Record 2 304 wildfire incidents call for strong intervention

By Octavia Avesca Spandiel | 22 October 2024 | 2:00 pm

The 2024 wildfire season has officially become the worst in South Africa in the past eight years, with the Working on Fire-Kishugu joint venture having responded to an unprecedented 2 304 wildfire incidents by 21 October.

This surpasses the 2 270 fires recorded during the 2017 season, highlighting the threat of climate change and human activity in driving fires across the country.

Linton Rensburg, team leader for stakeholder relations at Working on Fire-Kishugu, told Farmer’s Weekly: “This year marks a critical period for wildfire management in South Africa. We’ve not only seen a spike in the number of fires but also in their intensity and reach, which is largely driven by climate change and unsustainable human practices.”

According to Rensburg, the surge in wildfires this year is linked to several converging factors, with climate change being at the forefront. Warmer temperatures, prolonged droughts, and erratic weather patterns have d ideal conditions for wildfires to spread rapidly.

The Free State had the largest area burned by fires in 2024, followed by Western Cape and Mpumalanga, with Gauteng experiencing the smallest area burned.

“We are witnessing the impact of climate change in real time. The rise in temperatures and extended dry spells are exacerbating fire risks, while the frequency and severity of fires continue to escalate year on year,” he said.

Human activity has also played a significant role. Expanding urban-wildland interfaces, increased outdoor activities in fire-prone areas, and unsafe practices like leaving open fires unattended are contributing to the problem.

In July 2024, 14 lives were tragically lost in wildfires across KwaZulu-Natal, while in August, a farmworker was killed in a separate fire in Lindequesdrif, North West. These deaths, along with others in 2023, are an alarming indication of the heightened risk South Africans face.

“When we look at the six soldiers who lost their lives in the Northern Cape in October 2023, or the civilian deaths in North West, we are reminded that this is no longer a distant threat. It’s real, and it’s impacting lives in a very tragic way,” he said.

Mpumalanga had the highest number of fires attended by Working on Fire in 2024, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, with North West having the fewest.

The Working on Fire-Kishugu joint venture has called for a multifaceted approach, focusing on prevention, training, and collaboration between communities, government, and fire management agencies.

Rensburg mentioned the importance of public awareness in reducing fire risks. “Prevention is key. Simple actions like adhering to fire bans and reporting smoke early can save lives and protect property. Our education programmes in schools and communities need to be intensified to match the scale of the threat we are now facing,” he said.

The Working on Fire-Kishugu team is well equipped, with over 5 300 firefighters and an impressive array of aerial firefighting assets including bombers, helicopters, and support vehicles. However, Rensburg said there was a need for greater investment in equipment and training to cope with the growing number of fires.

The number of fires attended by Working on Fire shows a rising trend from 2016 to 2024, with a steady increase in both the number of fires and the hectares burned annually.

Rensburg said the long-term solution lies in stronger partnerships between local and national agencies, unified under operational frameworks like the Incident Command System, to streamline responses.