The Working on Fire – Kishugu Joint Venture (WOF-Kishugu JV) has placed approximately 3, 200 wildland firefighters, along with aerial resources and pilots from Kishugu Aviation, on high alert across South Africa’s winter fire season provinces: Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, for the weekend of 12 and 13 October 2024.
This precaution follows a warning from the SA Weather Services indicating extremely high fire danger in the northern and eastern Northern Cape, western Free State, central Eastern Cape, parts of North-West province, and northern Limpopo.
The predicted conditions are expected to persist throughout the weekend, prompting the WOF-Kishugu JV to inform partners, including Fire Protection Associations, Nature Conservation Agencies, and local municipalities of its readiness to assist in wildland fire suppression efforts if needed.
In 2024, the WOF-Kishugu JV already responded to over 2,200 wildfires, marking this as the most severe fire season since 2017. Current projections indicate that this year may well exceed the 2,270 wildfires recorded in 2017.
Kishugu Aviation has played a vital role in supporting ground teams, conducting 13,519 water drops to enhance firefighting operations in challenging terrains. This collaboration between aerial and ground teams has proven essential in managing the scale of wildland fires this year.
The rising frequency of wildland fires also underscores the escalating impact of climate change in South Africa. Recent data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record globally, with August temperatures tying for the warmest ever recorded.
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S, stated, “The last three months have seen unprecedented heat, increasing the likelihood of 2024 being the hottest year on record. Unless we take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we will face more intense extreme weather events with devastating effects.”
The ongoing rise in global temperatures, compounded by local factors such as rising ocean temperatures and weather patterns like La Niña, further heightens fire risks in South Africa.
As we navigate these record-breaking temperatures and fire activity, proactive fire management and community awareness are more critical than ever. The Working on Fire – Kishugu Joint Venture is dedicated to not only battling fires but also educating communities about the growing risks associated with climate change.
Our Fire Awareness department is intensifying efforts to educate schools and communities in fire-prone areas about fire safety and prevention, empowering them with essential knowledge to manage and mitigate fire risks.
The extensive ground and aerial resources from WOF, Kishugu Aviation, and Kishugu Fleet Solutions, along with our partnerships with municipalities, Fire Protection Associations, Nature Conservation Agencies, and landowners, are crucial for effective resource mobilisation and comprehensive fire response strategies.
Through combined fire awareness education and coordinated firefighting efforts, we aim to save lives, protect property, and preserve the environment
