The current fire season in KZN has been a tragic one, with the recent deaths of several firefighters in a runaway fire near Howick and devastating fires that destroyed thousands of hectares of grazing as well as property and livestock in several areas, including the Karkloof (which experienced a catastrophic fire just before Christmas in 2019), Kokstad and Camperdown.
According to reports, by mid-August, 1,418 fires had been recorded across KZN since the beginning of the year, with 1,069 occurring during the current fire season. The widespread fires in July outside Howick, near Boston and eMpophomeni, which saw seven firefighters dying after being surrounded by fires that were fanned by very high winds, resulted in about R93 million in damages. In the same month, three runaway fires in the greater Kokstad area caused agricultural losses estimated at about R22 million.
Gareth Smallbones, Manager: Agriculture at Safire Insurance, says several factors have made the current fire season such a challenge: extremely dry conditions and high fuel loads after good summer growth, plus high temperatures, and winds that usually arrive in August coming early – a nightmarish combination.
It is uncertain when this fire season will be over, with predictions of moisture uncertain. Gareth says that while it is difficult to determine whether fire season patterns are changing, he believes that fire seasons may be extending for longer periods.
Simon Thomas of KwaZulu-Natal Fire Protection Association says the firefighters who fight these fires are exhausted, as there is no let up with the fires and resources are stretched to the limit. Losses reported to date across KZN for this fire season include 57,424 hectares of grazing, 542 livestock and 11 structures destroyed, as well as the tragic loss of nine human lives. Ground costs are estimated at around R18 million, and R15 million in terms of aviation costs.
KZN FPA has its own aerial resources, paid for by private members. These include six spotter planes, eight SEATs [single engine air tankers or bombers] and two choppers based at bases in Shafton, Richmond, Weza, Kwambo and Melmoth. According to Simon, so far, the total hours flown for this fire season to attend to 75 fires that needed aerial support are: 143 for the spotter planes, 364 for the SEATs, and 35 for the choppers. In the same period last year, 25 fires required aerial assistance, with 39 hours of flying for the spotter planes, 76 hours for the SEATs and 14 hours for the choppers.
Image supplied by Simon Thomas of KwaZulu-Natal Fire Protection Association