Remembering the 2017 Knysna Fires; A day that changed Knysna forever
Knysna Fire Services organised an event on Saturday, 7 June 2025, to remember the unspeakable loss and unimaginable bravery that defined that fateful time. The march started from the Main Road to the Finance Building in Clyde Street, every step a tribute to those we lost and a symbol of the resilience that has carried us ever since.
“On this day, eight years ago, Knysna was brought to its knees. The fires of 7June 2017, tore through our town with a ferocity no manual or training could have prepared us for. But even in the darkest of hours, the light of human courage and compassion shone through.”
“We remember the heroes who faced the roaring inferno with only grit and love for their community, firefighters who put their lives on the line to save others, some of whom never made it back. Their bravery is woven into the soul of this town and will never be forgotten.”
Knysna Executive Mayor Cllr Thando Matika, in his address, reminded us. “It has been eight years since the fires engulfed our town. That day left deep scars, homes reduced to ashes, landscapes blackened, lives forever altered. But from the smoke rose something stronger than fire: unity, resilience and hope.”
“To the families who lost loved ones, we see you. We carry your grief with reverence and your courage with honour. Your pain is etched into our collective memory, and your strength continues to inspire us.”
The keynote speaker, Member of Parliament Eleanore Bouw-Spies, served as Mayor during the 2017 disaster. With raw honesty, she reflected on the emotional toll of leading through such tragedy, from fainting in the JOC centre, to breaking the news of a death to a grieving family. She shared, for the first time, that only this year has she found the strength to begin counselling, a powerful reminder that healing takes time and vulnerability is a form of bravery.
“The commemoration was not just a ceremony, it was a promise. A promise to remember. A promise to honour. A promise to keep building a Knysna that is stronger, more united and ever more compassionate. We will never forget.”
Quote of the week “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams
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No injuries reported following fire at Wellington farm warehouse
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a fire that gutted a large warehouse on the Roodezandt Farm in the Lady Loch area of Wellington on Monday, 26 May 2025. Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Chief Wynand Els said Fire and Rescue Services received the call at 09h51 and dispatched the first firefighting vehicle one minute later. “Responding to the fire, we used three pumpers and two water tankers from Drakenstein Municipality, while the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s Fire Services assisted with another water tanker and one pumper.”
Mission ready: The dedicated team of K-9 USAR Malta
What do a spirited Malinois, a steadfast Labrador, a keen bloodhound, and an agile border collie have in common? More than just four paws and a tail: they are the heart of K9 Urban Search and Rescue Malta or K-9 USAR Malta, a team of dedicated volunteers and their extraordinary dogs, ready to answer the call when disaster strikes. About a decade ago, in 2015, a group of passionate individuals with backgrounds in civil protection, search and rescue and dog training joined forces with SOS Malta. In 2016, they were sent to the devastating earthquake in Amatrice, Italy and the experience of helping first hand in a disaster zone lead to the establishment of K-9 USAR Malta as an independent organisation in 2018.
Garden Route Forest Villages receiving life-saving training through fire safety campaign
Since the start of April, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Fire and Rescue Services Unit is visiting forest villages in the region. To date, community members from Witfontein in George, Diepwalle and Goudveld (Bibby’s Hoek) in the Knysna, as well as Ruiterbos in Mossel Bay, have received awareness about fire safety.
Hong Kong warehouse fire requires massive firefighting effort
A warehouse fire in Tin Shui Wai that injured two people was “largely put out” on Wednesday morning, 28 May 2025, after raging for more than 20 hours, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (FSD) has announced. A total of 430 firefighters and medics, 94 fire engines and nine ambulances were deployed to the scene in Ha Tsuen, Tin Shui Wai, after the fire began at around 12h40pm on Tuesday. The Fire Services Department (FSD) reported the fire engulfed an area measuring 200 metres by 200 metres, with temperatures near the core reaching 550 degrees Celsius. Drones were deployed to survey the scene from above, while firefighting robots assisted ground crews in high-risk zones.
Triple rescues as winter descends over weekend by Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR)
Teams of dedicated volunteers and professionals from Wilderness Search And Rescue responded to three incidents in cold wintery conditions on Sunday 1 June 2025. Incident 1: Fallen hiker flown from Devil’s Peak; Incident 2: Stranded hikers guided from Table Mountain and Incident 3: Exhausted hiker assisted down mountain trail near Robertson. According to David Nel, a spokesperson for Wilderness Search And Rescue WSAR Western Cape, “We want to remind all outdoor enthusiasts that the seasons have changed and ask them to plan accordingly.”
