Wildfires in South Africa
SABC News has an article about wildfires that are burning up South Africa.
The estimated cost of the wildfires over the weekend in four provinces is mounting. More than 20 000 hectares of grassland in the Potchefstroom area of the North West alone was destroyed. At R5 000 per hectare, this amounts to over R100 million.Fifteen houses belonging to farm workers were destroyed and at least 23 herds of cattle had to be put down. In the province's Pilanesberg National Park, a major tourist attraction, about 20 elephants were burned and one had to be put down. In the eastern Free State, Malcolm Procter, a control forester with the water affairs and forestry department, says damage to grazing land has been extensive.
These must be fast moving fires to burn cattle and elephants. For reference, a hectare is 2.47 acres and R100 million is about US$ 15.7 million.
I think it is interesting to read about fires in other countries. It would be cool to be able to travel to these countries to see how they fight fires.
