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20 August 2025 - Gearing Up for the Fire Season 18 July 2025 - Working on Fire at Work We are very fortunate to have an extremey effective Working on Fire team at our disposal to help with burning firebreaks for our farming cummunity. The team is based at the Fire Station in Rensburg and are unfortunately now down to 8 members. And with the recent Governmental budget cuts, there are no plans right now to increase their numbers or replace any members if they leave. So please make use of their services if you need help with burning your firebreaks.   Although it is now possible to have the team help with burning firebreaks in the evenings, most of their work is done during the day and is often hampered by weather. Despite that they have completed over 10 substantial firebreaks for farmers and are booked until the end of the month when they will revert to standby for suppressing runaway veld fires. 18 June 2025 - Using WoF Services This year the FPA has obtained a blanket Burning Permit to cover all members using WoF to help burn their firebreaks until the end of July. So if any FPA members would like to use the services of WoF to help burn their firebreaks, they need not apply for a Burning Permit with WoF, just book the WoF team through FPA administration. Please WhatsApp your request to Derek Marusich 083 260-2398. The WoF roster link is on the Home page and the Heidelberg Working on Fire Team page, or you can link here. If you are planning to burn your firebreaks without WoF assistance, please ensure you conform to all legal requirements, remember to inform your neighbours and put a notfication on the WhatsApp group for your intention to burn. 14 June 2025 - Firefighter Service and Information Workshop A very successful Firefighter Service and Information Workshop was held at Bella Rochelle. All firefighters present as well as the FPA units were serviced and checked. Big thanks go to Simon and Abrie du Plooy, and Neil Swart for their hard work through the afternoon and Jaco Mey of Mega Lube for donating all the oil. Andries Gertenbach gave a demonstration and information session on using Blowers for firefighting and Willie Strydom of the Heidelberg Volunteer Medics and First Responders gave a first aid information session specifically on burns.    02 April 2025 - 2025 Executive Committee and FPA Membership The FPA AGM was held at Bella Rochelle (L1F3) last Wednesday evening and the new Executive Committee is listed on the Contacts page. We are complying with GUFPA requirements and receiving substantial grants, but need to increase membership in order to optimise this relationship. We ended the financial year 60 members strong. And there are just over 600 farms in our jurisdiction. So only 10% of our farmers are FPA members. Please approach your neighbours and encourage them to join so we can make our FPA stronger. And stronger membership means more subsidies from GUFPA and more financial support for our members to help with fighting fires this fire season. The National Veld & Forest Fire Act Ammendment Bill has now also been posted on the website for those interested. 07 March 2025 - AGM Notice Alhough fire is not foremost on most of our minds at the moment, we have to look back on a particularly bad 2024 fire season - and learn what we can from it. But every year throws us a different curved ball and the much higher than normal January and February rainfall has already resulted in vigorous vegetation growth which will result in more than average fuel for our winter fires. Please start clearing vegetation where possible, winter is not too far off now. The 2025 Fire Protection Association (FPA) AGM will be held at Bella Rochelle (L1F3 on the Laagerspoot Road) at 18h00 on Wednesday 26th March. Snacks will be provided and the cash bar will be open. |
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The FPA's existing two bakkie firefighting units are being serviced and a third unit has been purchased. Our two backpack blowers have also been serviced and a third one has been acquired and they will be provided for use with the necessary face and hand protective gear. 
