NATIONAL NEWS - Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning visited the Cape Town Central Fire Station to thank all firefighters for the important work they do to keep our communities safe.
“The 4th of May is International Firefighters’ Day, and it is an opportunity for society to show our appreciation to these essential frontline men and women.”
Bredell said the Province has 1650 professional firefighters and approximately 450 volunteers who serve at 96 fire stations in the Western Cape.
“We had a busy fire season this past summer, which included the Parliament fire in Cape Town and extensive wildfires in Kleinmond and the Cape Winelands. More recently, firefighters were part of the various Western Cape teams that supported rescue operations after the devastating floods in KZN.
“All these operations were characterized by excellent teamwork between different firefighting units and brave and dedicated firefighters who put their own lives on the line so the rest of us can be safe.”
Bredell said the Western Cape Government invested R15million in aerial and specialized ground support during the summer, and this contributed to the Province’s track record of managing 90% of fires within the first hour of being reported.
Bredell said the Province has, through the Disaster Management Centre, for over ten years, developed a standardised Incident Command System, which means that any firefighting unit knows exactly what is expected of them in any given emergency.
There is a clear chain of command and decisive actions can be taken quickly. The system requires all critical role-players to be involved, including landowners, through their respective Fire Protection Associations.
Bredell said with the winter season fast approaching, the risk of fire changes from wildfires to domestic fires caused by open fires and paraffin heating systems.
“We have installed more than 12 000 smoke alarms in informal dwellings and do targeted awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers associated with domestic fires in high-risk neighborhoods.”
Possible load shedding adds to the risks for this coming winter, and people should pay extra care when using gas heating or candles during load shedding.
“It is a good investment to have a smoke alarm installed in your house as an early warning device. It can save your life,” Bredell said.
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