Table Mountain National Park Records Positive Festive Season Numbers
Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) recorded a successful festive season with visitor numbers, crime incidents and fires presenting an overall encoura...
Although we appreciate that such burning is a source of concern to Cape Town residents it must be stated that wild fires will occur and an uncontrolled fire could pose a huge risk to life and property on the urban edge. Therefore the removal of dry flammable material by means of a prescribed burn will reduce the likelihood of these uncontrolled wildfires from occurring.
Fynbos vegetation is both fire-prone and fire-adapted and the use of fire forms an integral part of the ecological management of the park. TMNP Fire Management Department together with the SANParks Cape Research Centre has developed a scientific Prescribed Burning Plan for the entire Park.
The reasons for conducting prescribed burns in fynbos vegetation are:
Weather-permitting, TMNP is planning to undertake prescribed burning at:
Residents in the adjoining areas of the Park should be assured that Park management will do their best to minimize any possible inconvenience to adjacent households during the preparatory work and burning operations. When the burn takes place, surrounding residents are advised to please keep their windows shut while burning takes place. Flammable items such as gas canisters should be removed from outside areas and laundry should be taken off washing lines to prevent odour contamination from the smoke. (pets, asthma)
All owners and occupiers of adjacent properties have a right to lodge written queries/objections to the proposed open burning with the City of Cape Town. Kindly direct all queries or objections to the City”s Air Pollution Control section on Tel: 021 590 5200 via fax to 021 590 5215 or via email to [email protected]
How to tell the difference between a prescribed burn and a wild fire:
It is important to note that a prescribed burn will only ever take place under the conditions as described above. Prescribed burning will never take place on days with strong/gale-force winds, and will not take place over weekends or public holidays. Should you see a fire that does not describe the above conditions, please contact the TMNP Fire Management Department at 021 689 7438/9.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks), Cape Region
Tel: 021 712 0527
Media Enquiries:
Tarcia Hendricks
Regional Public Relations Officer
South African National Parks (SANParks)
Tel: 021 712 0527
E-mail: [email protected]
Philip Prins
TMNP Fire Manager
South African National Parks (SANParks)
Tel: 021 689 7438/9
E-mail: [email protected]