BULAWAYO
–
Property
worth
more
than
US$500,000
was
destroyed
after
three
separate
fires
broke
out
across
Bulawayo
on
Monday,
prompting
urgent
warnings
from
mayor
David
Coltart
against
reckless
burning
of
garden
refuse
during
the
dry
season.
In
a
statement,
Coltart
said
city
fire
crews
had
endured
an
“exceptionally
busy
day”
battling
the
blazes,
which
stretched
resources
and
left
at
least
one
home
completely
gutted.
“I
was
deeply
gratified
to
see
the
amazing
courage,
expertise
and
commitment
of
our
teams
this
evening,”
the
mayor
said
after
visiting
one
of
the
affected
scenes
in
Burnside.
One
of
the
fires,
which
destroyed
a
private
dwelling,
was
traced
to
workers
who
had
been
burning
brush
at
a
neighbouring
property.
“It
is
an
offence
to
burn
garden
refuse.
Section
31
of
our
municipal
by-laws
makes
it
an
offence
to
burn
rubbish,”
Coltart
said.
“Aside
from
it
being
an
offence,
I
appeal
to
all
residents
not
to
burn
anything
at
this
hot,
dry,
windy
time
of
year.
It
can
cause
massive
loss
of
property
and
sometimes
lives.
Please
think
before
you
burn
anything.”
The
fires,
fanned
by
strong
winds
and
soaring
late-winter
temperatures,
spread
rapidly
before
being
brought
under
control
by
the
Bulawayo
Fire
Brigade.
No
fatalities
were
recorded,
though
residents
reported
significant
losses
of
household
goods,
furniture
and
personal
effects.
Bulawayo,
like
much
of
Zimbabwe,
is
currently
experiencing
hot,
dry
and
windy
conditions
that
increase
the
risk
of
runaway
fires.
Environmental
agencies
have
repeatedly
warned
that
careless
open
burning
is
one
of
the
leading
causes
of
veld
and
urban
fires,
which
frequently
result
in
costly
damage
to
infrastructure
and
livelihoods.
The
Bulawayo
City
Council
has
urged
residents
to
exercise
extreme
caution
and
to
make
use
of
proper
waste
disposal
services
instead
of
burning
refuse,
as
the
city
braces
for
more
fire
risks
during
the
peak
of
the
dry
season.