National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998)Chapter 2 : Fire Protection Associations5. Duties of fire protection associations |
| (1) | A fire protection association must at least— |
| (a) | develop and apply a veldfire management strategy for its area; |
| (b) | provide in the strategy for agreed mechanisms for the co-ordination of actions with adjoining fire protection associations; |
| (c) | make rules which bind its members; |
| (d) | identify the ecological conditions that affect the fire danger; |
| (e) | regularly communicate the fire danger rating referred to in sections 9 and 10 to its members; |
| (f) | organise and train its members in fire fighting, management and prevention; |
| (g) | inform its members of equipment and technology available for preventing and fighting veldfires; |
| (h) | provide management services, training and support for communities in their efforts to manage and control veldfires; |
| (i) | supply the Minister at least once every 12 months with statistics about veldfires in its area; |
| (j) | furnish any information requested by the Minister in order to prepare or maintain the fire danger rating system; |
| (k) | exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated to it by the Minister; and |
| (l) | appoint a fire protection officer, unless there is a chief fire officer as contemplated in section 6(2)(a) who is willing to assume the powers and duties of a fire protection officer. |
| (2) | Where a municipality or a designated service is a member, the fire protection association must consult with it in the development and application of the strategy. |
| (3) | The Minister may delegate a power or duty to a fire protection association if he or she has consulted with the fire protection officer beforehand. |
| (4) | The rules contemplated in subsection (1)(c) must provide for— |
| (a) | any matter which may or must be dealt with in terms of this Act; |
| (b) | the minimum standards to be maintained by members in relation to all aspects of veldfire prevention and readiness for fire fighting; |
| (c) | controlled burning to conserve ecosystems and reduce the fire danger; and |
| (d) | any other matter which is necessary for the fire protection association to achieve its objects. |
| (5) | A copy of the rules must be lodged with the Minister. |