A recent investigation has taken place regarding the cause of the Knysna fires, with Dr David Klatzow, a forensic scientist taking the lead.
Dr Klatzow, who was commissioned by the lobby group AfriForum, has ruled out arson as the cause of the fires, which took seven lives and left many homeless.
He said it was unlikely that the blaze had been started by human negligence or deliberate criminal actions, except in the case of Mossel Bay, where he believed the cause may have been intentional, reported The Herald.
He said, contrary to speculation, the fire was initiated by a lightning strike that gradually smouldered until heavy winds fanned it into a full-blown fire, Eyewitness News.
“The wind blew on that fire and carried it into the canopies and it was unstoppable once that had happened,” said Klatzow.
Tourism Update contacted Dr Klatzow to confirm the recent reports. He has ruled out arson in the cases of the two Knysna fires, confirming that the one was started by a lightning strike. He also confirmed that the fire in Mossel Bay fire was possibly started deliberately.
Klatzow started his investigations into the fires about two months ago.
