Fires impact short-term insurance industry

Cape Town - December to April is fire season in the Western Cape and according to Working on Fire (WoF), a broad-based, integrated fire management initiative, it is already the worst fire season recorded in seven years.

Working on Fire says 99% of all fires are caused by human negligence. According to the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, fires are most often caused by electrical faults or carelessness.

Cigarettes, matches and lighters, candles, heating appliances and open braai fires can all cause fires if not carefully monitored.

It is not only human error that causes fires, though. Environmental factors such as changing weather patterns and urban spread increase the risk of fires with the effects and level of damage often being felt more severely.

The South-Easter wind coupled with high temperatures make ideal conditions for wild fires to run rampant.

Short-term insurer Santam has placed more focus on fire management over the last five years.

“Fire, and the damage it causes, is of enormous concern to us,” said John Melville, head of risk services at Santam.

It is one of the factors that has a direct impact on the sustainability of the short-term insurance industry, both in South Africa and globally.   

“The challenge lies in forming co-operative partnerships with local government, regulators and with communities. We need a collective effort to effectively fight fire,” he said.

Melville said to prevent the loss of lives and property, everyone needs to be aware of the danger of fire during this season.

He offers the following tips to stay safe:

- Always safely dispose of fires, hot ash, coal and cigarettes;

- Always work in an open, cleared area when working with power tools;

- Ensure that your electrical appliances are correctly wired;
 
- Keep the area around your home clear of flammable materials;

- Only burn rubbish on cooler, wind-still days, and only if you have a burning permit;\

- Never leave an open fire unattended;

- Only use fireworks and Chinese lanterns far from areas prone to fire;

- Register with the Fire Protection Association for enhanced security – failure to do so will have a court automatically assume you are guilty of negligence in the event of a liability lawsuit.

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