The Los Angeles tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of the climate crisis. (file photo)
An orange and crimson inferno engulfed Los Angeles, leaving a trail of destruction behind. Destroyed homes, displaced families, and thick smoke darkening the sky.
These harrowing images drive home the reality of climate change and highlight the need for global preparedness. The fires, which destroyed thousands of homes and displaced tens of thousands of residents, are a stark reminder that no country is immune to the escalating climate crisis.
For South Africa, the similarities with its own bushfires are striking.
Working on Fire managing director Trevor Abrahams draws attention to similarities with the 2017 Knysna fire.
“Both disasters occurred outside of the traditional fire season and were caused by dry vegetation and unusually strong winds,” Abrahams said.
“As in California last week, air resources were suspended in Knysna during the first days of the fire due to dangerous conditions. As in Knysna 2017, firefighting aircraft, which are often a lifeline, were You are being landed by the very circumstances you are fighting against.”
He said climate change was making wildfires more frequent, intensive and destructive.
“The Los Angeles fires remind us that the climate crisis will not save anyone's lives. South Africa must act now to prevent future disasters, save lives and protect our natural heritage. “Hmm,” he said.
Last month, South Africa reported a 96% increase in wildfire incidents compared to December 2023. Particularly worrying was the nearly 70% increase in out-of-season fires.
Last year's winter fire season set a record, with Working on Fire seeing 2,529 fires, the highest number compared to the 10-year average. Thirty-five people lost their lives that season, 18 of whom were fighting the fire.
“The loss of 35 lives, including many brave firefighters, is a stark reminder of the dangers we face. This is more than just a statistic. This is a call for action to address the root causes of increasingly intense wildfires,” Mr Abrahams said.
Despite the challenges, South Africa's ground and air firefighting teams showed extraordinary resilience. Last month alone, the aviation team logged 245 hours of flight and dropped 2 million liters of water.
Ground crews engaged in grueling operations, including nine days of fighting in the Svartberg Mountains, which burned 15,000 hectares, and an 18-day effort to contain the longest fire of the season in Jongensfontein.
However, even these efforts are insufficient to combat the growing scale of wildfires.
“We need to prioritize firebreaks, fuel load reduction and the use of predictive technology such as satellite imagery and early warning systems,” Abrahams said.
“Public education campaigns and strict enforcement of fire safety regulations can play an important role in reducing risk before a fire occurs.”
He emphasized the need to strengthen fire brigade resources.
“Our firefighters are performing an extraordinary job under difficult circumstances, but we need better equipment, training and increased staffing to meet growing demand,” he said.
Tackling climate change remains central to his message.
“Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are creating conditions where wildfires are more frequent and more destructive. Addressing the roots of climate change is non-negotiable,” Abrahams warned.
“The challenges we face are not unique,” he said, underscoring the value of global cooperation. By sharing expertise and resources with other countries, we can all become more resilient to this growing threat. ”
International collaborations, such as the deployment of the South African Fire Services Team to support Canada, demonstrate the power of shared resources and expertise.
In Canada, these teams played a critical role in fire management, helping to contain fires that displaced 230,000 people in 2023. This also demonstrated the high standard of South African firefighters on the international stage.
Countries need to mobilize knowledge, finance, and innovative solutions and scale up these efforts to address wildfire outbreaks and the broader climate crisis they cause.
The Los Angeles tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of the climate crisis.
Mr. Abrahams emphasizes the importance of prevention, education, resource strengthening, climate action, and international cooperation.
“The lessons from California show us the dangers of inaction, but they also offer hope through a determined and concerted effort,” he said.
