Like many other developing countries, South Africa faces particular difficulties in its urban regions and environs. The main difficulty is assuring the safety and security of homes in the event of natural or man-made hazards. A natural rise in existing marginalised urban populations and inmigration of the impoverished to the city are two "destructive" population trends contributing to the nation's continued rapid urbanisation. According to studies, marginalised informal populations in South Africa's major cities are more vulnerable to subsequent and occasional disasters and common emergencies. However, research has long shown that fires represent a serious threat to persons residing in illegal settlements and that municipal efforts to address the issue have often fallen short. To combat fire disasters in informal settlements, communities and governments have taken a variety of measures, which are examined in this pa