7 May 2026 | 13:04 CAT
2-minute read

KwaZulu-Natal municipalities are being urged to improve fire season preparedness as concerns grow over non-compliance with fire safety legislation and the increased risk of rapidly spreading wildfires amid severe weather warnings.

The KwaZulu-Natal Fire Protection Association has warned that many municipalities are failing to fully meet their obligations under the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, including maintaining firebreaks, ensuring trained personnel, and securing adequate firefighting equipment.

At the same time, severe weather alerts issued by the South African Weather Service have raised concerns over strong winds and thunderstorms that could accelerate the spread of fires.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Islam International, KZN Fire Protection Association General Manager Simon Thomas said the province is currently still relatively moist following recent rainfall, while limited frost has slowed the drying of vegetation.

“We are preparing ourselves. I don’t think we’re going to be in too much trouble right now. It’s what could happen later in what we call our winter fire season,” Thomas said.

He explained that the law requires all landowners to take reasonable measures to prevent fires from spreading from their properties, including maintaining trained staff and firefighting equipment.

However, Thomas said many municipalities — particularly smaller ones — lack the resources and personnel needed to manage wildfires effectively and often rely on landowners and fire protection associations to respond to fires.

He also raised concerns about the lack of municipal participation in fire protection associations, which hampers coordinated emergency responses.

Thomas urged residents to remain vigilant during fire season and avoid starting fires they cannot control.

“Before you leave that braai fire, you’ve extinguished it. So there’s no hot coals that could blow in the wind and cause an unwanted fire,” he said.

He also cautioned communities using cooking or warming fires, candles, paraffin lanterns and stoves to ensure flames are fully extinguished, noting that most unwanted fires are caused by human activity.

“Remember, 99% of unwanted fires are actually caused by humans,” Thomas said.

Reflecting on lessons from last year’s relatively mild fire season, Thomas warned that uncontrolled grass burning in rural areas remains a major concern, particularly when fires spread rapidly up mountainsides into forestry areas, towns and communities.

He also highlighted concerns over deliberate fire-starting linked to political tensions in some areas.

Thomas urged the public to monitor weather warnings closely and report smoke or fires immediately, especially during strong berg wind conditions ahead of cold fronts.

“We need to put those fires out as quickly as possible before they cause any damage,” he said.

Listen to the full interview with Simon Thomas on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.