Critical gap in fire fighting capacity

Failure to draw up a service level agreement means no helicopter air support is currently available to fight serious fires in the province. The KZN Agriculture Union, Kwanalu, is outraged that this crucial service is lacking because the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development has failed to finalise an agreement with the charter company. Helicopters have proven to be critical in fighting runaway fires by, not only dropping water on large blazes, but also transporting fire fighting personnel to isolated locations. Kwanalu President, Robin Barnsley, says the union will be meeting with department officials to discuss the matter as soon as possible, hopefully this week. Barnsley has appealed to all citizens of the province to be extremely cautious in the use of fire, given the fact that the province's fire fighting capabilities have been prejudiced. This does not affect the work of the various Fire Protection Associations who have bombers and spotter aeroplanes on standby at strategic places.