Suffocating in peat smoke

I AM writing with regard to the peat fires burning in Richards Bay.

The accompanying photograph was taken in Jakkalsdraai less than a kilometre from the one fire.

There are three burning on the Sappi section of the plantations and two on the Mondi section adjacent to Wildenweide, Veldenvlei and Birdswood in Richards Bay.

I have been in contact with the Richards Bay Clean Air Association (RBCAA) who are inundated with complaints from residents, the Zululand Fire Department and the Sappi forester.

For two days 100 000 litres of water were dispersed by the Zululand Fire Department and 60 000 litres of water by the Richards Bay Municipal Fire Department.

The bill of the latter will most probably be footed by the ratepayers, who are already being inconvenienced by the smoke.

The health problems arising from this smoke varies from increased heat rate, breathing problems and asthma. The animals sleeping outside are in distress and vomiting.

An article on the Greenpeace site clearly states that peat smoke is harmful.

If Sappi and Mondi followed the regulations put down in the National Veld and Forest Act (Act 101 of 1998) with regard to the treatment and rehabilitation of marsh and peat areas, this situation could have been averted.

I am instead being told by the forester that the fire was started by individuals looking for beehives and the lack of rain in the area worsened the situation as there are old tree stumps and debris at the location of the fires.

They have put a perimeter around the area and will have to wait for the peat fire to burn itself out, as well as dousing it with more chemicals.

However long this might take, we will have to put up with the situation.

It would be interesting to know how many residents are being affected by this smoke.

A response from the municipality is still awaited.

ANNA VAN DER WESTHUIZEN