by Delisa Thwala
Amid the strong winds that started over the weekend, the Eswatini National Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (ENFRES) has attended to 44 fires countrywide.
The fires were reported by members of the public to the ENFRES. Public Relations Officer Mandla Dlamini said at 8:30 pm on July 7, 2024, they were still trying to extinguish some of the fires.
According to Dlamini, the fires were spread in various parts of the country due to the windy weather conditions.
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According to ENFRES, 10 reports were received and attended to in Manzini. In Mbabane, there were eight reports and six both in Lobamba and Nhlangano.
Worth mentioning is that ENFRES has so far recorded 367 wildfires in 2024. Out of the 367 cases, 88 of them have been reported this month.
ENFRES is concerned about such statistics that seem to be on the rise. About 814 veld fire cases were reported nationally since the beginning of last year.
Dlamini criticized communities and municipalities for failing to play their part in curbing such an increase in veld fires despite their efforts to educate members of society on the dangers of fires.
Dlamini noted with concern that most of the wildfires happened in areas around towns and cities as compared to rural areas. He said two homesteads had been gutted by the recent veld fires.
Dlamini said 29 veld fires were reported across the country: Lobamba (7), Manzini (6), Mbabane (5) Pigg’s Peak (4), Matsapha (3), Siteki (2), Nhlangano (1).
