I know I should resist but every rooster likes to crow from his dungheap. As a farmer and engineer who has felt the loss of life in the tragedy of the runaway fire I think two things. As an aside also, SA is obviously not alone in suffering from thee uncontrolled bush or forest fires.  My thoughts: one, the fires were only indirectly related to the "drought", more to the ambient conditions at the time. There is also much more human interaction with flammable material in the area than ever before.  Humans flick out cigarette butts, light fires, live almost in the forest (some by choice, others seeking opportunity), need warmth, are careless (uneducated) and so on.

Second is that not too much seems to be being done about fire prevention and control. Aside from education, fire breaks are very limited and resources sparse. Commercial agriculture I am familiar with burns or cuts firebreaks every year and has (had) massive resources on standby during fire season.