KIMBERLEY – Billowing black smoke raised alarm bells at 13:45 after a resident in Hercules street in Beaconsfield disposed of waste by burning it in their yard.
A woman living in the area was hanging up washing when she first smelled the fire. She says she first thought it was criminals burning stolen copper cables because of the plastic smell after seeing dark clouds of smoke rising up towards the sky.
This comes after the Sol Plaatje municipality did not collect refuse in the area due to striking workers last week.
In pictures, the smoke is white which could indicate light and flashy fuels such as grass or twigs. Thick, black smoke, however, indicates heavy fuels that are not being fully consumed. In urban areas, it can also indicate manmade material such as burning tires, vehicles or structures.
Don’t do it, warns Beaconsfield man after a family member dies in a refuse fire
Another resident of the area spoke to The Kimberley Prospector and warned against the illegal burning of waste.
He says: “Many years ago I lost a family member who passed after having an epileptic seizure while discarding waste in a fire not far from where today’s incident took place.”
Not only does the fire itself or inhaling of the smoke pose a danger, but the flickering lights of the fire could also pose a danger to those who are susceptible or suffer from epilepsy, he says.
The by-laws of the municipality are clear. The disposal of waste by burning is not allowed and illegal.
Snippets from Sol Plaatje’s municpalities by-laws:
- Making of fires
(1) No person shall make a fire, or cause or permit a fire to be made in such
a place or in such a manner as to endanger any building, premises or
property.
(2) Subject to the provisions of any other law, no person shall, without the
written permission of the chief fire officer, burn any rubbish, wood, straw
or other material in the open air or cause or permit it to be done, except
for the purpose of preparing food.
(3) Any permission granted in terms of subsection (2). shall be subject to the
conchions imposed by the chief fire officer.
Fires in chimneys, flues and smoke ducts
- No owner or occupier of any building shall allow shoot or any other combustible
substance to accumulate in any chimney, flue or duct of such building in such
quantities or in such manner as to create a fire hazard. - (1) In order to control refuse collection, the following shall be applicable.
(c) No burning of waste on, near and around site. - No person shall, in, on or at a public place –
b) ignite or burn rubble or refuse;
c) burn any matter that produces an offensive smoke;
