Wildland fire-related fatalities in South Africa – A 1994 Casestudy and looking back at the year 2001

摘要

During 1994 a wildfire occurred in even-aged industrial plantations, in the Sabierndistrict of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, which caused the death of ten fire fighters,rnwhile another eight were injured. In the history of South African Forestry, this was the highestrnnumber of fire fighters that died and were injured during a single plantation fire. The reasons forrnthese fatalities can be attributed to a number of factors, which include (I) the occurrence of extremernspotting conditions, (ii) lack of escape routes, (iii) wrong or unclear fire fighting instructionsrnand (iv) lack of training in basic fire fighting procedures and (v) vital safety measures notrnbeing applied. During the last decade, South Africa also experienced regular (almost yearly) fatalitiesrnas a result of motor accidents in thick smoke originating from wildfires. During recentrnyears up to nine people died yearly as a result of these accidents, in smoke from uncontrolled orrncontrolled fynbos or grassland fires. This paper will discuss methods to improve this seriousrnsituation by means of training of fire fighters (and prescribed burners) in smoke management,rnand by means of better co-operation with the Weather Bureau and other Government bodies,rnsuch as traffic control institutions. During the 4-6 September 2001 period, thirty-one fire-relatedrnfatalities were experienced in the northeastern part of South Africa. Twenty-three of these wererncivilians collecting grass for thatching in the Kruger National Park. They were trapped by an uncontrolledrngrassland wildfire in a temporary camp, where they stayed overnight. Seven civiliansrnalso lost their lives during fires elsewhere, and one fire fighter fatality was recorded at yet anotherrnwildfire site in the area. The lack of public awareness about the impact of serious wildfiresrnis a major national shortcoming. However, the absence of a suitable disaster management plans -rnas well as proper assessment of wildfire situations – have also been identified as major stumblingrnblocks. The implementation of improved fire danger rating is also recommended, as most of thern2001 wildfires occurred within a very short (three-day) period, during which these extreme firernweather conditions were experienced. Effective early warning could also have avoided (or atrnleast reduced) the high number of fatalities. It is recommended that the South African Government,rnin co-operation with private institutions, give urgent attention to the problem areas identified.