PLETTENBERG BAY: Remembering the 2017 fires - On the first anniversary of the 7 June 2017 fires, many Plettenberg Bay residents have started reflecting on the tragedy, victories and lessons learnt since and during the devastating event, but none more so than the men and woman who were on the frontline battling the flames.
“Certainly any anniversary is an occasion to reflect on the year past. This being the first since the fires, we cannot in fairness compare it to other 12-month periods. One would hope that every person and organisation that could possibly learn and adapt will have done so, but hopefully we would be forgiven for being exceptionally proud in comparing this year to any other,” says Steve Ritky of the Plett South Fire Management Unit (Plett South FMU).
Integral role
The volunteers of these units played an integral role fighting the fires last year.
“For the crew members who were active in the fire, that pride is moderated with some regret that changes, spoken about before the June fires, were not made sooner. Hindsight can be a tough teacher. I speak of this as a volunteer on the Plett South FMU crew who lost crew member Bradley Richards, but certainly that regret is felt far beyond our unit. Eight firefighters had been killed fighting fires in the last year. Brad's death and injuries to three other firefighters in Bitou are just too close to home.”
Ritky says a debriefing meeting, involving both career and volunteer firefighters, was held immediately after the fires to discuss changes and the way forward for FMUs in Bitou.
Many houses burnt down in Plettenberg Bay.
Units cooperating now
“Associated FMUs in Bitou was formed as a central think tank and cooperation centre.”
At the same time, an existing relationship with business owners in town was formalised into NPO Sounds the Call (STC), with the objective to take care of the FMUs' finances.
“Two major objectives were immediately set in motion. First was the setting up of the Wittedrift Uplands FMU, which existed only as an area on a map in an office somewhere. Today their two strike units are almost at completion. The second, simpler ask, was building up a new Plett South strike unit to replace the one lost in the fires.”
Another issue they had to tackle was communication. “Communication was a major problem during the fires. Cellphone networks failed, leaving many crews with very limited or no options.
Radio network expanded
Enlarging the existing radio network with the Bitou fire department – to include all FMUs rather than just Crags and Plett South who had set up a few radios previously – was undertaken. Today a network of more than 100 radios and a central FMU base radio can be in direct contact with each other and with the fire department,” says Ritky.
Protective clothing was also in shortage during the fires. “A major concern was the number of people who took on various roles in firefighting with absolutely no idea of clothing. Visions of nylon face masks, polyester shirts and old running shoes still cause grey hair. We are all very grateful that there were no further injuries.”
Plettenberg Bay was also ablaze on 7 June 2017 and local firefighters gave it their all. Photos: Ewald Stander
New equipment
Ritky says to date more than R500 000 of STC funds had been spent on pumps, hoses and other equipment. About 3.5 tons of protective clothing and equipment were also assembled by Ivan Inauen in Switzerland and shipped out to Plett. This will go to FMU crews and some to the Bitou fire department.
Another concern highlighted by the fires was the need for training of volunteers as there were no courses aimed at wildfire firefighting for volunteers. “A plan was finally hatched to give crews extensive home study material to do in their own time and then get together for slide summaries, questions, tests and exams. The course material has all been poached from the registered courses and adapted to suit knowledge requirements of a volunteer. While not a certified course in current form, the content is taken from full registered courses.”
Two groups of 20 crew members have now completed the introductory course.
Working with muni
“One of the priorities we set was to build on and strengthen the working relationship with the Bitou fire department. Their command structure, guidance, respect and appreciation took years of cooperation and broad-thinking senior officers to establish itself. We could have had an instructor from elsewhere to do a course of some sort, but this could never prepare crews to work under Bitou seniors anywhere near as well as if Bitou fire department ran the courses for us.”
Many houses burnt down in Plettenberg Bay.
Ritky says one task, however, remains incomplete – medical cover. “Many calls to various companies have resulted in quotes that would cripple a small African economy. But there are groups who have been doing this for much longer than we have, and have had some success in getting cover. We have been in contact and are picking their brains.
“At the memorial service for our fallen brother Brad, I shot my mouth off about a legacy to him. It was a promise made by his crew at Plett South. Among his brothers that are still active, this has been a major drive. It’s not done yet, but we have the basics of a model, with volunteers working under and alongside their fire department, equipped, trained and financed, which can be duplicated in any town across the country.”
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