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The passing of a legend
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It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Jake Oosthuizen. He was not only a legend in the forestry and fire industry but also a deeply loved and respected individual. His son, Willem Oosthuizen, said, “He was a father, a mentor to many and a source of strength and wisdom. His legacy will continue to guide us all. We mourn his loss together, and we extend our deepest sympathies to all who knew and loved him.”
After 16 years of Aerial Spraying and Aerial Fire Fighting, Jake Oosthuizen formed Zululand Fire Protection Services cc. (ZFPS) in 1994 with the object of providing a service to the Zululand timber industry. Initially, the operation was started by taking over the control centre of the Zululand Fire Protection Association (ZFPA), which coordinated all fire fighting operations in the Zululand Coastal Area (approximately 80 000 hectares of timber).
At that time, the Control Centre was very low profile and provided a basic communication service to the timber growers in the area. Over time, the Control Centre became the heart of all firefighting operations in Zululand. ZFPS expanded to include the management of ZIFPA.
In 1994, ZFPS became involved in digital fire detection and formed a company called Alasia Marketing cc. This company was instrumental in the development of the FireHawk system that is today used in South Africa, Chile, Brazil, Malawi and Ghana.
FireHawk was the first computerised fire detection system in the world and has been operating commercially for the past 26 years. The first system was installed in Richmond in 1994 and is still operational today.
Jake’s memorial will be held on Saturday, 24 August 2024, at Harrington House in Hilton, at 14h00, celebrating his life. Dress in the colours of the sunset.
Our deepest condolences go to Jake’s family, friends and colleagues. Rest easy, Jake.
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| Dramatic rescue operation saves police horse, Kimberley |
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A dramatic and heroic rescue operation unfolded in Kimberley after a police horse fell into a deep water-filled hole in Carters Glen, capturing the hearts of the local community as they lauded the responders. The incident, which occurred at around 10am on Tuesday, 16 July 2024, saw the combined efforts of the Sol Plaatje Emergency Services and community volunteers, who worked tirelessly for over an hour and a half to save the horse.
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| Major scrapyard fire in Great Blakenham most likely sparked by discarded battery, fire investigators conclude, Suffolk, UK |
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Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Sackers scrap metal and waste recycling centre in Great Blakenham north-west of Ipswich at around 09h57am on Thursday, 8 August 2024, to reports of a fire coming from a recycling bin. Eighty-five firefighters from both Suffolk and Essex fire services were sent to the scrap metal recycling yard near a railway line. Oxygen cutting cylinders at the scene had been safely removed by 4pm, a spokesman added. Fifteen fire crews were called to the fire including appliances from Ipswich East, Princes Street, Woodbridge, Framlingham, Felixstowe and Newmarket.
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| City of Tshwane firefighters extinguish a transformer fire at the Njala substation in Moreleta Park |
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a substation fire incident in Delmas Road in Moreleta Park, Pretoria, on the morning of Saturday, 17 August 2024. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The substation fire was reported to the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Call Centre (ECC) at about 08h45am. The ECC immediately dispatched a fire truck and a rapid intervention unit from Erasmuskloof Fire Station to the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found that a 275kV transformer had exploded and was on fire, issuing a large plume of black smoke.”
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| Fire breaks out at recycling plant next to Makro, Meadowdale Industrial, Ekurhuleni |
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A fire broke out at a recycling plant next to Makro in Meadowdale Industrial, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 10 August 2024 William Ntladi, district manager media liaison: Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), said, “At about 14h18 on Saturday afternoon, the City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services received a well alight factory call at Meadowdale, Edenvale. Bedfordview Fire Station firefighters as primary responding crews, swiftly responded for intervention.”
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| New rural ambulance station to boost emergency medical care in Theewaterskloof, Overberg, Western Cape |
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On Monday, 12 August 2024, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, officially opened the new R8,45 million Villiersdorp Ambulance Station in Overberg District in the Western Cape. This which will ensure that emergency medical services are better able to serve residents in the town and neighbouring communities and provides additional resources for medical staff. Speaking at the opening, Minister Wenger said, “The establishment of this EMS ambulance station is a critical step in rendering an effective pre-hospital emergency medical service for Villiersdorp and its surrounding communities in the Theewaterskloof Municipality. This is part of our effort to address the needs of rural communities in the Western Cape where ambulances travel great distances and response times can be slower. This brand-new ambulance station will help improve access and response times, which can be lifesaving when residents are critically ill or injured.”
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| Mpox outbreaks in Africa constitute a public health emergency of continental security |
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On 13 August 2024, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared mpox a public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) in Africa, acting under its mandate to address significant public health threats. This mandate was established in July 2022, by the Executive Council of the Africa Union (AU) Assembly through its decision EX.CL/Dec.1169(XLI), empowering Africa CDC to coordinate responses to epidemics by mobilising African leaders, governments and relevant agencies.
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| Featured FRI Magazine article: Working with high pressure air bags by Colin Deiner (FRI Vol 2 no 7) |
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This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Working with high pressure air bags written by Colin Deiner, chief director, Disaster management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 2 no 7). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.
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| Fire stations of the world: Bristol Tennessee Fire Department opens new Fire Station #2 on King College Road, US |
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Bristol, Tennessee is welcoming a new fire station near Holston View Elementary with the hopes of helping more residents. The station has been in operation since July 2024. Fire Chief Mike Carrier of the Bristol, Tennessee Fire Department said the new facility boasts numerous upgrades. It also holds safety measures that protect firefighters from deadly cancer-causing materials. “This station has an exhaust removal system, an air scrubber system that takes all the carcinogens that come from the oils and the fuels and the exhaust from these trucks and scrubs them out,” Chief Carrier said.
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| Technology: World’s first Tesla Cybertruck EMS vehicle In New Jersey, US |
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Hatzulas Nefashos Volunteer EMS has introduced a new Tesla Cybertruck to its fleet in South Jersey in the US. The vehicle, the first of its kind in the local EMS departments, was made possible through contributions from donors. Hatzulas Nefashos said the donation was made in honour of the victims of the October 7 attack on Israel. The EV comes as the latest wrapped Cybertruck to make its way around the internet and the most recent example of the vehicle getting outfitted for emergency services. Earlier this month, a wrapped Cybertruck police vehicle made its debut for the first time in Greenfield, California, as outfitted with police equipment by the Unplugged Performance team’s Up.Fit fleet vehicle division.
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| Fitness: Four reasons you are not seeing results |
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Lots of distractions out there, Covid-19, all the social media, childcare (now that school is out), summer… The list goes on and on. All these distractions can leave your fitness on the back burner and cause you to lose some motivation. A lack of progress is also another reason we start to miss workouts and get distracted. In fact, I think a lack of progress is one of the biggest reasons we lose motivation. If you are working out, you should be progressing. If you are not, there is something wrong with your program (or lack of a programme). Simple. Right? What is not so simple is understanding why you are not progressing. Over the past 25 plus years in the fitness business I have learned that that there are some key reasons you are not making progress in your fitness. Look at these four common reasons.
Source: Fire Rescue Fitness (FRF)
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| Training: VRS deployment for high window sills |
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This video will discuss and demonstrate an advanced technique for negotiating an upper floor window that has a high or taller than average window sill using a personal escape – personal safety – versatile rescue system (PES – PSS – VRS).
Source: Dale G Pekel
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| Vintage: The best looking fire trucks from the 1800s |
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Source: Hall of Flame Fire Museum
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| Inspiration: Quote of the week |
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NEFSFPA