Limpopo is preparing for another fire season expected to cost local farmers millions of rands in losses.

Working on Fire Limpopo (WoF) general manager Sam Maepa said farmers brace to lose millions of rands to fires which often destroy properties, ploughing fields and livestock during the dry winter season.

Maepa and the MEC for cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs Makoma Makhurupetje launched the fire season awareness campaign in Polokwane yesterday.

He said more than 500 firefighters had been stationed in different parts of the province to respond to veld fires.

The organisation also hosted a special veld and forest fire training camp earlier in the year.

According to 2014 parliamentary question papers, the government has established 267 fire protection associations across the country in recent years and set aside an annual budget of R6.35-million to assist them.

Maepa said resources were strained and that firefighters had to work overtime to cover the many events that occur.

He said the Waterberg district, where game farming is extensive, was particularly vulnerable to veld fires, as well as lowveld areas such as Tzaneen, which had a high number of crop farmers.

Tshianeo Mathidi, provincial president for the African Farmers' Association of South Africa (Afasa), said communal farmers were more vulnerable.

"The challenge is that in the communal areas there are no fire belts so fires spread from one village to another," he said.

"For livestock farmers it is a problem because when the grass is destroyed there is no food for the animals."

He said farmers were forced to buy expensive feed for their animals, which was not enough to keep the livestock fattened and ready for market.

Mathidi said in some instances entire orchards were wiped out, leaving farmers unable to harvest for years.

"It is a serious challenge because when we don't produce, the food which is available becomes expensive because of scarcity."

mahopoz@sowetan.co.za