South African Environmental Protection Organization Working on Fire (WOF) says the devastating Los Angeles wildfires serve as a wake-up call for South Africa.
AFP reports that the massive wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed the lives of eleven people.
Damages have been estimated at $150 billion, ten thousand buildings have been destroyed, and 180,000 people have been evacuated.
Meanwhile, five different big blazes are still ongoing.
WOF Managing Director Trevor Abrahams said the fires highlight the urgent need for robust wildfire preparedness globally.
Drawing parallels to South Africa’s 2017 Knysna fires, Abrahams said both disasters occurred outside traditional fire seasons and were fueled by dry vegetation and strong winds.
"Just like in California this past week, aerial resources were grounded during the first few days of the fires in Knysna, due to hazardous conditions.
According to WOF, Climate change is intensifying these conditions, making wildfires more frequent and destructive.
"The wind-driven fires take the wildfires into urban areas.
"By that point, we have a major conflagration where thousands of homes are destroyed and tens of thousands of people have to be evacuated.
"The Los Angeles fires remind us that the climate crisis spares no one. South Africa must act now to prevent future disasters, safeguard lives, and protect its natural heritage," Abrahams stated.
