TZANEEN – Between July and October, the Letaba Fire Protection Association (LFPA) attended to 68 uncontrolled fires, with 23 requiring aerial assistance.

The LFPA utilised aircraft for 46 hours, and helicopters for 62 hours, dropped 825 000 litres of water and covered over 555 kilometres with aircraft support vehicles during this period.

According to Rouan Snyman of LFPA, climate change might be a contributing factor to the recent fires that devastated the Greater Tzaneen and Greater Letaba municipal areas.

The United Nations defines climate change as long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

“In South Africa, these shifts have been evident with the extension of different seasons by one or two months. This trend has been observed in Tzaneen, where the fire season now extends into October.”

The recent heatwave, which saw temperatures soar to 43°C, exacerbated the situation, causing extensive vegetation fires and even a fire at a local landfill site and recycling plant in Tzaneen. By the time the firefighters arrived at the landfill site, a vehicle and equipment was already gone up in flames. In August the annual motor racing event, NTT Tzaneen Rally, was postponed due to high temperatures, the organisers postponed the event to 2025 fearing possible fire break-out.

Snyman described this year as a particularly challenging fire season compared to recent years.

“Since 2019, the region has experienced good and consistent rainfall from June to October, leading to lush vegetation. However, the high temperatures and lack of rain in recent months have caused this vegetation to dry out, creating a significant fire hazard,” he says.

When asked about the impact of climate change on the fires, Snyman affirmed its reality, citing unusual weather patterns such as 38°C in July (still winter) and significant snowfall in KwaZulu-Natal in September. He emphasised the importance of preparation for future seasons, stating, “Running around, trying to fix and sort things out while the threat is on our doorstep is too late and puts one on the back foot. Prevention is better than a cure. It wasn’t a matter of if we would have devastating fires, it was only a matter of when we would have devastating fires!”

Snyman hopes the recent fires serve as a wake-up call for everyone living in this fire-prone area, stressing the need for coordinated efforts between landowners and the government to combat future fires effectively.

To report any fires, residents are encouraged to contact the LFPA at 076 844 1646 or follow their Facebook page for updates.