Wednesday, January 29, 2025

January 16, 2025

An Expert Weighs In About The Possibility Of An LA Fire Disaster Happening In SA

The Knysna Fires of 2017 stand as a stark reminder of just how catastrophic these events can be. The lessons are clear—now it’s up to us to act before the embers ignite.

[Image: Knysna-Plett Herald]

As raging infernos tear through the glitzy suburbs of Los Angeles (LA), a seasoned South African weather expert has sounded the alarm, warning that Mzansi could also face more unpredictable and extreme weather.

Back home, Cape Town has already felt the sting, with devastating fires ripping through multiple informal settlements. Nico Kroese from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) laid it bare to The Citizen, stating that most fires in SA are tragically man-made.

In South Africa, urbanisation and the relentless influx of people into cities have led to the mushrooming of informal settlements, he noted, adding how the close-knit nature of these areas, with shacks made from highly combustible materials, creates a perfect storm for disaster.

“[Which] is the reason these kinds of fire disasters are a regular occurrence in South Africa.”

Even with recent rains offering a glimmer of hope, the experts are bracing themselves. An uptick in scorching droughts and heatwaves looms on the horizon, threatening to spark more wildfires and leaving South Africans to grapple with an even harsher climate future.

“The impacts of climate change [include an] increase in severe weather in the form of thunderstorms causing flash floods. Coinciding with an increase in thunderstorms is the increase in lightning that ignites fires,” he explained.

Kroese pointed out that the fires ravaging LA and those flaring up in South Africa are poles apart in their nature, causes, weather conditions, and origins.

Still, he warns, the real takeaways lie in how we handle these disasters. It’s about sharpening our early warning systems and improving fire management strategies to prevent these tragedies from spiralling out of control.

Kroese acknowledged that while South Africa’s fire responders are well-equipped to tackle smaller blazes, large-scale infernos present a “real problem”.

Recent events have proven that South Africa isn’t immune to fire disasters on the scale of what we’ve seen in LA, he reminds us, referencing the Knysna Fires of 2017 that stand as a stark reminder of just how catastrophic these events can be. The header image of the Knysna fires shows a similar scene to what is happening in LA right now.

He emphasized that early warning and fire monitoring systems are South Africa’s first line of defence against such hazards. Recognizing the growing threat, a multi-institutional project was launched in 2024 to develop an advanced fire warning system tailored to the country’s unique challenges.

Kroese explained that this initiative brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including government departments, SAWS, CSIR, and provincial and municipal fire associations as a united effort to strengthen our resilience and readiness for future fire seasons.

As climate change tightens its grip and human activity amplifies fire risks, the urgency to adapt and prepare has never been greater. South Africa’s fight against fire disasters hinges on proactive measures, collaboration, and innovative systems that can outpace the flames. The lessons are clear—now it’s up to us to act before the embers ignite.

[Source: Citizen]