Agriculture
Lack of state funding for FPAs is "alarming"─── SABRINA DEAN 14:00 Thu, 18 Jun 2015
Bloemfontein - Fire Prevention Associations (FPAs) are saying that the lack of state funding for the volunteer associations, which play a pivotal role in combating veld fires, is alarming.
The general manager of the Free State Umbrella Body for Fire Protection Associations, Thinus Steenkamp, says out of the more than R6-billion budget tabled by Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana earlier this year, not a single cent went to FPAs:
He says although the Working on Fire (WoF) programme receives government funding through the expanded public works programme, the onus still rests on the relevant FPA to cover costs around administration, deployment and so forth when one of the WoF teams is called in. He says the only funding available to FPAs is through member fees, donations or fund raising initiatives such as golf days.
'Thinus Steenkamp'
Steenkamp is meanwhile urging all landowners to ensure their fire season preparation is done timeously.
He says firebreaks should be prepared well in advance of the 31 July deadline for burning of breaks, advising that areas around staff quarters be given first priority.
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
'Thinus Steenkamp':
