When the Fire Breaks Out – Where Will You Be?
Consider:
In the event of a wildfire breaking out in or near your neighbourhood, events will race forward very, very fast. So for peace of mind, you need to prepare yourself as far as possible beforehand . It happened here before (in 2000) when many of us in Glencairn had to evacuate our homes at short notice. Fire came back to Glencairn in 2004 and then tragically destroyed several homes in Scarborough in 2008. Parts of Simonstown had similar experiences. Make no mistake, wildfires will certainly strike our communities again before too long, considering the overgrown state of the mountainsides around us.
How will you get up to date information to assess the immediate risk to your own home, when the inevitable fire sweeps in? Are you prepared with contact phone numbers, so that in an emergency, you are able to call a neighbour to help evacuate your kids and pets – or make sure that granny isn’t left alone and forgotten in the garden flat?
This should be a special concern to anyone who is away from home during the day and might be at a considerable distance, when the fire comes blazing in to threaten their home and family.
GLENCAIRN BURNING IN YEAR 2000 - photo from Cape Argus
The answer :
Have your own fire emergency plan in place beforehand and discuss it with the entire family, more than once during the fire season. An evacuation procedure is the most important part – this would include having a prepared list of valuables and documents for the family to take away and a note to make sure to close all doors and windows before leaving (to prevent sparks and embers entering), and directions for wetting wooden decks and filling gutters with water (if time allows).
But most importantly, get to know your immediate neighbours really well and discuss your plans and your family’s special needs with them and make sure you exchange telephone and cellphone numbers Remember to keep these numbers with you at all times. If evacuated, let everyone know when you are safe – or someone might become endangered searching for you.
Please also take the trouble to register your cellphone with Cape Cell Alert, as you will then get direct warnings and up-to-date fire information from across the neighbourhood. And please support the efforts to set up a Firewise Community in your area as this will help to reduce your personal fire risk before the evil day arrives.
Visit CAPE OF FIRE - for Useful Information About Alien Vegetation and Fire Prevention
and www.capecellalert.co.za for details of joining Cape Cell Alert
GENERAL EMERGENCY (FIRE)
| Cape Town Emergency | 021 480 7700 or 107 |
| Fish Hoek Emergency: | 021 782 0333 021 782 0444 021 782 0555 |
| Fire Brigade, Control Centre | 021 590 1900 |