The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency’s (ECPTA) Thomas Baines Nature Reserve has reinforced its commitment to proactive conservation and safety by participating in a critical firefighting training programme held on the 27–28 August 2025.
The initiative was organised by the Sarah Baartman East Fire Protection Association (SBEFPA) in collaboration with Working on Fire’s Port Alfred base. It brought together stakeholders from the Belton and Salam areas, including conservation teams from Thomas Baines Nature Reserve, to sharpen skills in wildfire prevention, suppression, and management.
The training combined both theoretical knowledge and practical field exercises. Participants were equipped with essential techniques in fire line construction, safe use of firefighting equipment, and coordinated response strategies skills regarded as indispensable during the peak fire season in the Eastern Cape.
Thomas Baines Reserve Manager, Siphelele Hlazo, emphasised the importance of such initiatives. “Wildfires remain one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and the communities surrounding our protected areas. This collaboration ensures that when fires do occur, we are united, well-prepared, and able to respond swiftly to safeguard both people and nature.”
The training reflects ECPTA’s ongoing efforts to integrate conservation management with community safety and disaster risk reduction, working closely with fire protection associations and local stakeholders, Thomas Baines Nature Reserve continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring the resilience of the broader Sarah Baartman region.
