Through Integrated Fire Management, an implementation plan is developed for specific areas, focusing on fire reduction measures and scientific fire management. This includes prescribed burns to prevent fire damage and to ensure biodiversity objectives are met.
IFM is a holistic approach to fire management, encompassing:
Risk Analysis
Fire Prevention Plans
Strategies to Raise Awareness
Fire Preparedness
Firefighting Precautions
Coordination Plans
Fire Investigations
Recordkeeping, Statistics, and Reporting
Catastrophic fires cannot be prevented solely through effective firefighting practices; fire-prone areas must be managed using scientific principles. Integrated Fire Management takes into account the needs of all stakeholders, enhancing cooperation and resource sharing.
Key benefits of IFM include:
Helping the community as a whole to limit financial expenditure and losses.
Making a positive contribution towards the conservation of biodiversity and water resources.
Ensuring that economic and social assets are not damaged, thereby supporting long-term financial sustainability.
Promoting the activities of the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA).
Reducing duplication through a holistic approach.
The vision of the SCFPA is to promote IFM in the SCFPA region to minimize losses to social, economic, and ecological assets. This is achieved through the successful implementation of strategies focused on awareness, fire protection, prevention, and support during suppression.
Empower local communities to become more aware of the risks of fire
Capacitate them to act proactively to reduce hazards and vulnerability of assets
Allow them to act as a first response in fire emergencies
Initiate integrated fire management in the most cost effective way possible
Ensure that members comply with legislation
To organise professional and coordinated responses when a fire breaks out
Co-ordinate aerial firefighting in the region
Make firefighting resources available to assist with fire fighting
Co-ordinate radio communication during wild fires
Distribution of the Fire Danger Index to members
The primary goal of the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association is to establish Fire Management Units (FMUs) in priority areas identified by our Integrated Fire Management Plan. The SCFPA provides assistance and advice on the establishment of FMUs in regions classified based on their fire risk. We support integrated fire management principles, which encompass ecological considerations such as ecological burns, alien invasive plant management, and addressing accelerated erosion due to fires.
Serve as a firefighting service, although we can assist with larger fires at a cost.
Perform the role of the municipal fire department; however, we can provide services to landowners requiring assistance during wildfires.
Receive funding from local and provincial government.
Engage in structural firefighting or any other fire brigade services.
Enforce membership to the organization. Membership is voluntary, except for state organizations that own and/or manage land, for which membership is compulsory.
And Partners