At least five dead and six missing in explosion at chemical plant, Gaomi, China
An explosion at a chemical plant in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong killed five people, injuring 19 with six people still missing. The blast occurred a few minutes before noon on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, shaking part of a chemical plant operated by Shandong Youdao Chemical in the city of Weifang and caused significant damage to nearby buildings as can be seen in the video of the explosion.
Western Cape Government Emergency Services conducted a multi-agency flood preparedness exercise
In preparation for the impending flood and water disaster season in the Western Cape Government Emergency Services conducted a multi-agency flood preparedness exercise at Worcester’s Qwaggaskloof Dam on 13 May 2025. The exercise involved specialised units from the South African Police Service (SAPS), including Water Policing and Diving services SAR operators, K9 Search and Rescue, the Special Task Force and the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness EMS Western Cape, Metro Rescue and the EMS Drone Unit.
AGNF and other international organisation supports EMA, Namibia
Since 2019, EMA slogan is “there when you need us”. Alone in 2025 the nonprofit organisation assisted patients in the value of over NAD400 000.00 so far. EMA is a community service and registered nonprofit organisation and depending on donations to make their mission possible. In 2023 Dirk Pfeiffer of ITLS Germany was in Namibia for the first time and saw the work of EMA at first hand. The work inspired him to speak to his friends and colleagues in Germany and Austria to donate urgent needed medical equipment.
Ambulance shortages in South Africa at critical levels, a threat to emergency care
Paramedics in South Africa are sounding the alarm over critical shortages of ambulances and staff, leading to unsafe working conditions and inadequate emergency care for communities. In a recent Parliamentary response, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi acknowledged that staffing levels are insufficient to cater to the needs of a population exceeding 63 million, with the government promising to enhance staffing as resources permit. As of 25 April 2025, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) alone boasts 480 ambulances, though 240 of these are currently non-operational. The Eastern Cape faces a similar predicament, with 418 ambulances but 125 out of commission.
Nigeria: 22 athletes killed in bus crash after festival
A bus veered off a bridge in Nigeria’s northern state of Kano, killing at least 22 athletes returning home from a sports festival and leaving several other passengers injured, the state’s governor said. The cause of the accident, which happened on Saturday, 31 May 2025, was not immediately known. The driver appeared to lose control of the bus and the vehicle, with over 30 passengers, plunged off the Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria expressway, according to Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Suction entrapment in swimming pools: a case study by Julius Fleischman and Neville van Rensburg
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Suction entrapment in swimming pools: a case study written by Julius Fleischman and Neville van Rensburg, SAMRO (FRI Vol 3 no 6). 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 fire station opens in Triana, Alabama, US
Saturday, 24 May 2025, marked the grand opening of the new fire station in Triana in Alabama, US. It cost two million dollars to build and it includes living quarters, where a full-time firefighter will be on duty 24-7. “We’re able to use the facility to teach classes and to house a 24-7 firefighter that can respond to all medical and fire-related calls in a timely manner, where we can provide a level of coverage to Triana that they’ve never had before,” Fire Chief Chad Beddingfield said.
Technology: New device uses electrically assisted wind to fight fires
Researchers have developed a new portable tool that could improve how firefighters douse fires, making the process more efficient and far less risky. Built as an alternative to traditional firefighting countermeasures like toxic chemical foams or hydrants whose use can strain water resources, this device works to suppress flames using the power of conductive aerosols, small particles that can direct electricity.
Fitness: Bodyweight training montage: firefighter workout
Many physical training programmes utilised by firefighters train body parts such as chest, biceps, triceps etc. Scott Sonnon’s FlowFit programme teaches us to train movement through all planes of motion. Movement is performance.
Source: Firefighter Peak Performance
Training: Search and rescue firefighter training: low visibility (Part 1)
Part 1 of 3 of this recruit firefighter training series provides firefighter rescue training. This recruit firefighter training shows the basics of a search assignment in a low visibility environment.
Source: Fire Spotlight
Vintage: FDNY Brooklyn Bodega-Firefighters 1992, US
From the show “Firefighters” clip of an arson job in a Brooklyn Bodega in 1992.
Source: R1 SmokeEater
Inspiration: Quote of the week
Just for fun
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