NDMC hosts National Fire Fighters Challenge to strengthen emergency readiness, Limpopo
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) hosted the 2025 National Fire Fighters Challenge, which took place from 7 to 8 May 2025, at the Mopani District Municipality Fire Services Offices in Tzaneen, Limpopo, in commemoration of International Firefighters’ Day.
Municipal fire fighters from across South Africa gathered to compete in a series of high-intensity emergency response activities that put their skills, endurance and teamwork to the test. The challenge forms part of the NDMC’s broader efforts to strengthen municipal fire services, promote a culture of proactive fire prevention and build capacity for effective response when disasters strike.
Throughout the two-day event, fire fighters showcased their expertise in a variety of critical rescue and firefighting disciplines, including: • Tower climbing • High angle rescue • Tire tossing • Forced entries • Foam cans lifting • Operating charged fire hoses and hose flaking • Vehicle extrication and rescue • Swift water rescue operations
The NDMC’s Fire Fighters Challenge is not only a test of physical ability and technical skill but also a platform to foster camaraderie, promote innovation in fire services and inspire best practice models among municipalities nationwide.
As fire seasons grow longer and more intense, investing in the development of skilled, agile and responsive municipal fire services has never been more important. Events like this are central to building a safer, more disaster-resilient South Africa.
Quote of the week “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.” ~ Ronald Reagan
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Fire safety is more than compliance — it’s a critical commitment to protecting lives, assets, and infrastructure. At Firexpo 2025, taking place from 3 to 5 June at Gallagher Convention Centre, that commitment takes centre stage. “What sets Firexpo apart is its strong backing from South Africa’s key fire industry associations, a mark of trust and relevance that translates directly into value for our visitors,” says Mark Anderson, Portfolio Director at Specialised Exhibitions, a division of Montgomery Group.
Three dead in Bicester fire: Two firefighters and one member of the public killed after multiple explosions heard as blaze rips through former RAF base, UK
Two firefighters and a member of the public have been killed after a huge fire ripped through a former RAF base near Bicester Village last night, 15 may 2025. Another two firefighters were injured in the incident. Witnesses said they heard multiple explosions and clouds of dense black smoke could be seen for miles following the inferno at Bicester Motion in Oxfordshire. In an update issued this morning, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were ‘mourning the loss’ of two colleagues killed in the blaze at the motoring and aviation heritage site.
George building collapse: One year on
Speaking at the memorial service to mark the first anniversary of the Victoria Street building collapse in George, Garden Route, Dean Macpherson, National Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, said it is government’s duty to support the families and victims, not just with words, but with meaningful intervention. “Where this support has been lacking, we will correct it.” Macpherson addressed about 600 people, including survivors and bereaved family members in the George Town Hall, located right next to the site where the 5-storey building collapsed at 14:09 on 6 May 2024.
Wildfires burning across Britain in historic drought – driest spring in 70 years
Britain is facing an unprecedented wildfire crisis as fires tear through forested areas in Scotland, Wales, and England, fuelled by the driest spring in nearly 70 years. The fires coincide with declining river water levels and concerns over drought conditions. In Scotland, a large forest fire near Fauldhouse, west of Edinburgh, erupted on Saturday morning and continued burning into Sunday. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service deployed around 50 firefighters, supported by a helicopter dropping water over the woodland area.
Inside the Eastern Cape’s biggest rescues — emergency services chief records a decade of disasters
For many years, friends and family of John Best, well-known police officer, former chairman of the Eastern Cape Emergency Coordinating Committee and now city councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, urged him to write about his impressive career heading rescue operations in the province. Now he and his wife, Marie, who was at his side through it all, have finally done so in a book set to be released on 13 May 2025. “The thing very few people know about me is that I am a big royalist,” John Best says as he gets ready to tell the story of how he headed some of the Eastern Cape’s biggest rescues between 1993 and 2003.
New book: Scientific Perspectives on Wildfire Risk Management from 34 leading researchers across 10 countries
The Forest Fire Research Centre of ADAI (University of Coimbra, Portugal) has recently published the book “Scientific Perspectives on Wildfire Risk Management at the WUI Property Scale”. The book, coordinated by Miguel Almeida, a senior researcher at CEIF/ADAI, brings together contributions from 34 leading researchers across 10 countries, offering a broad scientific perspective on how wildfire risk can be managed at the WUI property scale.
