The LA wildfires: Could they happen in South Africa?

SAICE Fire Engineering Division lecture

Date:18 February 2025
Time:15h00

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed thousands of homes, caused many fatalities with billions of dollars worth of damage. Could similar events happen in the future in South Africa, and what can we do to prepare for them? Considering that in 2017 around 1000 homes were burnt down in Knysna, coupled with drought conditions and growing populations, we could see large loss events in SA, even if not on the same magnitude of LA.

The talk will also consider how to improve the wildfire resistance of homes along with case studies from SA.

Speakers:

• Dr. Natalia Flores Quiroz, Researcher Stellenbosch University
• Patrick Ryan, Managing Director, Vulcan Wildlife Management