Playing with Fire

Growing up on a farm, winter months not only meant cold mornings, frozen water troughs, frost and snow but importantly it also meant that firebreaks had to be burnt to prevent runaway veld fires.

Firebreaks for those who may not know, is when fire is used in a controlled manner to create strips of burnt veld throughout a farm/property to prevent runaway fires. Although you may think that burning parts of a farm may not make much sense, it is essential to promote new growth of the veld and grasslands as well as kill of insects such as ticks and flies which may be disease carriers.

'Whirlwind" starting to form

Fire Vortex

These images were taken when a firebreak was being burnt in the midlands. Towards the end of the burning, the wind picked up considerably and formed a 'whirlwind', which pulled the flames into a vortex effect! What an amazing site to see.