Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Disaster Risk Management of Fires: A Case Study From South Africa at Various Geographical Levels

Abstract

The current paper is aimed at investigating some quantitative and qualitative data, as well as their implications for the space/place/time perspective in terms of fire disaster management in Makana Local Municipality. The working hypothesis of the current article is that fire-fighting under drought conditions will post severe challenges on the disaster risk management system (DRM) in the study area. Methodology of the article includes a combination of document analysis, modelling using the Google-related tools to track and statistically analyse the public interest in fires, the legislation, and financial/practical implications of the drought on fire disaster management in Makana Local Municipality. Results of the study indicate that there has been a constant and increasing trend in terms of the South African public's in fires. That trend is driven by interest in fire-fighting equipment and possible also by the interest of the South African population in fire-fighting as a career. On causality front, the interest in fires is quantitatively driven by number of fires in South Africa between 2004 and 2017, as well as access to the internet by the South African population.