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21 February 2025 Media Release: GRDM facilitates Basic Veldfire Training conducted at Gourikwa Nature Reserve

Media Release: GRDM facilitates Basic Veldfire Training conducted at Gourikwa Nature Reserve

For immediate release
21 February 2025

The Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) Fire Services was formally requested by the management of the Gourikwa Nature Reserve in Gouritsmond to present basic veldfire training to their personnel. The training was conducted on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, in collaboration with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), an Association frequently involved in GRDM’s responses to wildfires and  a key stakeholder for the municipality.

Staff from the Gourikwa Nature Reserve welcomed the training conducted by Garden Route District Municipality in collaboration with the South Cape Fire Protection Association.

“We are committed to working together with key stakeholders, such as the SCFPA, to ensure that our communities are well-prepared to handle the threat of veld fires,” said Mayor Andrew Stroebel. Stroebel added: “The training at the Gourikwa Nature Reserve is but one of many steps in equipping local personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond effectively and safely to fire incidents”.

The training that was facilitated by officers from GRDM aimed to equip the staff and Nature Conservation students with the necessary knowledge and skills to respond effectively to the breakout of veld fires on their property.

The Basic Veldfire training focused on key elements such as the fundamentals of veldfires, fire behaviour and associated risks.
  1. The session focused on key elements such as the fundamentals of veldfires, fire behaviour and associated risks.

In addition, the following topics were further unpacked:

– proper procedures for detecting and reporting veld and wildfires.

– basic wildfire suppression techniques and safety protocols during such.

– How on-site personnel can support, the Fire & Rescue Services during an active fire incident.

The session was led by GRDM Station Commander, Heinrich Leslie, and Senior Firefighter, Luciano James. Participants actively engaged in discussions, asked insightful questions, and took part in practical exercises designed to simulate real-life fire scenarios.

The training will be re-enforced when a burn permit is obtained for a pre-scribed fire later in the year.

If you would like to request similar training for a community, including but not limited to farm workers who are often faced by wildfires, kindly contact the GRDM Fire Chief, Deon Stoffels on 083 941 1994.

Feature Image: Teams from the Garden Route District Municipality’s Fire Services and the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), during the basic veldfire training presented to personnel of the Gourikwa Nature Reserve in Gouritsmond. 

ENDS