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Cooperative Governance supports International Fire Safety and Prevention Week, 6 to 12 October 2024
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The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) proudly announces its support for the 2024 International Fire Safety and Prevention Week, which will be observed from 6 to 12 October 2024. This global event aims to raise awareness of fire prevention and safety practices, encouraging individuals, communities and businesses to take proactive steps to reduce the risk of fires and protect lives.
The NDMC calls on all South Africans to participate in this important week by learning more about fire safety, practicing safe fire prevention measures at home and in the workplace and supporting local fire services in their efforts.
Fire Safety and Prevention: A shared responsibility
• In line with the Fire Services White Paper, Fire Services is encouraged to pursue the implementation of an integrated fire risk management strategy, as it is critical that collectively we, as a nation, focus on fire prevention and preparedness, together. Fires are preventable and the NDMC urges everyone to take simple steps, such as:
• Educating communities to build their informal dwellings with a minimum gap of three metres between them to reduce the risk of fire spreading quickly.
• Ensure that the spaces between these buildings are kept clear of debris and to always maintain open and accessible roads leading to the homes so that emergency vehicles can reach them without delay.
• Ensuring that homes are equipped with smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
• Creating and practicing fire escape plans.
• Being mindful of potential fire hazards, such as unattended cooking or faulty electrical wiring.
• Educating children, family members, the frail and elderly about fire safety measures. By promoting these practices, we can all contribute to reducing the number of preventable fires and safeguarding lives.
Supporting our Fire Services
The NDMC also recognises the heroic work done by the brave men and women of fire services across the country, both public and designated services, who are at the forefront of fire prevention and emergency response. Their dedication to protecting lives and property, often in dangerous and challenging conditions, deserves the highest praise.
During the International Fire Safety and Prevention Week, fire services across the country will host a variety of awareness campaigns and community outreach activities to educate the public about fire safety. These efforts will include amongst other, school visits, fire drills, safety demonstrations and information sessions designed to help communities better understand how they can prevent fires and respond effectively in the event of an emergency.
The NDMC’s commitment to Fire Safety and Prevention
The NDMC have been working closely with all provinces and local municipalities to strengthen fire safety & prevention measures across the country, through its campaign to implement the Fire Safety and Prevention Strategy within municipalities. Since inception of the campaign in 2016/2017, to date more than 118 municipalities have been assessed, with more than 500 fire safety practitioners trained in aspects of fire risk assessment and safety strategies, through partnership with the Fire Protection Association of South Africa (FPASA).
To further support the prevention agenda of the Fire Services White Paper, the NDMC will be supporting the Vhembe District Municipality from 7 to 9 October 2024 in driving a fire safety awareness campaign through education and engagement with communities to promote fire safety awareness in the Vhembe District Municipality.
Call to action
We encourage all South Africans to take part in the events and campaigns organised during this week. Fire safety is a shared responsibility and by working together, we can prevent fires, save lives and protect property. Let us use this week to raise awareness, educate ourselves and our communities and ensure that fire safety becomes a priority for everyone. For more information on how you can participate in Fire Safety and Prevention Week or access fire safety resources, visit the NDMC’s official website or contact your local fire service.
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| The 14th Fire Management Symposium: Educating and training for effective wildfire management |
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Registration for the event close on 23 October 2024
The Forestry Department of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) invites you to the 14th Fire Management Symposium: ‘Educating and training for effective wildfire management’, which will be held on 6 to 8 November 2024 at the Halliwell Country Inn in Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Scan the QR code above for registration. Exhibitors include VitalWeather, Vanguard Fire and Safety, Santon Workwear, FPASA, Krurekpro, SPCA, Working on Fire-Kishugu, SARZA, Husqvarna, Stihl, Baobab Sentinel t/a Dryad Africa, Forestry and Agriculture Training Organisation (FATO), Kwmahlati Training Services, Lottenburg Edu-farm, NTE, Mondi, Volunteer Wildfire Services, ANCO Manufacturers, Legal Environment Safety and Health Requirements (LESH), Trident SA, TWK Agri, Fire and Rescue International.
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| New City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service structure will streamline operations |
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Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service is the largest in South Africa and plays a critical role in assisting residents and communities during fires and emergency situations. The new structure, under the command of the Chief Fire Officer (CFO), will allow for streamlined and effective decision-making. The previous structure saw all staff reporting directly to the CFO, including support sections such as the uniform and medical stores, technical services and the planning and logistics section. With the new structure, two Deputy Chief Fire Officers have been appointed; they are Wayne Okkers and Craig Cyster.
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| Bolivia wildfires burn record area, scorching homes and farms |
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Wildfires in Bolivia have burned through more than 10 million hectares (24.7 million acres) this year, mostly in the country’s tropical east, smashing records for its worst-ever fire season and scorching an area the size of Iceland or Cuba. The new figures released on Monday by non-governmental organization Tierra Foundation represent the equivalent of nearly 19 million American football fields. Fires in recent months have propelled Bolivia past devastating fire years in 2010 and 2019.
