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26 Apr 2018 | |
Written by Patrick Ryan | |
ODs Around the World |
Patrick Ryan (1985O): My company Vulcan Wildfire Management has completed the Situational Analysis of the 2017 Knysna Fires Incident which has been handed over to the WC Government for review and dissemination. This was a landmark wildfire incident in the history of South Africa with the truly sad loss of 8 (documented) lives, 1059 formal dwellings, 385 informal dwellings and a financial loss esitmated to have run into billions of Rands. Our report looks at every aspect of the fires from the understanding and awareness of the risk prior to the outbreak, the potential of severe loss of life during evacuations, the roles and responsibilities of the Fire Protection Associations, land owner, home owners, municipalties and fire services and the circumstances leading to the fatalities. This study of the incident suggests the way forward and we hope these suggestions are adopted before we encounter another catastrophic wildfire event. South Africa has been highlighted by Lloyds Insurance as one of the countries that will see increased fire severity and fire frequency in the years to come.
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