Recent wildfires in the Western Cape made headlines, not even in SA, but also internationally. However, the damage and loss of life was even far worse in the US, and other parts of the world. Feedback indicated that these fire fighters overseas were well prepared, and equipment available. Risk Management assessments, identification and mitigation strategies were in place. In the Western Cape it appears as if the risk was also well identified and the fire fighting forces were available.
Huge financial losses, and the disruption of daily business and personal losses happened in a matter of weeks affecting the areas concerned for many years in the future. What went wrong, or should one ask, why did the wildfire spread as it did, and why was it not contained to minimize loss?
Technically, various views will ponder over equipment, management and possible shortcomings overall, but there is a common denominator: A natural disaster can’t be predicted to the where and when and in what intensity it will happen, one can only try and prepare in terms of the capacity you have available i.e. equipment/ground forces, aerial support and appropriate and effective management actions.
Scientists predicted with a high probability that fires in numbers and intensity will increase in the medium and long term in the future. Fires is a part of our lives, we will need to plan and execute prevention and suppression actions more effectively!
The past few years, UFPA (and other FPA’s) realized that we are an operational unit, managing its own personnel, runways, detection and aerial support services to address the fire risk, and improved our internal capacity and our approach to be more in the present, and to render a sustainable, business-like service as far as possible to the community we serve, that can be testified by members and related parties. Management is confident that this trend will be continued in the future.
Contribution are based on members representing say 300 000 hectares of the total UFPA area of say 600 000 hectares, resulting in an opportunity of additional membership fees to extend services and activities, and ensure the necessary growth.
UFPA, as an Association for the benefit of its members, would like to extend a request to all other institutions, and future members to participate by way of open communication, inputs to improve this necessary function , or to join as a member to benefit from the services available and to ensure that we have done our very best to mitigate the fire risk in this beautiful part of our country, for the benefit of the whole community!
I hereby wish you all the best in preparing for the 2019 fire season, and may any losses be limited to the minimum!
Piet Bezuidenhout, Chairperson