Bob Hornsby visits the Fire Brigade Museum in Bloemfontein
On Thursday morning, 20 March 2025, the Mangaung Central Fire Station in Bloemfontein hosted a special guest, 86-year-old Bob Hornsby from Johannesburg.
Bob visited the very same brigade as a twelve year boy in 1950. He photographed the three fire engines that were in service at the time with his box camera. Today, 75 years later, the same three fire engines, box camera and photos are exhibited in the Fire Brigade Museum. Bob’s visit completed the cycle.
Bob grew up in Bloemfontein but left Bloemfontein as a young man to follow a career in the petrochemical industry. Even though he never followed a career in the fire service, he developed a fascination and passion for the Bloemfontein Fire Brigade. During the past 75 years the Bloemfontein (Mangaung) Fire brigade owned a total of 36 fire engines. With the exception of three fire engines that were written off after accidents and a few that is still operation today, the rest did duty between 12 and 33 years before retiring to the museum. He did not only photograph each of the 36 fire engines but also kept a record of each engine, technical data and application. Bob thus regularly visited Bloemfontein and remained in contact with the relevant staff members. Initially, he corresponded by mail. Later years, he communicated via WhatsApp and social media.
In 1976, he photographed the five fire engines that were operational at Central Fire Station. 30 years later in 2006, the same five fire engines were placed on the apron in front of the fire station. The vehicles that replaced them were parked behind them. 10 years later in 2016, the exercise was repeated. This time there were three rows of fire engines.
Due to circumstances, Bob did not visit Bloemfontein for the past four years. His daughter, who is currently visiting from the USA, brought him and his wife to Bloemfontein. With the result, Bob was able to photograph the last two vehicles that were issued to Mangaung Fire Brigade. Therefore, he has bragging rights as the photographer of all fire engines in service the past 75 years in Bloemfontein.
He is indeed our biggest fan!
Source: Braam van Zyl, divisional officer and Curator Fire Brigade Museum, Mangaung Fire and Rescue Services
Quote of the week “You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.” ~ Zig Ziglar
Fire and Rescue International is your magazine. Read it, use it and share it!
Veteran retired South African Air Force test pilot tragically dies after fatal Impala crash, Saldanha
Experienced test pilot, James O’Connell, was killed at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha on Saturday, 22 March 2025, when the Impala Mk I aircraft he was piloting crashed during a display. Air show organisers said in a statement following the accident that O’Connell was performing a routine display intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the Impala Mk I, an ex-South African Air Force jet trainer with historical significance for many South Africans. “It was especially a huge moment because the Impala has not been seen performing at air shows for many years. The manoeuvres were being executed as part of the official air show programme, witnessed by thousands of spectators,” the organisers said.
Major earthquake hits Myanmar, Thailand and surrounds; numerous after shocks
On 28 March 2025 at 12:50:54 MMT (06:20:54 UTC), a Mw 7.7–7.9 earthquake struck the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, with an epicentre close to Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. The strike-slip shock achieved a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). It was the most powerful earthquake to strike Myanmar since 1912 and the second deadliest in Myanmar’s modern history, surpassed only by upper estimates of the 1930 Bago earthquake. The earthquake caused extensive damage in Myanmar and significant damage in neighbouring Thailand. Hundreds of homes were also damaged in Yunnan, China, while more than 400 apartments were affected in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
City of Tshwane firefighters respond to an explosion in Akasia, Pretoria North
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to an explosion incident in a recycling plant in Toermalyn Street in Akasia, on the afternoon of Thursday, 20 March 2025. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer at the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The explosion incident was reported to our Emergency Communication Centre at about 12h01 and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched from Rosslyn Fire Station to the scene. These included a fire truck, a rapid intervention unit and a district commander’s unit.”
Huge fire erupts near Kuala Lumpur as gas pipeline explodes, Malasia
On 1 April 2025, a fire erupted at a gas pipeline owned by Petronas, Malaysia’s national oil company, near Kuala Lumpur, injuring 145 people. The fire, caused by a leak in the pipeline, led to a large explosion and flames that were visible for kilometres. Emergency evacuations were conducted within a 290-metre radius of the site, with some residents needing to be rescued from their homes. The health minister, Dzulkefly Ahmad, was quoted saying 145 people including three children were injured. He said 67 people were still being treated at public hospitals, mostly for second and third-degree burns, while 37 others had sought treatment from clinics and private hospitals. The fire department said the fire damaged 190 houses and 148 vehicles.
Insane feat for a great cause! Firefighting duo raises R200k for VWS during Two Oceans Marathon
“Two City of Cape Town firefighters, Jermaine and Renaldo, took on the Totalsports Two Oceans half marathon in full firefighting gear, including thick bunker gear clothing, helmets and breathing apparatus oxygen tanks! Their mission? To raise awareness and donations for the incredible Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), a community organisation that provides vital support to SANParks and the Table Mountain National Park during wildfires”, said Alderman JP Smith, City of Cape Town.
