– Kouga Local Municipality would like to inform residents, landowners and visitors that the controlled burning season officially ended on 31 October 2026. The annual fire prohibition period is now in effect from 1 November 2026 until 28 February 2027, as stipulated in the attached notice.
Residents, landowners and visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution and refrain from making open or unattended fires during this period, particularly with the hot summer months approaching.
The ongoing El Niño weather phenomenon may contribute to extremely hot and dry conditions, increasing the risk of veldfires. These conditions can make vegetation highly vulnerable to ignition and create an environment in which fires can spread rapidly and become uncontrollable.
Even a small fire can quickly escalate into a major veldfire, threatening lives, homes, livestock, property and the natural environment.
Residents are reminded that Section 45 of the Kouga Local Municipality Fire Services By-law makes provision for regulations relating to open fires. The public is urged to familiarise themselves with these requirements and comply with the applicable fire safety restrictions.
Certain fires prohibited (Section 45)
1. No person may make or allow any other person to make a fire that may endanger any person, animal or property.
2. No person may burn or allow any other person to burn any refuse or combustible material–
2.1 without the prior written permission of the chief fire officer; or
2.2 unless the refuse or combustible material is burnt in an approved incinerating device.
3. Any person, who makes a fire or allows any other person to make a fire, must take reasonable steps to ensure that the fire does not endanger any person, animal or property.
4. The prohibition in subsection (2) does not apply to any fire made –
4.1 in an approved and purpose-made stove, fireplace or hearth that forms an integrated part of a building or structure;
4.2 for the purpose of preparing food on private premises set aside for that purpose; or
4.3 in any device for preparing food which –
4.4 is heated by electricity or liquefied petroleum gas; and
4.5 is so positioned that the fire does not endanger any person, animal or property.
5. Any person who contravenes subsections (1), (2), (3) or (4) commits an offence.
Please report any sightings of fires to the fire department as soon as possible as rapid response are critical in containing, controlling and extinguishing fires to prevent the loss of life and prevent damages to property and infrastructure
Recent Comments