The dry spell which has been accompanied by strong winds and very low temperatures means there could be an increase in structural fires and massive veld fires.<\/p>\n
While fires are a danger on their own, they promulgate a host of challenges for drivers when they occur near major roads and national highways.<\/p>
In past years, the metro has had to service vehicle pile-ups on the highways of Ekurhuleni and other major roads where lives were lost due to veld fires.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe winds have been blowing strongly and any small open flame or heat on dry vegetation has the potential to influence the rapid growth of and spread of a fire over vast areas,\u201d said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS).<\/p>
\u201cHeavy dense smoke along the major roads and highways will reduce visibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrivers should immediately reduce their speed and exercise extreme caution in that specific situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some obvious causes of such veld fires along highways and major roads are lit cigarette buds being thrown out of windows by motorists and passengers alike and broken glass bottles which can act like a magnifying glass setting vegetation alight.<\/p>\n
Deliberate and accidental causes include spontaneous combustion of decomposing material.<\/p>\n
The resulting fires are not only a threat to human life but also to animal life and the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen driving should visibility become very poor, don\u2019t attempt to drive through thick smoke or flames as the potential of an accident occurring becomes high.<\/p>\n
\u201cDue to poor visibility motorists can run off the road, collide with stationary obstacles, such as other vehicles, or become involved in head-on-collisions with other vehicles attempting to drive through from the opposite direction,\u201d said Ntladi.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n SAPS urge community to follow these safety tips<\/a><\/p>\n Help by donating winter woollies<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The freezing cold weather conditions can also result in accidental deaths due to the use of various warming techniques.<\/p>\n \u201cRecently lives were lost in Ekurhuleni due to incidents of toxic gas inhalation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is still a common practice for people to go to bed with lit braziers, coal stoves, fireplaces and braai stands, or even to leave their electric stoves on,\u201d said Ntladi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen blankets fall on top of a stove, they can catch alight and produce toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.<\/p>\n \u201cInhalation of such gases causes suffocation and ultimately death.\u201d<\/p>\n Ntladi added that many domestic fires are caused by electrical wiring through short circuits and illegal connections.<\/p>\n \u201cHeaters are still placed near combustible items and left unmonitored which is an unsafe practice.<\/p>\n \u201cUnattended air conditioners, running throughout the night domestically or at offices, often cause unnecessary fires.<\/p>\n \u201cAll heating sources should be switched off in the absence of adults,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Children playing with matches and lighters are also a major source of house fires according to Ntladi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen these fall into the hands of children they become a significant factor in fire fatalities and property destruction.<\/p>\n \u201cParents need to keep such items out of the reach of children,\u201d said Ntladi.<\/p>\n In the case of an emergency contact DEMS by calling:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 10177: National toll free number.<\/p>\n \u2022 112: From a cellphone.<\/p>\n \u2022 011 458 0911: Life threatening Ekurhuleni emergency line.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n