COTE D’IVOIRE FIRE TRENDS: AN APPRAISAL
Fire has played a significant role in shaping landscapes. Inversely, the ability of humans to manage fire is worrisome coupled with trending factors of globalization and climate change. Although fires have provided several environmental, economic and services over the millennia, they can also impact negatively on the environment and socio-economic activities. Every year, fires occur in different spheres worldwide as it is a global hazard that impacts all people, countries, and businesses. The African continent is gradually known as the fire continent due to high number of fire occurrences. Today the magnitude of global fire and burn problem is enormous. In Cote d’Ivoire, fire damage is concurrent as loss due to fire is presently greater than any time in the past. Therefore, concerted efforts are needed to stem this tide.
1.0 OVERVIEW OF FIRE TRENDS IN COTE D’IVOIRE
In Cote d’Ivoire, fire incidences are a concurrent problem. Notable fire episode has been reported in the country. In May 1999, a major fire in the Vridi Industrail zone destroyed properties for about five days. The fire which broke out at the Gestion des Stocks Petrolieres de Cote d’ivoire (GESTOCI) necessitated foreign intervention of fire fighters from France to curtail it. In September 2017, a fire incidence was reported at the main market in Abobo, a neighborhood in the Ivorian capital Abidjan, damaging goods, and properties. In April 2018, fire broke out at the technical center of the French Telecoms group “Orange” at the Abidjan Central District disrupting operational services for weeks.
2.0 CAUSES OF FIRE OUTBREAK IN COTE D’IVOIRE
A lot of reasons have been attributed to be factors behind the increasing cases of fire in Cote d’Ivoire. The leading cause of fire in the country has been attributed to large scale deforestation (about 64%) closely by bush burning (27%). Also hunting activities also account for a major cause of fire outbreak in the country. It should be noted that Cote d’Ivoire is frequently bedeviled by forest fire annually. However, major fire incidences occur in major economic centers like markets, fuel depots and administrative centers.
3.0 IMPACT OF FIRE OUTBREAK IN COTE D’IVOIRE
It is extremely difficult to successfully estimate the ravaging impact of fire disaster. This is because of the unquantifiable nature of some resources and the devastating extent of fire across regions. However, analysts only give an estimated visible value of findings. Cote d’Ivoire keeps losing goods and services of estimable value frequently. The major forest fire of 1983 destroyed about 1.7 million hectares of forest and tree crops with more than 100, 000 hectares of cash crops burned and about 21 people killed and estimated farm produce of about $40 million lost.
In 1990, the country’s economy collapsed because of resource depletion and declining agricultural productivity because of forest fire. As of 1990 to 2005, Cote d’Ivoire lost about 18 million hectares of its forest cover valued at about $16 million. Also, from 1990 to 1994, wildfire destroyed more 70,000 homes and killed 174 people. A report by from the Cote d’Ivoire Watch shows that more than 60,000 hectares of forest and 108, 000 hectares of coffee and cocoa plantations were destroyed by wildfire. A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 shows that fire deaths in Cote D’Ivoire reached 2140 approximately 0.87 of total deaths, with fire deaths ranked 32 among a list of 52 other causes.
4.0 CHALLENGES AFFECTING FIRE PREVENTION IN COTE D’IVOIRE
- Across the world, some impediments are prevalent in addressing fire disasters. In Cote d’Ivoire, a few of these obstacles have been highlighted below
- COST: The average annual cost of forest fire management and prevention in the country is estimated at about $1million. This is excluding other logistics and cost implications. The huge cost in sustaining fire prevention is a major challenge in fire prevention and effective response in the country.
- HUMAN ACTIVITIES: Forest fires are partly caused by human activities through bush burning, illegal hunting and deforestation. Even with stiff penalties and laws to prohibit this trend, it stills quietly occur in some quarters. This has also been a major challenge in fire response and prevention.
- CLIMATE CHANGE: the alternating climate variation especially along the belt of West Africa is causing a stir in forest fires. This natural occurrence is gradually being induced by human activities and is a major cause of wild fire and has also affected the response pattern of fire in the country.
- DISTANCE: the long stretch of kilometers to put out forest fire in the country has been a major challenge. The drive in most cases through thick bushy paths and swampy areas in putting out fire over the years is a serious impediment to effective fire response in Cote d’Ivoire.
5.0 WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
The Government of Cote d’Ivoire must be commended for their passionate and selfless service in addressing fire disaster over the years. Even with a general call to do more, the efforts so far is appreciable;
FIRE ALERT SIMULATION EXERCISE: there have been periodic fire test exercises by different agencies in the country to prevent fire. In February 2022, the Ivorian oil management company (GESTOCI) carried out a 70-minute fire alert simulation exercise in major oil companies to test internal operation plan.
FOREST FIRE PROTECTION PROGRAMME: this is a project of maximizing risk by building fire resilience and saving biodiversity through planting indigenous species and introducing forest support valuation and wildlife support services by the government.
REDD ACTION: Cote d’Ivoire has been a member of REDD+ since 2011. There have been concurrent efforts through combating illegal logging and encouraging agro-forestry and forestation policies through public and private partnership in an extensive manner.
6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
FORMATION OF COMMUNITY FIRE FIGHTERS: this involves training individuals from communities and providing them with necessary equipment to act first in the wake of fire outbreak. Every community should be encouraged to set up its local fire management team with both prevention and control methods against vulnerable residents. This formation can serve as first responders.
SENSITIZATION: Teachings and trainings of rural people especially for those living around forests and rural areas about fire hazards is of great importance. This should be done in radio messages in local languages
PROVISION OF FIRE FIGHTING FACILITIES: There should a revamp of provision of facilities to equip and boost operational services of firefighting across the country is a big requirement to transform fire prevention efficiency.
7.0 CONCLUSION
Fire disaster is a collective bargain that must be collectively involved in. it is a wakeup call for all stakeholders (businessmen, government, employers,) for us to promote and sustain a better and safe world. The realization of this vision rests on us all.
Further Reading
REDD+ (2018) National Strategies for Cote d’Ivoire
UTZ Certified (2018) Towards Sustainable Biodiversity Sustenance, 2018
WORLD COCOA FOUNDATION; Forest fire initiatives, 2017
REPUBLIQUE DE COTE D’IVOIRE: Forest Fire Orientation policies
