Fire and Flood Awareness | Western Cape Government

Fire and Flood Awareness

(Department of Local Government, Western Cape Government)
 
 
       
 

 



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Fires come in two different forms, veld and informal settlement fires.

Veld fires are any fire that happens outside an area with buildings or houses and runs the risk of running out of control. Veld fires usually occur during the dry season (summer) when it is hot and windy. It is also fueled by dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass.

Informal settlement fires are fires, which happen randomly within informal settlements, and run the risk of becoming out of control. There are many reasons why informal settlement fires happen but they are usually caused by people who knocks over a candle in their shack, or leaves their fires unattended.

Here are some important fire tips to help you and your family:

1. Stay alert:

  • Fires and cooking stoves should never be left unattended.
  • Put out candles and lamps before you go to sleep or leave your home.
  • Build homes at least three metres apart to prevent fires from spreading.

2. Plan ahead:

  • Keep a bucket of water and a bucket of sand ready to put out small fires before they spread.
3. Calling for help:
  • Know your emergency number 10177
  • When you phone, give the full address and a landmark such as a shop or school close to the fire to enable fire fighters to find you quickly.

What is a flood?
A flood is when there is a rise in water level in the same area until there is too much water for that area to absorb. Floods can be caused by either too much rain in a short space of time, ongoing rain in the same area, blocked rivers and streams from rubbish, failure in dam walls, storm surges (waves being driven ashore by strong winds) or too much water from dams and lakes being released.

Here are some important flood tips to help you and your family:

1. Stay alert:

  • Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwaters.
  • Never try to walk, swim, drive, or play in floodwater.

2. Plan ahead

  • Develop an evacuation plan
  • Talk about floods with your family.

3. Calling for help:

  • Emergency numbers for outside the Municipality of the City of Cape Town: Landline or public phone: 10177
  • Inside the Municipality of the City of Cape Town Landline or public phone: 107.
    From a cell phone: 112.
  • When you phone, give the full address and a landmark such as a shop or school close to the fire to help fire fighters to find you quickly.

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The content on this page was last updated on 15 March 2014