A Message from the NEFSFPA to All Landowners
As we move into April, the North Eastern Free State transitions into the dry winter season. With the first frosts approaching, the risk of veld fires increases daily. Preparation in April is the difference between a controlled situation and a catastrophe.
Below is the comprehensive 2026 April Readiness Checklist. We urge all landowners to treat these tasks as high priority.
1. Administrative Integrity & Legal Protection
In the eyes of the law (National Veld and Forest Fire Act), being prepared is your best defense.
- Settle FPA Membership Fees: Membership is not merely a subscription; it is your “legal shield.” Being a member in good standing ensures you have access to FPA resources and provides a legal presumption against negligence in the event of a fire spreading.
- Update Contact Directories: Ensure the FPA has your current mobile number and that you have the latest contact list for your Sector Leader and immediate neighbors.
- Attend Sector Meetings: Local knowledge is vital. Attend your April sector meeting to discuss coordinated burning windows and to identify high-risk areas in your immediate vicinity.
2. Infrastructure & Mechanical Firebreaks
April is the month for Mechanical preparation before the grass becomes too dry for safe burning.
- Establish Defensive Perimeters: Use graders, discs, or mowers to create “clean” firebreaks around critical assets:
- Worker housing and homesteads.
- Storage sheds and workshops.
- Kraals and livestock holding pens.
- Secure Hay & Fodder: The Free State is a primary hay-producing region. Ensure all loose hay is raked up and moved to secure, cleared areas. Ensure haystacks are protected by a minimum 10-meter bare-soil break.
- Waste Management: Inspect farm dumping sites. Ensure they are cleared of surrounding vegetation and located in areas where prevailing winds won’t carry sparks into the veld.
3. Equipment Service & “Minimum Requirements”
Your equipment must be ready to run at a moment’s notice. A pump that won’t start in July was a pump that wasn’t serviced in April.
- The “Bakkie-Sakkie” Audit: Does your equipment meet the NEFSFPA Minimum Requirements for your land size? Check your water capacity and pump flow rates.
- Technical Servicing:
- Engines: Change oil, check spark plugs, and drain old fuel.
- Seals & Hoses: Winter temperatures can perish rubber. Replace leaking seals and cracked hoses now.
- PPE: Inspect fire-retardant clothing, goggles, and boots for your team.
- Water Point Access: Ensure that dams, tanks, and boreholes are accessible by heavy vehicles. Check that your couplings are standard and compatible with neighbors’ equipment.
4. Communication & The Fire Danger Index (FDI)
Seconds save hectares. Reliable communication is the backbone of fire defense.
- 2-Way Radio Overhaul: Cell towers often fail during large fires. Test your 2-way radios across your entire property. Replace batteries that no longer hold a full charge.
- The FDI Protocol: Familiarize yourself and your staff with the Fire Danger Index colors. Ensure everyone understands that on Orange or Red days, high-risk activities (welding, grinding, or burning) are strictly prohibited.
5. Personnel Training & Safety
Your workforce is your first line of defense.
- Active Training: Conduct a “First Strike” drill. Does every worker know exactly what to do when an alarm is raised?
- Safety Briefings: Reiterate the “Look Up, Look Down, Look Around” safety rule. Ensure workers understand fire behavior in our unique North Eastern Free State topography and wind conditions.
- Procedure Familiarization: Review the official FPA assistance procedure. Everyone should know who calls the FPA office and how to provide an accurate location using the sector grid system.
A Final Note for April
Preparation is a collective effort. When you secure your borders and maintain your equipment, you aren’t just protecting your own livelihood—you are protecting your community.
Stay Alert. Stay Prepared.
NEFSFPA Management Working together to protect our land and lives.
Is your farm ready? If you have questions regarding the Minimum Requirements or need to update your membership details, please contact the FPA office immediately.
