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The results of a new forensic report into the devastating Knysna fires have been made public, and whoever was behind starting the blaze is going to be feeling the heat.

Chief of Fire and Rescue in Knysna, Clinton Manuel, has handed the investigation over to the SAPS, and local government has made it clear that they are going to enforce the “full might of the law” against any perpetrators identified.

Given that there were multiple deaths, and damage that some claim will take between R4 and R5 billion to fix, the punishment should be pretty severe.

Not that everyone believes arson was the cause, as Manuel made clear when speaking to the Daily Maverick:

“Arson has a very specific definition,” he said. “It is more likely that whoever lit the fire was trying to keep warm or perhaps attempting to cook food. They may perhaps even have attempted to stop the fire. However, once the flames got out of control it is likely they disappeared very quickly.”

The forensic report, presented to the media on Monday, outlined a few key details:

Manuel said the investigation, which began a day after the fires broke out on 7 June, delivered two main hypotheses: one, that the blaze was caused by lightning, and two, that it was man-made. Strong winds and invasive plant materials probably helped the blaze spread faster.

Manuel referred to two main areas, the V area (referring to the V shape the flames followed) and the non-V area. The first hypothesis suggests the fire started in the non-V area, and the second suggests it began in the V area near Elandskraal.

According to the forensic report, the notion that the fires were started deliberately boils down to the appearance of some burnt pine cones – commonly used as kindling – in an area where no pine trees grew, and in an area where the fire was estimated to have started.

…Manuel said it was unlikely the damage could be attributed to an Act of God.

Won’t find me arguing that one.

That R4-R5 billion repair estimate allows for R496 million on public sector reconstruction, and a further R3,5 billion as an estimate of private losses.

You can read the rest of the Daily Maverick’s article on the report findings HERE.

[source:dailymaverick]