Wildfire risks grow, but SA can lead region's response

News24

14 hours ago

Africa accounts for nearly 67% of the world's annually burned surface area; tackling wildfires requires a collaborative effort which SA can help lead, writes Trevor Abrahams.
In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney. South Africa was one of five non-G7 countries invited to the summit's outreach sessions, and the only African nation present.
During the meeting, Ramaphosa formally endorsed the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, an international agreement that recognises wildfire as a systemic, year-round climate threat that requires urgent global cooperation.
Disaster wildland fires have captured the news as in the recent devastation in Los Angeles, the Jasper Park fire in Canada, the Park fire in California, the Lahaina fire in Hawaii, the fires in Greece, Algeria, Portugal, Brazil and Knysna in South Africa, which have claimed countless lives, destroyed livelihoods, infrastructure and ecosystems.
In 2024, some 34 people lost their lives in wildland fires in South Africa, 18 of whom were engaged in fighting these fires.
The G7 Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, also endorsed by South Africa, Australia, India, South Korea, Mexico, is more than a diplomatic gesture. It builds on a long-standing working relationship between South Africa and Canada. Since 2015, South African firefighting teams have deployed six times to support Canadian efforts during record-breaking fire seasons. The endorsement acknowledges that wildfire is no longer just a forestry issue. It is a climate, development and public safety challenge that demands integrated and long-term planning.
The Charter calls for a shift from reactive suppression to integrated fire management. It emphasises early warning systems, ecological restoration, community resilience and the inclusion of Indigenous and local knowledge.
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These are not new ideas for South Africa. Through the Working on Fire programme, funded by the South African government and implemented by the Kishugu Group, the country operates the continent's only nationally deployed wildland firefighting workforce.
Each year, more than 5 000 young South Africans, many from rural areas, are trained to monitor fire danger, reduce fuel loads and carry out prescribed burns and combat unwanted wildfires.
This is not just about extinguishing fires. It is about embedding climate resilience, protecting biodiversity and creating jobs in places that need them most.
Kishugu has spent two decades building an integrated fire management system. This includes aviation, logistics, fleet management, environmental services and a dedicated training academy. Its teams have worked in Chile, Indonesia and Canada, and supported disaster operations in Malawi.
The Kishugu Training Academy, already recognised through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency-funded SADC initiative, has the capacity to serve as a regional hub for training in wildfire preparedness.
Despite this experience, sub-Saharan Africa remains underprepared. Africa accounts for nearly 67% of the world's annually burned surface area, yet lacks a shared response architecture. Unlike Europe or the Americas, it has no standard framework for incident management, resource interoperability or joint training. These gaps were clear at the 2025 United Nations FAO Global Fire Management Hub plenary in Rome, where Africa's structural disadvantage was evident.
South Africa is in a position to help close that gap. The Wildfire Applied Research Network (WARN), established by the Working on Fire-Kishugu Joint Venture in 2024, aims to connect scientists with frontline fire managers and decision-makers. It promotes applied fire research to inform real-time strategy. But what is needed now is something broader — a dedicated sub-Saharan platform for wildfire cooperation, which could harmonise operational standards, scale up early warning systems and facilitate cross-border resource sharing.
Such a platform would also enable a truly collaborative approach. Community education, indigenous knowledge and public participation must be central to how fire governance is shaped on the continent.
As climate change accelerates, risk will no longer be isolated. Fire, drought, floods, and food insecurity will overlap and intensify. These are not separate emergencies. They are connected. The only credible response is anticipatory, integrated, and collaborative.
Wildfire must be placed at the heart of national disaster strategies. Fire crews should be recognised not only as emergency responders, but as essential climate mitigation personnel. Their work reduces emissions, safeguards ecosystems and builds resilience where it matters most.
South Africa has already put the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter into practice. The region should not wait for the next fire season to follow its lead.
Trevor Abrahams, managing director, Working on Fire – Kishugu JV
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