The Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) held its annual Disaster Risk Reduction Conference 2024 on 21 and 22 November 2024 at the City of Cape Town Council Chambers in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. This year’s conference theme was ‘Connected capability for future resilience’, attended by several dignitaries.
A pre-conference workshop was facilitated on 20 November 2024 by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), Presidential Climate Commission (PCC), SALGA and DMISA, which focussed on ‘Improving the Disaster Management System in South Africa.
This year’s DMISA Conference also saw the election of its new Board for 2024-2026, with President Ms Lebogang Mosotho, Deputy President Ms Freda Mathebula, Immediate Past President Mr Owen Becker, Chairperson of EXCO Dr Mduduzi Nxumalo and EXCO Members Ms Tshilidze Nthambeleni, Ms Shadi Mlokoti and Dr Johan Minnie.
Congratulations to the new incoming DMISA President, Ms Lebogang Mosotho and Deputy President Ms Freda Mathebula, both from Limpopo Province!
We also wish to thank Past President Owen Becker for his dedication and support.
An indepth review of the 2024 DMISA Conference and the pre-conference workshop will follow in the next edition of the Disaster Management Journal, the official Journal of DMISA, published by Fire and Rescue International. This will include the case studies and research papers delivered.
We invite our readers to submit any relevant research papers and/or case studies to be included in future editions of the Disaster Management Journal.
Quote of the week “The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.” ~ Colin Powell
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Pioneering South African rangeland scientist, Professor Winston Smuts Watts Trollope, pass away
Professor Winston Smuts Watts Trollope, a pioneering South African rangeland scientist, sadly passed away Thursday, 12 December 2024. Born in 1940 and raised on a farm in the Eastern Cape, Professor Trollope dedicated his career to advancing fire ecology and grassland management. His groundbreaking research revolutionised fire practices in African savannas, benefiting both livestock and wildlife management. A respected academic at the University of Fort Hare, he mentored countless students and made significant strides in conservation science. His innovations, including prescribed burning techniques, veld condition assessments, rapid fuelload measurement with a disc pasture meter and the identification of key species to estimate veld forage and fuel values, have had global impact. Professor Trollope’s passion and legacy will continue to shape sustainable rangeland management for generations. Rest in Peace Prof Trollope. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. ‘n Groot boom het geval.
Bombardier Challenger 300 crashes near San Fernando Airport in Argentina
On Wednesday, 18 December 2024, a Bombardier Challenger 300 crashed after landing at San Fernando International Airport (QAE), located just to the northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aircraft was reportedly unable to break after it touched down at the airport, which eventually caused the aircraft to veer off the runway into a line of houses. The resulting crash caused an explosion and the plane burst into flames. The two occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and the co-pilot, were both sadly killed in the incident.
Festive miracle: Firefighters deliver baby at the Mfuleni Fire Station, Cape Town
As the festive spirit kicks in, two City of Cape Town firefighters delivered a miracle when they became midwives on the weekend of 1 December 2024. The officers, stationed at the Mfuleni Fire Station, helped a mother in labour deliver her baby. Joswin Lameyer and Khuselo Blaai were at the firehouse when the mom-to-be arrived complaining of obstetric pains. The mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, was elated to hear the news of the good deeds by the firefighters.
Zimbabwe Government hands over 35 firefighting trucks to local authorities in Harare
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe handed over 35 fire trucks to the local authorities of various Rural District Councils countrywide at the Kuwadzana Fire Station in Harare. The local authorities that received the trucks are Manyame, Goromonzi, Mutoko, Murewa, Chikomba, Mazowe, Pfura, Chaminuka, Chegutu, Zvimba, Makonde, Umguza, Hwange, Binga, Kusile, Chiredzi, Bikita, Gutu and Chivi. Makoni, Mutare, Chimanimani, Buhera, Zibagwe, Chirumanzu, Vungu, Runde, Beitbridge, Matobo, Umzingwane, Insiza, Ruwa Local Board, Gokwe Town and Chegutu Municipality also received the firefighting trucks.
Deadly start to festive season: Bus crash claims eight lives, including six children, Worcester
The festive season got off to a tragic start after eight people including six children were killed in a bus accident in the Western Cape. The bus accident happened on the N1 near Roux Park in Worcester on Sunday morning, 1 December 2024. Initial reports indicate that the bus was travelling from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town when it overturned. The Western Cape Mobility Department said 40 others sustained injuries, 32 patients with minor to serious injuries, eight critical and were rushed to hospital.
