Welkom Fire Station, schools and businesses damaged by ‘tornado’, Matjhabeng
The second tornado in Welkom’s history struck terror in the hearts of residents on Sunday, 5 January 2025.
Several businesses and institutions suffered extensive damage, including the Matjhabeng Municipality Fire Station in Volksweg, where the roof was ripped off and the vast glass doors were shattered. This incident not only compromised the integrity of the building but also posed potential risks to the emergency vehicles housed within the building.
Severe damage was also reported at the Lejweleputswa Disaster Management Centre, the Unitas Secondary School and THS Welkom. The businesses and institutions affected have reported millions of Rands damage.
In his report, CFO Freddy Khuze said, “Just after 12:00, heavy rains started pouring down. At about 12:30, the sky was getting very dark, accompanied by thunderstorms. At about 12:40, the wind was blowing extremely strong and the personnel started to hear strange rumblings; the one firefighter described as if a helicopter was trying to land on the roof of the fire station.”
Assistant Fire Chief Francois Klaassen said that when the tornado hit the fire station around 12:40, “The eastern wing’s roof was blown off and the doors were ripped out.” The estimated damage to the fire station is between R10 million and R15 million. “It was built in 1968. The roof will have to be replaced and the electrical wiring redone.”
Quote of the week “We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.” ~ Mary Catherine Bateson, cultural anthropologist
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine. Read it, use it and share it!
Windstorm hits Virginia on 13 January 2025; fire station damaged, Matjhabeng
A windstorm hit Virginia on Monday, 13 January 2025, causing localised damage to infrastructure, settlements, property, vehicles, livelihood and livestock. “Just after 19h10, heavy rains started pouring down. At 19h21 the window panel of the Virginia Fire Station was partially ripped off by a wind, causing significant damage, resulting in all communication being disabled for almost two hours,” said CFO Freddy Khuze of Matjhabeng Fire Department. “This incident not only compromised the integrity of the building but also posed potential risks to fire personnel and to the emergency vehicles housed within the building.”
Keeping cancer at bay: Terre Haute firefighters implement annual screening programme, US
One might expect that being diagnosed with thyroid cancer a few days after one’s 33rd birthday would be traumatising. But for Lt Austin Jacks of the Terre Haute Fire Department in Indiana in the US, the initial shock was leavened significantly.
City of Tshwane firefighters respond to a building fire incident in Sunnyside, Pretoria
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a building fire incident in Rissik Street in Sunnyside, on the evening of Sunday, 19 January 2025 when a building under renovation caught fire. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The fire was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre at about 23h38.”
NASA Earth Observatory: The fast fire threat
Large “megafires” are often the most noticeable fires in satellite imagery. Yet another type, fast fires, are more dangerous and destructive. This was the finding of a recent University of Colorado Boulder analysis of two decades of NASA satellite data. “We’ve been focused on the wrong metric,” said Jennifer Balch, director of the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab and lead author of the study. “It’s fire speed that really matters.”
Midwifery hat-trick for Mfuleni firefighters, Cape Town
City of Cape Town’s Mfuleni firefighters set in motion a record number of fire station deliveries for December, when two of their staff members helped deliver a baby boy on 1 December 2024. On 12 December, two other firefighters at the station helped deliver a healthy baby girl. The on Friday, 17 January 2025, an expectant mom arrived at Mfuleni Fire Station at 13h35.
Break the Stigma: Rapid City first responders climb Kilimanjaro for mental health – a must read!
The gleaming yellow of his father’s firefighter uniform always held a strange fascination for young Matthew Emrich. It was a beacon of safety and strength, a symbol of his father’s unwavering dedication to serving and protecting their community. As a child, Emrich would watch in awe as his father donned the uniform, transforming from a loving parent into a brave hero ready to face any danger. The image of his father, clad in that uniform, became etched in Emrich’s mind, fuelling his childhood dream of following in his father’s footsteps.
Deaths on South African roads during the festive period up 5.3%
South Africa recorded 1 502 deaths resulting from 1 234 road accidents during the 2024-25 festive season, a 5.3% increase in fatalities compared with 2023-24. KwaZulu-Natal reported the highest number of deaths; 304 from 247 crashes, followed by Gauteng with 235 from 224 while the Eastern Cape had 231 fatalities from 168 accidents, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said on Monday, 20 January 2025.
How California fights fires from the skies, US
Firefighters have been battling some of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history in recent days. The massive wildfires menacing the city from the east and west have turned entire neighbourhoods to ash. Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout California are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Limpopo medic cornered by mob on New Year’s Day
A New Year’s Day rampage by drunk youths went viral. “I feared for my life, said the paramedic. I could have been hurt or killed.” This is what a shaken Limpopo paramedic described his encounter with a group of drunk youngsters who were wildly celebrating the new year in the early hours on 1 January 2025.
Turkish ski resort hotel fire kills at least 78
A fire at a ski resort hotel in Turkey’s Bolu mountains killed at least 78 people and injured 51 others on Tuesday, 21 January 2025, forcing panicked guests to jump out of windows in the middle of the night. The fire began around 03h30am local time on the restaurant floor of the 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Managing vehicle underride extrications by Colin Deiner
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Managing vehicle underride extrications written by Colin Deiner, chief director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 3 no 1). 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: Bayswater Fire Station in Victoria, Australia
The new Bayswater Fire Station in Victoria, Australia opened in February 2029. The Andrews Labour Government officially opened the new state-of-the-art fire station in Bayswater, providing improved emergency services for the community and better facilities for volunteers. The new fire station gives the brigade more space, making it easier for them to continue their proud history of protecting residential properties and businesses.
Technology: Airbus tests new kit allowing A400M airlifter to fight fires
European aerospace group Airbus (AIR.PA), is testing in Spain removable kit that can transform an A400M military transport aircraft into a plane to combat wildfires, as the world faces more virulent fires due to climate change. The tests in El Cubillo de Uceda, 69km from Madrid, aim to confirm the kit’s efficiency when indirectly attacking wildfires, Airbus said.
Fitness: Firefighter Workout #2
Need fitness inspiration? Here’s a quick firefighter workout! Don’t forget to talk to your doctor before you start a new fitness plan.
Source: Mesa Fire and Medical Department
Training: Drags and carries: Webbing
Rescues or self-rescue using webbing.
Source: Bryan Martin
Vintage: Life of an American fireman (1903) Edwin S Porter
Life of an American fireman is a film from 1903 by Edwin Stanton Porter. It is inspired by the film, Fire! (1901) by the British filmmaker James Williamson. The film is important not only for its engaging portrayal of the firefighting profession at the time but also for its influence on the development of narrative cinema.
Inspiration: Quote of the week
Just for fun
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles and in any corresponding comments are the opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fire and Rescue International editorial team or its management.
NEFSFPA