Raging fires in KZN blamed on dry weather
A climate change expert says the increase in raging wildfires across KZN can be attributed to drier weather conditions and gale-force winds experienced over winter.
After a series of weather warnings last month, 14 people were killed in runaway veld fires in the province.
The South African Weather Service issued a fresh set of warnings last week.
On Thursday night, strong gusts of wind caused an out-of-control fire to spread across a large area in the Southern Drakensberg, burning down the popular Bushman's Nek Berg and Trout Resort.
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"The dry winter conditions increased the flammability in terms of having a lot of dry vegetation, a lot of leaves on the ground," says Professor Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, who is with the UKZN's School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences.
"So, then there is a lot of fuel, the soil is also dry, and there is no soil moisture. So, these conditions are enabling fires to happen and in strong winds, those fires can easily spread."
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