Nine killed in horrific Mother’s Day crash in Empangeni
Nine people have died in KwaZulu-Natal following a crash between a heavy duty tow truck and a passenger van. The heavy dury tow truck rear ended the van, according to reposts. The crash occurred early on Sunday morning, 11 May 2025, in Empangeni. KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma described the incident as “horrific”. “On this Mother’s Day, around 06h47am, I received a report from our highly dedicated team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) informing me about a horrific accident that claimed the lives of nine people, mostly mothers.
Interschutz: WildfireCamp@ Interschutz – A new attraction at the world’s leading trade fair
With a new event format, Interschutz 2026 in Hanover is placing the growing global challenge of forest and vegetation fires at the centre of the trade fair. As part of WildfireCamp@Interschutz, experts from Germany and abroad will present innovative methods for combating and preventing vegetation fires throughout all six days of the trade fair ie 1 to 6 June 2026. They will discuss strategies, approaches and measures to detect fires at an early stage or, ideally, prevent them from occurring in the first place.
Latest wildfire highlights complexity of managing fynbos in the Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town
The Cape Peninsula, home to the world-renowned Table Mountain National Park and the unique fynbos biome, has long been shaped by fire. The April 2025 wildfires have reignited debate about fire management and the growing risks at the wildland-urban interface of the Cape. As fires erupted across Cape Town at the end of April and into early May, residents living along the edge of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) found themselves under evacuation orders, watching as orange and red skies loomed overhead and flames crept dangerously close to their homes. Nearly 3 000 hectares of land were scorched in the blaze, leaving a trail of ecological damage and affecting countless wildlife in the process.
ER24 triumphs in remote rescue challenge in Zimbabwe
At the end of 2024, the ER24 Site Based Medical Solutions (SBMS) team won the Annual Ace Remote Rescue Challenge (AARRC) in Zimbabwe, marking their first time participating. Following their victory, ER24 SBMS Base Manager Sean van der Merwe revealed their secret to clinching the title. The annual competition, which took place at the Jecha Point Fishing Lodge, aimed to bring together various emergency medical services (specifically in remote areas) to sharpen skills across the region. The competition’s remote location emulated the environment that site based services have to navigate during an emergency. Teams had to conquer both dry and wet conditions. Sean provides details on each gruelling task, which consisted of two teams of four members each.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Aerial apparatus operations: placement of aerial apparatus at structural fires by Colin Deiner
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Aerial apparatus operations: placement of aerial apparatus at structural fires written by Colin Deiner, Chief Director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government (FRI Vol 3 no 5). 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: Makarora Rural Fire Station – Station 99, New Zealand
A brief sunshower sprinkled a blessing on the Volunteer Fire Brigade and supporters on 27 November 2022 afternoon, as Fire and Emergency New Zealand celebrated the completion of the $2.2 million facility that will also be a hub for the community. Makarora is one of Otago’s most remote Volunteer Fire Brigades and responds to vehicle crashes and medical calls as well as fires. The new station has two fire appliance bays, with space for a third bay should it be required in future, operational areas including lockers, ablutions, operations room and search and rescue storage area and a kitchen and training room.
Technology: AI can scan vast numbers of social media posts during disasters to guide first responders
“When disasters happen such as hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes, every second counts. Emergency teams need to find people fast, send help and stay organised. In today’s world, one of the fastest ways to get information is through social media. In recent years, researchers have explored how artificial intelligence can use social media to help during emergencies. These programmes can scan millions of posts on sites such as X, Facebook and Instagram. However, most existing systems look for simple patterns like keywords or images of damage,” said Ademola Adesokan, Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Science, Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Fitness: Firefighter workout routine
Here is my workout routine that helped me lose 40 lbs and keeps me ready for my job as a firefighter. Also eating right played a big part with the weight loss.
Source: Caleb Williams
Training: Firefighter safety and survival skills: Entanglement
Firefighter safety and survival skills: Entanglement – Hanousek.
Source: JMSanchez1989
Vintage: 1915 Dennis Brothers N Type Fire Engine (G810)
The North East Scottish Fire Heritage Trust Dennis N Type “Betsy” from Fraserburgh Blue Light Festival on Sunday with the information board written below. Source: Mathew Rooney, UK Preserved Fire Appliances
Inspiration: Quote of the week
Just for fun
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