the small fire, but only seconds later had to douse a second fire from the same bunch of hooligans that set the other side of the field alight.
We could hear the Fireman shouting at the hooligans.

They should just douse the hooligans. Or set them on fire and not douse them

We did a lot of crazy things when we were children, but we always put out our own fires.

I think the point is are there more fires nearer Christmas than any time of year. I can see you are blaming the stoves, but there would be more gas and paraffin use in Winter...right...so more fires in Winter than now?

Remember that people are getting burnt and miserable so is it likely they are starting fires themselves.

In Cape Town it is more likely cold and wet in winter, dry and hot in summer, so fires will start and spread more easily in summer.

I'm wondering if they will try out this flame retardent spray that is supposed to radically slow burning of flammable materials. It shouldn't cost the local government much to put it into use. Assuming it works as well as

There are some real morons out there though. A while back I got into an argument with some idiot who just tossed a burning cigarette onto the ground where the wind kept it going and whipped into the dry bush. This just after the fire department had a day before finally managed to put out a very serious mountain fire.

 

[supersunbird]

I'm wondering if they will try out this flame retardent spray that is supposed to radically slow burning of flammable materials. It shouldn't cost the local government much to put it into use. Assuming it works as well as

Wonder if that stuff is enviromentaly friendly...

 

[Tassidar]

I doubt that the mountain fires are started deliberately, however, with the number of people on the mountain fires are becoming more and more inevitable. One plus is that Fynbos generally doesn't burn before it is ready (only after about 5 years).

That having been said, we had quite a major fire on Muizenberg mountains last year, which started at night, leading me to suspect arson.

WRT the township fires, the dry climate makes them more serious. The biggest problem with them is that people build their houses over fire extinguishers, so that the fireman can't find them. Also, a panic mentality sets in, as people try to salvage their own possessions and stop the fire from reaching their house. This means that the firemen often end up fighting civilians who are trying to 'steal' the fire hose to save their own possessions. You can imagine that the firemen end up being quite ineffective in these situations.

 

[bwana]

But we still pay a fortune in Rates and Taxes, for which we receive very little.

Move to PE - pay very little and get very little.

Hey, at least we're consistent

We also get our fair share of fires but I guess that's to be expected.