GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - While the world’s attention is focused on the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, South Africa is battling its own escalating wildfire crisis.
Data from Working on Fire (WOF) reveals that wildfire incidents in December 2024 nearly doubled compared to December 2023, reflecting a disturbing global trend driven by climate change.
South Africa’s Wildfire Surge
In December 2024, Working on Fire teams attended 100 wildfires, compared to 51 in the same month the previous year—a 96% increase.
Out-of-season fires also rose by 67.6%, from 105 incidents in 2023 to 176 in 2024.
The Western Cape remains the most affected, recording 42 wildfires in December 2024 alone, while the Eastern Cape also faced significant fire activity.
These trends mirror the alarming frequency and intensity of wildfires seen worldwide.
“These numbers are a reminder that South Africa is not immune to the global wildfire crisis,” said Trevor Abrahams, Managing Director of Working on Fire.
“While the world watches Los Angeles, our firefighters too are battling conditions that are increasingly fuelled by climate change.”
Global Parallels: Lessons from LA and South Africa
The devastating wildfires currently raging in Los Angeles mirror challenges South Africa has faced, including the 2017 Knysna fires. These include:
- Unseasonal Fires: Fires occurring outside traditional seasons, driven by prolonged
drought and erratic weather. - Extreme Conditions: Hurricane-force winds in LA and gale-force winds in South
Africa amplify fire intensity and spread. - Operational Challenges: Hazardous conditions often ground aerial firefighting efforts during critical early stages.
“These shared challenges highlight the global scale of the climate crisis,” said Abrahams.
“South Africa and Los Angeles are part of a growing list of regions grappling with more frequent and severe wildfires. The time to act is now—locally and globally.”
South Africa’s Fight Against Fires
Working on Fire teams were at the forefront of the summer fire season wildfires in the Western Cape last month:
- Swartberg Mountains: Burned 15,000 hectares in a nine-day operation involving 212
firefighters and aerial resources dropping 194,000 litres of water. - Jongensfontein: The longest-running fire of the season, lasting 18 days.
- Theewaterskloof Dam: A complex, 13-day operation involving over 30 firefighters.
Aerial firefighting resources played a critical role, with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft logging 245 flying hours and dropping two million litres of water in December 2024.
A Call for Global and Local Action
As the LA fires dominate headlines, South Africa’s escalating wildfire crisis reinforces the
urgent need for action:
- Invest in Resources: Strengthen public-private partnerships to enhance firefighting
capacity. - Share Knowledge: Collaborate globally to adopt advanced firefighting strategies and
predictive technologies. - Combat Climate Change: Address the root causes to reduce the frequency and
intensity of wildfires.
About Working on Fire
The Working on Fire - Kishugu Joint Venture is South Africa’s leading wildfire management organisation, combining ground and aerial resources to combat wildfires. With advanced training and extensive experience, WOF remains committed to safeguarding communities and ecosystems amidst escalating fire seasons.
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