As autumn approaches, we’ll begin to see the three major signs of the season – weather cooling, the leaves browning and the birds migrating. What we’ll also be seeing is the slightly lesser-known fourth sign: Fuel reduction burns that take place in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).
South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that prescribed burning is due to take place below Tafelberg Road this coming week, so when you see fire along the mountain, don’t be alarmed.
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‘TMNP Fire Management team will undertake a prescribed biodiversity burn of approximately 10 hectares below Tafelberg Road between 2 and 4 April 2024, in the area between the prescribed burn conducted last year in March 2023 and the fire experienced in December 2023,’ SANParks’ announcement explained.
‘TMNP predicts that there will be no disruption to the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (TMACC) operations and visitors, but we would like to caution cyclists, hikers and trail runners to remain off the trails below and on the contour path above Tafelberg Road during the burn, as we will have fire vehicles on these roads to reduce potential risk to people.’
The prescribed burn is set to commence at around 4am, under favourable weather conditions and fire crews will remain on scene following the burn to ensure mopping-up operations take place until the area is deemed safe by TMNP fire management.
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Quelling residents’ concerns about prescribed burns, SANParks explains that ‘uncontrolled wildfires that may occur could pose a huge risk to life and property on the urban edge if the removal of dry flammable material by means of a prescribed burn is not carried out to reduce the likelihood of future uncontrolled wildfires.
According to the organisation, the reasons for conducting prescribed burns in fynbos vegetation are threefold:
- To reduce fire hazards by reducing the unnecessary ‘fuel’ accumulated in the field as a result of Alien Plant Clearing operations.
- To rejuvenate the fire-adapted and fire-dependent fynbos vegetation.
- To form an essential part of control operations aimed at eliminating invasive alien plants.
SANParks added that residents in the adjoining areas of the park should be assured that Park management will do their best to minimise any possible inconvenience to adjacent households during the preparatory work and burning operations.
Furthermore, the organisation advised that surrounding residents please keep their windows shut while burning takes place, remove any flammable items such as gas canisters from outside areas and take any laundry off washing lines to prevent odour contamination from the smoke.
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