Fire Awareness Drive 2022

In preparation for the fire season, Amathole Forestry Company recently embarked on a Fire Awareness Drive to educate communities and schools on the dangers of forest and domestic fires.

Wildfires can seriously affect communities - loss of income, land, shelter, and food resources, as well as damage and repair to properties. Damage or destruction of infrastructures such as buildings and roads, and disrupted electricity or water supply can negatively affect local businesses and tourism which, in turn, can contribute to poverty. Smoke, ash, and debris from wildfires result in air and water pollution. Natural resources, such as communal grazing land, indigenous forests, and wetlands, can be destroyed. After the fire, the land is susceptible to soil erosion which causes further damage. Communities that derive income from natural resources can be affected for years after the fire while the natural resources slowly recover.

Fire education and awareness are the key elements in involving communities in the prevention of unwanted wildfires. AFC encourages communities and learners to participate in fire awareness education and fire-risk projects.

AFC offered the Fire Awareness Drive programme to eight schools and ten communities. The programme was enthusiastically received and learners, in particular, were eager to participate.

The participation of The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Environment (DFFE), The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) Eastern Cape, and Working On Fire (WOF) contributed significantly to the success of the drive and such collaboration lays a solid foundation for future initiatives.

Isihoboti Combined School
Ngobozana Primary School
AFC & DEDEAT young professionals spreading Fire Awareness message