Extremely dangerous fire conditions can turn a small veld fire into a fast-moving blaze, putting homes, farms, livestock and lives at risk.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has flagged extremely high fire danger conditions in parts of the country for Monday, 12 October.
What does Red Level 10 fire danger mean?
Red Level 10 sits at the highest end of the fire danger rating scale used in South Africa.
It indicates conditions that could allow fires to start easily, spread rapidly and become extremely difficult to control.
Hot temperatures, dry vegetation, low humidity and strong winds can increase the risk. Wind can also carry burning material ahead of a fire, allowing new fires to develop.
A Red Level 10 warning does not mean a fire has already started. It warns that weather and vegetation conditions could make a fire particularly dangerous if one breaks out.
Which areas face the warning?
Monday’s Red Level 10 warning covers several areas across the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and North West.
These include Beaufort West, Prince Albert, Ladismith, Sutherland, Laingsburg, Victoria West, Vryburg, Barkly West, Queenstown, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock and Burgersdorp.
The warning runs from 08:00 until 18:59 on Monday, according to published SAWS warning listings.
How does SAWS measure fire danger?
SAWS uses the Fire Danger Index (FDI) to assess how easily fires could start and spread.
The index considers temperature, humidity, wind speed and rainfall over the previous 21 days.
An FDI above 75 falls into the red category, which indicates extremely dangerous fire conditions.
What should residents do?
Residents in affected areas should avoid lighting fires outdoors, burning rubbish or carrying out activities that could produce sparks.
People should also extinguish braai fires completely and report any signs of smoke or uncontrolled fires to their local fire services.
SAWS advises firefighting teams to remain on full standby during extremely dangerous fire conditions.