National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998)Chapter 3 : Fire Danger Rating9. Fire danger rating |
| (1) | The Minister must prepare and maintain on a continuous basis a fire danger rating system for the entire country in consultation with— |
| (a) | the South African Weather Bureau or any successor to that Bureau; and |
| (b) | fire protection associations. |
| (2) | The Minister may consult other organisations with expertise, information or equipment relevant to the establishment or maintenance of a fire danger rating system. |
| (3) | The Minister must divide the entire country into separate regions, each region being one in which the fire danger is usually sufficiently uniform to allow for a single rating which is meaningful for the entire region. |
| (4) | The fire danger rating system must— |
| (a) | take into account the relevant peculiarities of each region, including, where reasonably possible— |
| (i) | the topography; |
| (ii) | the type of vegetation in the area; |
| (iii) | the seasonal climatic cycle; |
| (iv) | typical weather conditions; |
| (v) | recent weather conditions; |
| (vi) | current weather conditions; |
| (vii) | forecasted weather conditions; and |
| (viii) | any other relevant matter; |
| (b) | incorporate the formula or formulae needed to— |
| (i) | take into account factors affecting the fire danger for each region; |
| (ii) | calculate the indicators needed to rate the fire danger; |
| (iii) | rate the fire danger in each region for an appropriate period or periods; |
| (c) | show the rating in a clear format; |
| (d) | identify— |
| (i) | what activities are dangerous and what precautions should be taken for each rating; and |
| (ii) | when the fire danger is rated as high or extreme. |
| (5) | The Minister may require any fire protection association to provide information needed for the fire danger rating system within a period specified by him or her. |