Stephen Devine – Mpumalanga Umbrella Fire Protection Association Rural / Urban Interface: Fire Protection Association Strategies & Lessons Learnt Stephen Devine – Mpumalanga Umbrella Fire Protection Association

Objectives Overview of FPA’s in the RUI (WUI) Defining the legal mandate of fire protection associations within South Africa Outlining the fire protection association landscape Describe the functions of fire protection association Challenges within the landscape of fire protection associations Integration Strategies Partnership Opportunities

Overview continue Wildfires occur throughout South Africa, from the savannahs in the west, throughout the vast grasslands in the hinterland, all the way to the threatened fynbos systems of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces. Large communities, both urban and rural, are exposed to the destructive impacts of these uncontrolled fires. Livestock and valuable assets are lost, human casualties are inflicted and, all too frequently, lives are lost. Developing populations have expanded into the natural areas and are increasingly exposed to wildfire hazards. Communities exposed to wildfires not only include poor rural communities, informal settlements, but also those living in upmarket developments. Many poor communities have a history of living with fire, using it for cooking, improving grazing, hunting, or clearing land. The lack of basic resources, however, has placed many of these communities at risk during the annual fire season.

What is a Fire Protection Association? A Fire Protection Association (FPA) is an organisation formed by landowners to predict, prevent, manage, and help fight wildfires in an area in order to protect lives, livelihoods, property, and the environment. Further, it is an organisation that has been registered as a Fire Protection Association by the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries responsible for the administration of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (Act 101 of 1998). National Government has realised that it does not have the capacity to manage veld fire in the natural environment and through the National Veld & Forest Fire Act 101 of 1998, seeks to empower landowners to prevent, protect and suppress runaway fire.

Fire Protection Association Landscape Made up of statutory and voluntary membership Functions as a private organization Supports Local Governmental structures FPO position held by LM CFO or appointed by FPA Functions primarily in the rural landscape Equipment and management specific to veld & forest fires Support function for structural services & disaster management agencies in rural areas Liaison with landowners, governmental departments and stakeholders

Functioning of FPA’s continue Wildland (veld, forest and natural vegetation)fires do not respect boundaries. It is important that all landowners, inclusive of landowners residing within the rural / urban interface, work together to manage them. Institutional structure, with various legal powers. Improved communication between all landowners, local authorities, and the responsible national government departments that are engaging in the regulation and management of wildfires. Communities in which land is State held or private should have representation in FPA. Wildland fires do not respect boundaries. It is important that all landowners work together to manage them. The National Veld and Forest Fire Act enables landowners to form FPAs that are legal entities and provide an institutional structure, with various legal powers, within which wildfires can be managed. FPAs further provide a vehicle for improving communication between all landowners, local authorities, and the responsible national government departments that are engaging in the regulation and management of wildfires.

Function of FPA’s Development of Integrated Fire Management Strategies Coordination of integrated veld fire management action as per provisions of the Act 101 through development of rule & regulations lodged with the Department. A point of interface between stakeholders(governmental, services organizations and landowners) Community Awareness through; Dissemination of Fire Danger Rating School & Community Campaigns Media notifications Capacity Building (Personnel & Equipment) Enforcement of the provisions of the NVFF Act

Challenges within the Rural / Urban Interface Sustainability of FPAs to ensure adequate functioning Landowner Participation – rural / urban fringe is not always forthcoming Provincial / District / Local Municipal Participation Provision of public services within rural/ urban interface landscape Poor planning and implementation of disaster management mitigation measures Landowners within the rural / urban interface landscape not complying with legislation and hence poor if no operational Participation “12. (1) Every owner on whose land a veldfire may start or burn or from whose land it may spread must prepare and maintain a firebreak on his or her side of the boundary between his or her land and any adjoining land” Reaching the Greater Community Awareness campaigns aligned with a National Strategy Policy makers - bylaws Implementers – landowners & government agencies Community awareness and planning

Integration Strategies Full-time FPA management structure to assist and guide all members (and landowners) – plans and strategies are as strong as the weakest links Encourage landowners within the rural / urban interface to join FPA’s with an aim to better chance for sustainability Integrated Development Plan (District / Local) – identify risk areas and allocate funding to implement mitigation measures Development of Standard Operational Procedures for interface with Fire Services and other fire agencies (Incident Command System) Alignment of LM fire bylaws and FPA rules and regulations - FPA to ensure all landowners comply with relevant policy and legislation within the rural/ urban interface FPA Fire Awareness Campaigns and regular community meetings prior to fire season to ensure preparedness

Partnership Opportunities Communities & Resident Associations Corporate Business on rural / urban boundaries (Corporate Social Investment) Insurance Industry Disaster Management (National/Provincial/District/Local) Government Environmental Programmes – fuel load reduction and vegetation control

Questions?