BULAWAYO residents have been warned against engaging in the illegal lighting of fire as the veld fire season begins, with authorities cautioning that negligence can result in loss of property, environmental damage and even loss of life.
The warning comes as authorities intensify efforts to prevent veld fires, which destroy property, vegetation and wildlife every year during the dry season. Fire outbreaks often result from human activities such as land clearing, careless disposal of cigarette stubs and unattended fire.
Moyo said the Bulawayo Fire Brigade had begun conducting controlled burning in high-risk areas, including Hillside, Burnside and the Criterion Water Works area, where dense and overgrown grass pose a significant fire hazard.
“We are carrying out controlled burning in areas prone to veld fires because of the amount of dry vegetation present,” Moyo said.
“We urge members of the public not to undertake any burning without authorisation.”
His warning comes after firefighters recently responded to a fire incident at SOS Children's Village, where a mattress caught fire in a storeroom.
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The blaze was quickly brought under control, resulting in minimal damage.
According to Moyo, preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by carelessly discarded smoking material.
“The fire involved a mattress in a storeroom. It was contained with ease and little damage was inflicted. The suspected cause of the fire is carelessly discarded smoking material,” he said.
Moyo urged residents to exercise caution when handling fire and to report fire outbreaks promptly to prevent them from spreading and causing extensive damage during the dry season.