The 14th Fire Management Symposium: Educating and training for effective wildfire management

Date: 6 to 8 November 2024

Venue: Halliwell Country Inn, Karkloof region, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The Forestry Department of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) invites you to the 14th Fire Management Symposium: ‘Educating and training for effective wildfire management’, which will be held on 6 to 8 November 2024 at the Halliwell Country Inn in Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 2024 Fire Management Symposium promises to be a special event. Not only because of the unique setting of the venue in the heart of the scenic Karkloof region but because of the conglomeration of top-rated international and local fire management specialists and service providers who will share their expertise in a very practical and applied manner. Scan the QR code above for registration.

On the first day of this event the focus will be on the education and training needs that exist in our industries. Organisations will express their needs and providers will explain how these needs can be addressed. The second day of the event, which will be hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Fire Protection Association (KZNFPA), will provide opportunities to visit fire management activities, scenery and cultural attractions and view some of the latest technology, tools and equipment in the form of a mini expo. A gala dinner on the eve of the second day will allow networking opportunities for guests. On the final day of the event, fire management topics dealing with protection, prevention and suppression will make up the programme.

Draft programme

• Educating the nation: The effect of sound fire management on the lives of South Africans

• The importance of educating the youth about fire management (USA)

• Extension and engagement with rural farming communities in Oklahoma (USA)

• Training and education in commercial farming communities

• Gaps and training/education needs of contractors in the forestry industry

• An international view on future needs of veldfire training and education

• Training and education of aerial firefighting pilots

• ICS: A uniform system across the country

• The essence of an ICS system in a rural veldfire situation

• L & D Landscape 2024, trends paving the way for growth

• The New Occupational Qualifications Development Model

• Feature training and education needs for veldfire management

• Three key elements: surprise, anxiety and disturbance

• A practical tool for incident commanders to manage resources at a fire incident

• SARZA – A volunteer search and rescue partner

• National Disaster Management Fire Reporting Tool

• Ultra early fire detection through technology

• Char height as a robust and affordable post-fire proxy for fire intensity

• Bridging the education and training gaps within local authorities regarding veldfires

• Mobilising social capital for fire risk reduction at South Africa’s wildland-urban interface

• Sappi fire management strategies and tactics in the Lowveld region

• Physical patterns and post-hoc measures of wildfire behaviour in grassland

• Relevance of forensic indicators in wildfire investigations.

Background and purposeGlobally, effective wildfire management is impeded by a lack of integration between research results, technological development and efforts by fire managers. In the end, all role-players on the wildfire stage strive to prevent, suppress and protect the environment, human wellbeing and assets against wildfire.

This event aims to integrate the efforts of natural resource managers, engineers, fire managers, educators/trainers and scientists. Through an integrated approach, different role-players will be sensitised about each other’s realities, successes, and failures.

Understanding the needs and gaps within organisations involved in wildfire management will open up new avenues that will support the fire management effort.

You are therefore invited to join fire managers and authorities from different disciplines and land uses such as nature conservation, agriculture, disaster management, forestry, local authorities, etc, for a range of informative presentations and exciting networking opportunities.

In generalThis event presents opportunities to people from different entities, management levels and parts of South Africa. Due to the capacity of the venue only 200 delegates can be accommodated for the event. Cost to attend the whole event (Including lunches, field day and gala dinner), amounts to ± R3 500pp. The venue host will spoil us with local cuisine with live music.

For more information contact:

Tiaan PoolEmail: tiaan.pool@mandela.ac.zaMobile: 072 374 2347

Hannes van ZylEmail: Hannes.vanZyl@mandela.ac.zaMobile: 072 733 1692

Sonia RoetsEmail: sonia.roets@mandela.ac.zaTel: 044 801 5091