Firefighters partake in Ponte Challenge, Johannesburg
On Saturday, 8 March 2025, a few firefighters from different departments did the Ponte Challenge in Johannesburg. The Ponte Challenge is organised by Dlala Nje tour guides and is an exhilarating experience that takes you on a journey from the heart of the iconic Ponte Tower and up 948 stairs to the top of the Johannesburg skyline.
Ponte City is a skyscraper in the Berea district of Johannesburg, South Africa, just next to Hillbrow. It was built in 1975 to a height of 173m. It was the tallest residential skyscraper in Africa for 48 years, until overtaken in 2023 by Building D01, in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. The 55-storey building is cylindrical, with an open centre allowing additional light into the apartments.
Participants were from Midvaal Fire Department, West Rand District Municipality, Emergency Training Solutions (ETS) and FTC Modderfontein.
The Midvaal Fire Department team consisted of Morné Mommsen, Nico Gouws, Tertius Engelbrecht, Papi Hanyane, Lucky Ngoepe and Thabang Mokgatle.
Vince Naudé from West Rand DM, Morné Botha of Emergency Training Solutions (ETS) and Danny Fourie and Emma Field from FTC Modderfontein joined the Midvaal team in the challenge.
The team were kitted with full fire kit, boots and SCBA. 65mm and 45mm hose packs, fire branch and Halligan tool were all taken up the 948 stairs and down.
“It was a very difficult but very nice challenge to do and the rest of the participants were very impressed with what we did and I think we, as fireman, earned a lot of respect from the community by doing this”, said Tertius Engelbrecht of Midvaal Fire Department.
Dlala Nje is committed to changing perceptions and creating opportunities in inner-city neighbourhoods. Participating in the Ponte Challenge directly contributes to the community initiatives, making a positive impact on young lives.
The next Ponte Challenge will be in July 2025 and it will be nice to see more firefighters from all over to attend. The event is hosted every three months.
Quote of the week “A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others so that they may have the strength to stand on their own.” ~ Beth Revis
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Serious collision between fire engine and timber truck, uMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal
A serious collision between a fire engine and heavy motor vehicle carrying timber occurred on the R614 Noodsberg Road, uMgungundlovu, near Pietermaritzburg, on Thursday, 6 March 2025 at around 15h45 in the afternoon. Sydney Govender, acting district commander at uMgungundlovu District Municipality Fire Service, said, “At around 15h45, New Hanover and Ashburton fire departments from uMgungundlovu District Municipality were responding to a fire and evacuation drill at Noodsberg Illovu Sugar Mill in the Dalton area.” The impact of the collision resulted in the fire engine being split in half and the truck overturning.
Seven organisations to be investigated over Grenfell fire, UK
Seven organisations criticised in wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster could be banned from bidding for public contracts, the government has said. Cladding and insulation firms are among those set to be investigated, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said, as she announced all recommendations of a public inquiry into the fire will be met. “The bereaved and the survivors and members of the Grenfell community are still waiting for the justice they need and deserve,” Rayner said, “and justice must be done”.
Several teams and aerial resources respond to fire in Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town
The fire at the Newlands Ravine, which spread to the front face of the mountain in Table Mountain National Park has been contained in areas including those that were inaccessible to firefighters. “This fire broke out on Sunday morning, 23 February 2025 and firefighters were immediately deployed to fight the fire, followed by aerial resources at first light. The fire then flared up on Tuesday night due to strong winds. By Thursday morning, the Newlands Ravine, front face of Table Mountain and surrounds had been suppressed. While the Redhill fire, which started later on Sunday, was tentatively contained on Wednesday afternoon, there was a flare up later and three new fires”, said South African National Parks (SANParks) in their statement.
Czech firefighters tackle large toxic train fire
A freight train carrying the highly toxic chemical benzene has derailed in the Czech Republic, sparking a huge fire. Several tankers and a locomotive were ablaze, with firefighters from several regions and a mobile chemical laboratory deployed to the area, according to local media. A massive cloud of dense black smoke was visible for several kilometres.
City of Tshwane firefighters extinguish a multiple-shack fire in Salvokop, Pretoria
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to multiple shacks on fire on 5th Avenue in Salvokop, in Pretoria, on the morning of Monday, 10 March 2025. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The multiple-shack fire was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre at about 11h02. The centre immediately dispatched firefighting resources from Central Fire Station, Erasmuskloof Fire Station and Hatfield Fire Station to the scene. These included two fire trucks, a water tanker, a video unit and a district commander’s unit.”
UK Chinooks to take Cyprus firefighting role in place of retiring Pumas
The UK will deploy Royal Air Force (RAF) Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Cyprus this summer to backfill for the service’s Puma HC2s, which will be retired next month. Secretary of State for Defence John Healey announced in November last year that the 17-strong Puma fleet would be withdrawn from service in March when their current support contract expires. Although the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered six Airbus Helicopters H145 Jupiter HC2s to replace the Pumas in Brunei and Cyprus, their sole remaining deployments, they will not be delivered before 2026.
