KZN Fire Association issues warning of fires during dry season

The association's Simon Thomas says the province is in the second year of a drought and did not receive enough rainfall during summer meaning it's extremely dry. 

He says as we get further into winter there will be strong North Westerly winds which will fan fires that break out at a drastic rate.

''We are starting to move into that time of the year. A lot of the fires that you see at the moment are controlled burns because land owners by law have to prepare firebreaks around their properties. 

''So a lot of the fires are controlled burns at the moment. This is allowed until the end of July where people can do this after that any smoke is basically an uncontrolled fire which needs to be reported immediately,'' he said. 

Thomas says all parts of the province need to be on the look out, but the worst affected areas could be along the Northern parts mainly Zululand coast and the interior. 

People living in informal settlements and those who start fires for grazing need to monitor their fires closely.

(File photo)