Fire season across the country - parliamentary statement (11 November 2005)The latest incident yesterday destroyed the dwellings of 150 families in Kayamandi. These devastating fires run through informal settlements in a matter of minutes. Whilst many preventative measures have been explored, it remains clear that the implementation of these fire safety measures is not universal.
The UDM is furthermore disturbed by the apparent lack of commitment by Government in pursuing known technology that will improve fire-fighters ability to contain fires in informal settlements. The so-called “foam-bomb” has been on the cards for a long time, and after last year’s devastation in Joe Slovo settlement, it was once again promised. However to date this technology is not available to fire-fighters and thousands of people have lost their homes, whilst a few have even lost their lives.
The country as a whole has seen relatively little rainfall in the past year, and with summer upon us, the threat of more devastating and deadly fires cannot be ignored. We appeal to all local authorities to inspect their nearby informal settlements and seek ways of limiting the dangers and improving access for fire-fighters in the event that it is needed. At the very least a very visible public awareness campaign is required.