Rise in assaults on ambulance staff ‘alarming’, UK
A BBC investigation has found there have been nearly 3 000 incidents of abuse faced by West Midlands Ambulance Service staff over the past five years. Staff said they had been punched, kicked, threatened with weapons and verbally abused. Dan Knight, Head of Security and Safety at the organisation, said that was not what staff had signed up for. Across England more than 45 000 assaults were recorded by ambulance services, according to figures obtained by the BBC.
Fire breaks out at Die Poskantoor Restaurant in Constantia Park in Pretoria East
The City of Tshwane’s Emergency Services Department was called to assist when a fire broke out at the Die Poskantoor Restaurant in Langenhoven Street, in Constantia Park, on the morning of Sunday, 15 December 2024. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer for the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The building fire incident was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre (ECC) at about 03h57 and the ECC immediately dispatched firefighting resources from the nearest fire stations which included Hazelwood Fire Station, Erasmuskloof Fire Station and Silverton Fire Station to the scene. These resources included three fire engines, a water carrier, a water tanker, a mobile command unit and a district commander’s unit.”
Firefighters tackle huge fire at industrial estate in West Lothian, Scotland, UK
Firefighters tackled a “significant” fire, which broke out at an industrial estate in West Lothian, sending a plume of thick black smoke billowing into the sky on Saturday, 7 December 2024. Crews from nine fire engines were called to the scene at Brucefield industrial estate near Livingston. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said the alarm was raised shortly after 1pm.
New firefighter officer development graduates announced, Cape Town
On Monday, 2 December 2024, the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service celebrated the latest graduates of its Officer Development Programme. The Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith was in attendance to congratulate the officers. This is the second group of senior firefighters to complete the Officer Development programme, which was first introduced in 2023. The first group of participants graduated in March this year. The graduates completed the courses – Fire Instructor 1, Fire Officer 1, Wildland Firefighter 1, Wildland Firefighter 2 and Wildland Fire Officer 1.
10 killed in minibus taxi and truck crash on N1 near Koppies, Free State
Ten people lost their lives in the horrific accident on Sunday morning, 8 December 2024, when a minibus taxi collided with the rear of a truck on the N1, south of Koppies, en route to Kroonstad in the Free State. The crash left only two survivors, a passenger from the taxi and the truck driver, who sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Emergency services were still on the scene at midday, working to extract the bodies from the mangled wreckage.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Fire prevention strategies: The importance of reliable data by Rodney Eksteen (FRI Vol 2 no 12)
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Fire prevention strategies: The importance of reliable data written by Rodney Eksteen (FRI Vol 2 no 12). 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.
Fire stations of the world: Paw Paw Fire Department new fire station opened in 2023, Michigan, US
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new 20 000 square foot fire station that had been in the works since 2012 on Saturday, 20 May 2023. The new station is almost twice as big as the old fire station, which was built in 1974. Voters approved nearly $6 million to build the new station in 2021. Paw Paw Fire Chief Jim DeGroff called it a new crown jewel for the community. “We knew it was going to be a marathon not a sprint. I don’t know if we knew it was going to be this long of a marathon but we’ve made it and because of the taxpayers in the village of Paw Paw and Paw Paw Township because of all the support the community has given us, we’re here today at our new fire station.”
Technology: How drones are revolutionising search and rescue
As drones get less expensive and computer vision systems improve, rescuers are getting help from artificial eyes in the sky. A few years ago a Scottish mountaineer who was descending Broad Peak, a menacing, 26 400-foot Himalayan crag on the Pakistan-China border, fell from an ice cliff. His team, inferring an accident had happened because he didn’t return and thinking he couldn’t possibly have survived, continued to a lower camp. When other mountaineers there heard about the lost climber, they thought perhaps they could help: They happened to have a drone. Maybe they could try to find the man or his body?
Fitness: Firefighter furnace box get overs with dumbbell
Firefighter workout for testing and building stamina in full gear and SCBA. 50 for time. 70lb dumbbell men; 50lb dumbbell for women.
Source: Firefighter Furnace
Training: Firefighter stack-up
Explanation of the firefighter stack-up, minimum company standard.
Source: Sierra Vista Fire Training
Vintage: Boston Fire Department’s 1897 Amoskeag steam-powered fire engine
1897 Amoskeag steam-powered fire engine of the Boston Fire Department. Weighing 17 000 pounds (7 700 kg). Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Ca. 1919
Source: History Hub
Inspiration: Quote of the week
Just for fun
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NEFSFPA