Tourist helicopter crashes into New York’s Hudson River, killing all six aboard, US
A Bell 206 LongRanger IV on a sightseeing tour crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, across the river from New York City on Thursday, 10 April 2025. All six onboard, a Spanish family with three children and the pilot, were killed. The incident happened near the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft in Jersey City, not far from River Drive South and Newport Parkway, near the Water’s Soul sculpture. The aircraft, which was operated by New York Helicopter, was on its eighth flight of the day. At 14h59 EDT, the helicopter took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport on its eighth flight of the day and travelled along the southern part of Manhattan and circled the Statue of Liberty before it flew up the western side of Manhattan. At 15h08, the helicopter turned around near the George Washington Bridge before turning south along the New Jersey shoreline.
Cancer survivor Cody-Lee lives out firefighter dream on fourth birthday, Cape Town
A dream has come true for Cody-Lee Africa, 4, who is in remission from a rare form of cancer, as Reach For A Dream arranged for him to be a firefighter for a day to celebrate his birthday. His family, from Kraaifontein, in December shared that they were praying for a Christmas miracle after his parents discovered a lump on his body in October 2024. Cody-Lee was diagnosed Burkitt lymphoma, a cancer that develops in lymph nodes (glands) or lymphoid tissue and may be strongly associated with certain viral infections, immunodeficiency, or syndromes.
Ethanol tanker overturns on a busy highway, Santa Catarina, Brazil
A truck carrying ethanol overturned and burst into flames on a highway in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on Sunday 6 April 2025 at around 13h30. The spill of ethanol hit the pavement and immediately catches fire, setting cars alight on the opposite side of the road. The truck driver’s wife was in the vehicle and both suffered burns to their arms and legs. Firefighters from several cities arrived to control the fire and a vehicle with explosives was removed from the area.
Eastern Cape’s Kouga municipality launches ‘911’ drones in first project of its kind in Africa
The Kouga Local Municipality, based in Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape, has launched new technology, a first on the African continent to send out first-responder drones to crime scenes and other crisis situations. In a first on the African continent, the Drone as a First Responder programme was launched at the Kouga Information Command Centre in Humansdorp on Monday, 24 March 2025. The drone team will be at full force and up and running from mid-May.
Mental health, firefighting and accidentally becoming a professional mountain biker
Remy Matailler has recently launched his own podcast, and it has been off to a terrific start. In the second episode, Remy talks with Steve Vanderhoek about firefighting, mental health struggles, building insane features, and balancing all aspects of life. Remy and Steve have been a dynamic duo for the last few years and have continually produced some epic mountain bike videos that push the limits of the sport. Both riders show incredible style, control, and dedicated focus to riding the most gnarly lines in the world.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Implementing incident command systems on the ground by Reinard Geldenhuys
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Fire awareness campaigns: Implementing incident command systems on the ground written by Reinard Geldenhuys, chief fire officer, Overberg District Municipality (FRI Vol 3 no 4). 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: New Thorold Fire Station opened in Ontario, Canada
The new modern Thorold Fire Station opened in October 2024 in Thorold in Ontario, Canada. The 1 485-square-metre facility was built within its $11-million budget and completed on time. The community was invited to walk through the new fire hall. Chief Administrative Officer Manoj Dilwaria said the McCleary Drive site was chosen as it is more central than the old location and has direct access to Highway 58. While the station went into service on 1 August 2024, the city celebrated the opening of the building on Friday, 4 October 2024 with a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facility. At the ceremony, Mayor Terry Ugulini said council of the day approved the project and made it a part of the city’s 2022 budget.
Technology: OroraTech launches world’s first satellite constellation for wildfire detection and data accumulation
OroraTech has successfully launched the world’s first wildfire constellation of eight satellites, built jointly by OroraTech and Spire Global, from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. This constellation will provide real-time wildfire detection and change the way satellites will be used in fighting the growing wildfire problem. For the first time, sensor data will be available during the crucial time in the afternoon and at night, a time when fires rage the hottest and firefighters need the most support. No other data from public thermal satellites is available during these critical periods of the day.
Here is a quick video of just a few of the exercises prescribed in the Firefighter Furnace workout programme.
Source: Firefighter Furnace
Training: Vent, isolate, search (VIS)
Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services training to maintain and improve skills when called to emergencies. Minimum Company Standards (MCS) are developed to ensure the proficiency of all personnel through periodic evaluations of company-level skills. MCS are designed to validate competency in basic level skills and identify opportunities in training or deficiencies that need to be addressed at the company level. (VIS) Vent. Isolate. Search is a technique that allows for quick access to an area where potential/known victim(s) are located by removing the smoke and isolating an area to locate and extract a victim(s) quickly. Using this technique allows the Incident Commander to utilise the on-scene resources as effectively as possible to maintain the life safety priority on the fire scene.
Source: Sierra Vista Fire Training
Vintage: The History of London Fire Brigade (1666-1985)
Welcome to London Fire Brigade Archives, our new series where we dig into the vault and showcase historical footage of the London Fire Brigade. This exclusive collection brings never-before-released vintage videos, offering a glimpse into the evolution of firefighting in London. For our first release, we’re featuring “The Men and Women of London Fire Brigade,” a documentary produced in 1985. This 18-minute film takes you on a journey from the Great Fire of London in 1666 through key moments in London Fire Brigade history, leading up to the state of firefighting in the 1980s.
Source: London Fire Brigade
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