Fire is terrifying. Two years ago next month, we had our own scare. A fire broke out in some undergrowth on the vacant land across the road from us and when the wind changed direction - in an instant - it jumped the road on to our property. Actually, I might re-blog that post from wordpress here. That 2 hours, fighting that fire was the shortest longest time I can remember.
And today with 1,000 + displaced in one fire in Khayalitsha, as well as other fires as a consequence of both negligence and a howling south easter. Doesn't bear thinking about.