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| Medics, patient and pedestrian injured when truck hits ambulance, Pietermaritzburg |
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A runway truck collided with a pedestrian and ambulance at the Chota Motala offramp in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, 18 September 2024, leaving multiple injured. Two medics and a patient in transit were injured in the incident when the truck hit their ambulance just before 11am. CFO Essack Khan, chief fire officer, Msunduzi Fire and Rescue, said, “The braking system of 1 x heavy duty vehicle failed whilst coming down the N3 North Bound near the vicinity of the Peter Brown off ramp. The vehicle proceeded further down to the Chota Motala Off ramp where the driver attempted to bring the same to a stop by driving up a verge/bank. In trying this, the vehicle collided with an ambulance that was at the intersection.”
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| California firefighters debut C-130 Hercules firefighting air tankers |
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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) debuted their new custom aircraft that took eight months to modify for fighting wildfires. California’s latest weapon in the never-ending war against wildfires, a former military plane repurposed to drop fire retardant, has deployed on its first mission in Riverside County. The first of seven of these aircraft went into service Monday, 26 August 2026 at McClellan Airtanker Base in Sacramento, California. Previously part of the US Coast Guard fleet, these aircraft are being transformed to enhance their already powerful aerial response to wildland fires and protecting communities and natural resources throughout California.
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| Emergency crews respond to Midrand apartment block fire, woman’s body recovered from the rubble |
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The Johannesburg emergency teams recovered the body of a woman in the Midrand complex that was engulfed by the fire on Tuesday night, 24 September 2024, at the Broadwalk Urban Complex. Search and rescue teams had been searching for one person reported missing. One person sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital. Johannesburg Emergency Management Service spokesperson, Xolile Khumalo, said the body of a 33-year-old woman was found under a collapsed ceiling inside the apartment where the fire started.
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| Track Battle: Fire engine vs ambulance vs police van | Top Gear: Series 28 |
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They’ve each got very different jobs but the one commonality the emergency services share is the need to get somewhere quickly. So, which can get somewhere quickly… the quickest? Let’s find out.
Source: Top Gear
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| Splash the otter, the unlikely hero bringing families closure |
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Mike Hadsell has trained many animals in his lifetime, but the newest member of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue dive team, Splash the Asian small-clawed otter, is a first, even for him. Hadsell, Splash’s handler and founder of Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, had to train the unorthodox animal to help his team find bodies in the water, especially where there’s little to no visibility.
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| One person killed and two injured in multiple-shack fire in Cemetery View informal settlement, Pretoria |
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The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to multiple shacks on fire in Woodlake Street in Pretorius Park on the morning of 21 September 2024. “The multiple-shack fire was reported to the City of Tshwane Emergency Call Centre at about 04:07. The centre immediately dispatched multiple firefighting resources from Silverton Fire Station, Hazelwood Fire Station, Central Fire Station, Mamelodi Fire Station, Centurion Fire Station and Heuweloord Fire Station to the scene. These included two fire trucks, an industrial pumper, a mobile command unit, two rapid intervention units, a water carrier and a district commander’s unit.”, said Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services.
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| Featured FRI Magazine article: Promoting and implementing community risk reduction for the next generation fire service by Rodney Eksteen (FRI Vol 2 no 10) |
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This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Promoting and implementing community risk reduction for the next generation fire service written by Rodney Eksteen (FRI Vol 2 no 10). 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: Mauldin Fire Department unveils new $7.5 million headquarters, US |
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Mauldin Fire Department’s new building on West Butler Road is the new headquarters for the Mauldin Fire Department. The old Headquarters building at 9 East Butler Road is closed and awaits its final disposition by the Mauldin City Council. The new location will allow better coverage by the Fire Department for the new homes and businesses in the fast-growing western part of Mauldin. The new building’s Grand Opening was held on 19 April 2024. The ceremony included speeches by a number of people, including Mauldin’s Fire Chief and Mayor.
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| Technology: The NSRI eagerly anticipates Starlink’s high-speed broadband satellite system in South Africa |
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The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is eager to embrace Starlink’s high-speed broadband satellite system’s transformative impact on its rescue operations and the broader South African community. “We are keenly interested in the recent South African government meetings with Starlink, Recognising the opportunities it presents for our service and our beneficiary community, which is 98 percent historically disadvantaged,” said NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson.
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| Fitness |
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| Training: Masking up: The 8 second porch drill |
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In this video I wanted to showcase some of the differences that you guys might see out there in terms of masking up and during your porch drill I got with Keenan Willman for just for some guidance to see how he’s doing his porch drill and we went ahead and broke down just step by step exactly what he’s doing with his porch drill that makes him so fast.
Source: Jacob Lozano
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| Vintage: Showcasing one of our vintage ambulances! |
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Source: Superior Ambulance
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| Inspiration: Top 10 reasons more people should act like firefighters |
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10. When a firefighter acts like a fool, the rest of them put a stop to it right quick. Funny thing about firefighters: When one does something stupid, the entire profession is tarnished. We are held to a higher standard. That’s okay; we’ve earned it.
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NEFSFPA