Background information
Left unchecked, veld and forest fires can cause widespread destruction to property. More serious is however the risk posed to the human lives of those traversing in areas prone to veld and forest fires. These risks include not only the fire itself but also the road safety risks of poor visibility caused by smoke and the health risks of smoke inhalation. It is important for the safety of motorists that we share information on these risks as well as recommendations on how to act if confronted with these dangers.
Nature of veld and forest fires
But what are these fires and what should we expect from them? Veld fires can be categorized as “natural” fires and “unnatural fires”
Natural fires: They typically occur seasonally and the primary source of ignition is lightning. Due to the source of ignition, occurrence is most frequent during the rainy seasons.
Unnatural fires: They result from the intervention of humans and purposeful...
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