‘There’s nothing more rewarding than doing this work’: Chopper pilot fighting Table Mountain fires
Dan Corder talks to Leading Edge Aviation’s Mark Jackson about the life of a firefighting helicopter pilot. The fires raging across the slopes of Table Mountain over the last few days have placed the heroism of our Cape firefighters back in the spotlight. After starting on the Newlands side, strong winds pushed the fire over the top of the saddle between Devil’s Peak and Newlands Ravine to reach Tafelberg Road above the city bowl. Helicopter pilots play a vital role along with firefighters on the ground to curb the spread of the flames.
Hoosier firefighters explore new technology at first-ever statewide summit, US
Fire departments from across Indiana gathered in Noblesville for the inaugural Indiana Fire Technology Summit, an event aimed at exploring innovative advancements in firefighting technology. Participants, including veterans with decades of experience, focused on bringing together traditional practices and new tools that can enhance their effectiveness and safety. “The things that we’ve seen 50 years ago on TV and in cartoons, which we thought were just futuristic, are now present,” explained 39-year firefighter veteran and South Bend Fire Chief, Carl Buchanon.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services prioritising firefighter health and safety
The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services’ firefighters recently participated in a Firefighter Ergonomics and Physio Course in collaboration with Gauteng Metro Region Clinics Physiotherapists. “Firefighters face high-risk situations that can lead to sprains, strains and musculoskeletal injuries. This training focused on health screenings, drill relays, victim removal techniques and posture correction, all aimed at preventing injuries and ensuring our heroes stay fit for duty.”
London Fire Brigade’s longest-serving Fire Investigation dog, Sherlock, retires after distinguished career, UK
London Fire Brigade’s longest-serving Fire Investigation dog, Sherlock, has officially retired after a distinguished 12-year career. Working Cocker Spaniel Sherlock, born in 2012, joined the Brigade at just ten weeks old, showing a natural aptitude for his future role. In 2013, Sherlock became a fully certified Fire Investigation dog, working alongside his handler, Group Commander Paul Osborne.
Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue launches fire mascot Snoopy
On Sunday, 9 March 2025, Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services launched its mascot, Snoopy at the Heiderand Mall. Station Commander Wayne Sternsdorf explains the purpose of the day. Children had the opportunity to take part in the mini Firefighter Challenge aimed at children (3-12 years of age) and visit the displays set up by Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services as part of their ongoing public education campaigns. They were also given the opportunity to learn about fire safety and see how a smoke alarm can save a life and property for destruction due to fire. Snoopy the Fire Dog is not only a mascot but an important part of making a new generation aware of the important work of firefighters and perhaps, who knows, some of the youngsters in attendance will become the firefighters of the future, serving the community of Mossel Bay.
Source: Mossel Bay Municipality
Featured FRI Magazine article: High-rise firefighting written by Colin Deiner
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: High-rise firefighting written by Colin Deiner, Chief Director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 3 no 3). 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: Fire Station 5, City of Lévis, Quebec, Canada
Located in the borough of Pintendre on the outskirts of Lévis, the new 1 500 square-metre Fire Station 5 houses eight fire trucks. The concept developed by the architects began with a splitting of the station’s functions, which can be seen by the different volume heights between the garage and the living spaces. The contemporary building is simple in its form and in the materials used, with black aluminium cladding punctuated by silver parts and large glass sections.
Technology: How satellites and AI help fight wildfires today
When wildfires break out, fire crews count on fire-spotting technology and computer models to help them understand the rapidly changing environment. That technology has evolved over the years, yet some techniques are very similar to those used over 100 years ago. I have spent several decades studying combustion, including wildfire behaviour and the technology used to track fires and predict where wildfires might turn. Here’s a quick tour of the key technologies used today.
Fitness: How endurance training actually affects our bodies
Endurance training transforms your body at every level: cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, muscular and cellular. It strengthens the heart, lowers resting heart rate, boosts lung capacity, enhances glycogen storage and increases mitochondria for better energy production. These adaptations improve performance, longevity and overall quality of life. Train smarter, live stronger.
Source: The Nick Bare Podcast
Training: B2B: Inverted L cut
Back to basics: Inverted L cut demonstrated.
Source: Sierra Vista Fire Training
Vintage: The evolution of the London Ambulance
The London Ambulance Service is one of the busiest in the world but its roots started over 200 years ago, long before the state of the art custom ambulances we see today. In this mini documentary, we delve into the development of modern ambulances with a focus on the LDV ‘Lazer’ Convoy and subsequent Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
Source: Klassic Garage
Inspiration: New people, new responses, new ideas
The fire service is a system that supplies all three and we need to be aware of why it’s important to be open to that and much more. You do not have to embrace everything you encounter; similarly you shouldn’t reject all new encounters either. I would imagine that we haven’t been as educated as we should in regards to new things in the fire service. Believing that we are frozen in time is the sign of a closed mind. All we have to be is a bit more open with ourselves, we don’t have to sell anyone else. Let what’s new, soak in and ask yourself how it affects you and if you need to adjust. If you can’t pivot even with overwhelming evidence that you should then you are stuck. It’s alright to be stuck it’s even better when you admit it because then can you attempt to free yourself.
Source: Ray McCormack, 1st Lieutenant FDNY (ret)
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.
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