An estimated 1 billion people worldwide currently live in informal settlements, including slums and shantytowns. Experts believe that number could double or even triple over the next 30 years. In today's episode, Professor Richard Walls of South Africa's Stellenbosch University discusses his research on the fire problem in informal settlements and some of the proposed solutions to address the problem. The cover story for the Winter 2021 issue of NFPA Journal will examine how global urbanization trends are expected to impact urban fire safety challenges—including informal settlement fires; building construction, inspections, and code compliance; and more—in the coming decades.

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Watch the full version of the short film heard at 3:23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z5SkDZtA3U