Taking stock after uncontrolled veld fires
Taking stock after uncontrolled veld fires
06 December 2012
published by www.fanews.co.za
South Africa — Livestock need immediate attention to rule out secondary injuries.
Veld fires can be vicious and unrelenting. Most recently attacking the Northern Cape, these out-of-control blazes destroyed at least 215,000 hectares of agricultural grazing land. The most recent spate of fires, which started in November, were believed to be caused by lightning and fuelled by strong winds.
Santam, South Africas largest agricultural insurer, warns that although farm owners and workers fight tirelessly to extinguish perilous blazes, damage may be more severe than anticipated and may even continue after a veldfire has been successfully put out.
Most notably, livestock can be adversely affected by veldfires as physical injury can go beyond the initial visible damage caused by the flames and heat.
Livestock
Analysing injuries to livestock following a veldfire is imperative. Secondary problems can quickly lead to infections and more serious complications. Find your livestock, give them adequate nutrition and consult your vet as soon as possible, says Hanlie Kroese, Business Development Manager at Santam Agriculture. If its possible, move animals to unburned ground.
It is important to get livestock to high quality forage with a protein and mineral supplement and good water, adds Kroese. Thereafter rotate their feeding area to prevent the build-up of pathogens. If livestock is unable to get adequate nutrition and water immediately, their health can deteriorate rapidly.
Health disorders such as burned eyes, feet, udders, sheaths and testicles as well as smoke inhalation are the most common problems seen in livestock in the days following a fire. Contact with burning grass, weeds and brush will cause immediate burns to the animal;the severity of the burns will be determined by the degree of heat.
Smoke inhalation
Inhalation of smoke causes immediate irritation to the lining of the respiratory system, including nasal passages, trachea, and lungs. This can lead to inflammation, edema and emphysema, with theseverity determined by the duration of inhaled smoke, Kroese continues.
Smoke can travel for many kilometres and livestock that are not near the fire may still suffer from some form of lung infection.
Burns
Burns can also cause secondary suffering. The calves of mothers with scorched udders that survived will be unable to suckle on sore udders. The linings of the eyelids and eyeballs can be irritated and lead to secondary infections which can be fatal. Burned feet should be likely and it may take several days to notice that an animal is limping. All surviving livestock should be evaluated as soon as possible for health disorders and potential treatment.
Necessary insurance
With more than 83 years of experience, Santam believes that agricultural brokers play an indispensable role in the insurance cycle. Not only do they form the critical relationships with farmers and producers, but they also have extensive knowledge of virtually all aspects of farming, concludes Kroese
In the case of unforeseen damages due to fire, Santams Agriculture clients have access to the following:
· Cover for damages they may become legally liable for and have to pay should a fire start on their farm and then spread to neighbouring farms.
· An extension which gives cover for fire extinguishing charges when the insureds own property is threatened by fire.
· All reasonable fire extinguishing costs and expenses to prevent the spreading of such fire beyond the borders of the insured’s own premises.
· Livestock: Insured against death of the insured animal (excluding game), as defined in the schedule, against fire and the farmer can also get cover for his assets such as fences, buildings and structures. The failure was in the forest areas.Advertisement
Following a 10-year strategy, ACT fire managers have created a mosaic across the landscape of different fuel levels, burning at every opportunity.
But forests have been too wet to burn this spring and the past two summers.
Read more:http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/red-alert-for-high-risk-of-fires-20121118-29koa.html#ixzz2CmafUgo3
The failure was in the forest areas.Advertisement
Following a 10-year strategy, ACT fire managers have created a mosaic across the landscape of different fuel levels, burning at every opportunity.
But forests have been too wet to burn this spring and the past two summers.
Read more:http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/red-alert-for-high-risk-of-fires-20121118-29koa.html#ixzz2CmafUgo3
The failure was in the forest areas.Advertisement
Following a 10-year strategy, ACT fire managers have created a mosaic across the landscape of different fuel levels, burning at every opportunity.
But forests have been too wet to burn this spring and the past two summers.
Read more:http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/red-alert-for-high-risk-of-fires-20121118-29koa.html#ixzz2CmafUgo3
Two summers of unprecedented rain and unusually cool temperatures have left a large fuel load of grass and unburnt forest areas in and around Canberra.
A network of 500 fire trails and strategic burns along the north-west urban edge, heavy grazing and extra grass slashing will create a fortress for the territory which forecasters say faces a higher than average risk this summer.
After a fire-fuelled tornado in January 2003 killed four Canberrans and frightened thousands more, CSIRO fire expert Phil Cheney told the subsequent inquiry the fire’s penetration into urban areas under extreme conditions did not reflect a failure of fuel management on the urban interface.
Read more:http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/red-alert-for-high-risk-of-fires-20121118-29koa.html#ixzz2CmaXNjum
The failure was in the forest areas.Advertisement
Following a 10-year strategy, ACT fire managers have created a mosaic across the landscape of different fuel levels, burning at every opportunity.
But forests have been too wet to burn this spring and the past two summers.
