Photo gallery of the 2025 Firexpo held at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg
Co-located with Securex South Africa, A-OSH EXPO, Facilities Management Expo, Firexpo showcased some interesting firefighting, suppression and prevention products and services. The four shows had 298 exhibitors over 4 500m2 exhibition space.
Firexpo hosted a three-day workshop with key industry leaders presenting on various topics. Speakers included Tim de Witt of TDW International Fire Consultancy, Kobus Strydom of FireLab, Rob Penney of Synertech, Tiaan Jansen van Rensburg of OTN Systems, Ferdi Jansen of Brigit Fire, De Wet Engelbrecht of Fire Ops SA, Wynand Engelbrecht of Fire Ops SA, Boet Hamman of Fenco Fire Engineers and Consultants, Martin Venter of OTN Systems, Karel Roodt of The Fire Engineer, Jacques Labuschagne of SE Controls, Brett Birch of SAQCC Fire, Marius Atterbury of FPASA, Trevor Fiford of Industrial Fire and Hazard Control and Marius Janse van Rensburg of Advanced Fixed Systems (AFST).
Fire Protection Association of SA (FPASA) also ran their InFires seminar 2025 during Firexpo.
We will provide an overview of Firexpo in Fire and Rescue International magazine as usual.
Cape Town Securex South Africa, A-OSH EXPO, Facilities Management Expo, Firexpo will be hosted for the first time in Cape Town on 21 to 23 October 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Visit firexpo.co.za for more information and to register.
Quote of the week “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t – you’re right.” ~ Henry Ford
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Firefighters injured while rescuing six people from Durban factory fire
Two firefighters sustained second-degree burns and six people were rescued by firefighters after a factory caught alight in Jacobs, south of Durban, on Sunday, 15 June 2025. The factory manufactures shoes and sandals in several buildings on Brooklyn Road. The eThekwini Municipality stated that in the early hours of Sunday morning, a fire was reported near the factories, initially thought to have been grass, bush and/or rubbish on fire. During attempts to extinguish it, an explosion erupted from the main structure and although no firefighters were inside, two members were injured.
Manchester’s oldest mill destroyed after major fire, UK
A major fire has destroyed what is believed to be Manchester’s oldest mill, forcing dozens of nearby residents to evacuate. The Hotspur Press building near Manchester Oxford Road railway station caught fire around 16h30 pm on Monday, 23 June 2025. Fire services said the flames engulfed three floors of the derelict mill. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said, “Firefighters were called to a major fire at the site of the Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street in Manchester city centre. This was declared a major incident. Firefighters have been working hard overnight to extinguish the fire. At the height of the blaze, over 20 fire engines, two aerial units and over 100 firefighters were working at the scene in warm and humid conditions.”
City of Tshwane firefighters respond to multiple buses on fire in Mabopane, Pretoria North
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a fire incident that involved multiple buses in Industrial Road, in Mabopane, north of Pretoria, on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17 June 2025. Lindsay Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The fire was reported as a grassfire incident to the Emergency Communication Centre at about 12h16 and a fire engine was immediately dispatched from Mabopane Fire Station to the scene.”
The book, ‘When It All Burns’: Sobering lessons about growing fire dangers from the front lines
Jordan Thomas didn’t want to just research and write about fire, he wanted to see it up close, and he has turned that experience into the exceptional new book, “When It All Burns.” A specialist in the cultural forces that shape fire, Thomas joined the Los Padres Hotshots, a crew that might be viewed as the Navy SEALs of firefighting. He spent 2021 battling wildfires extreme and treacherous even by the standards of these globally warmed times. A first-person account would be compelling enough, especially given Thomas’ gift for terse, layered expository writing.
12 killed in crash between bus and truck in KwaZulu-Natal
Twelve people believed to be supporters of different political parties have died in a crash in KwaZulu-Natal. The truck and bus collided on the R34 near Vryheid overnight on Monday, 16 June 2025. The head-on collision between the bus and truck on the R34 Matatani Road between Vryheid and Ulundi resulted in 12 fatalities and left 38 people injured. KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service paramedics responded to the scene, where they provided immediate medical attention to the victims. Of the injured, 10 patients sustained critical injuries, 22 suffered serious injuries, and 6 sustained minor injuries.
Major fire breaks out near Athens – tourists are evacuated
A major fire has broken out in the south-east of Athens. Numerous vacation homes have been destroyed down to their foundations and a large bush and forest area is on fire. “Right now, strong land and air forces are fighting a huge battle against the flames, mainly among homes,” fire department spokesman Col. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. He added that 12 water-dropping planes and 12 helicopters were providing air support to 80 fire engines and 130 firefighters, who were backed up by volunteer firefighters.
Firefighters tackle Boyes Drive fire, Cape Town
Multiple firefighting teams from SANParks, Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue were tending to a fire that broke out above Boyes Drive on Sunday morning, 15 June 2025. “Firefighting efforts are ongoing in Table Mountain National Park, where the fire above Boyes Drive and in Peck’s Valley remains active. The left flank of the fire has been contained in areas accessible on foot while the right flank in Peck’s Valley continues to burn downhill towards the road. All available ground crews from SANParks, Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), NCC Wildfire Services and the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue remain on scene, actively working to suppress the fire and prevent further spread.”
Taiwan Red Cross advances national accreditation goals with intensive USAR management training
In a significant step toward enhancing national disaster response capabilities, the Taiwan Red Cross conducted a two-day National Accreditation Process (NAP) Specialised Joint Training – Management Course for its disaster response teams on 7 and 8 June 2025. The training, which aligns with efforts to achieve Light Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) certification under the NAP system, drew 25 key management staff and team members from various units. Designed to meet international standards, the course combined comprehensive theoretical instruction with extensive practical exercises and post-training online assessments, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to building a world-class rescue force.
MSAR Gauteng volunteer rescuers assist two rock climbers, Magaliesberg
Two rock climbers had a narrow escape in a climbing accident in a Magaliesberg kloof (gorge) near Rustenburg (North West Province). The climbers were climbing a traditional route on Saturday, 14 June 2025, when a handhold broke, causing the climber to fall onto his belayer and then onto the ground. The injured climber phoned other climbers in the area to assist, who in turn called the MSAR Gauteng Team. Volunteer rescuers from MSAR Gauteng and SARZA drove to the scene and were joined by ER24 paramedics from Rustenburg.
Expanded cancer coverage for Iowa firefighters signed into law, US
Firefighters and emergency responders have enough to worry about, Iowa Senetor Scott Webster said. Whether cancer treatment will be covered by their insurance, he said, should not be one of them. All forms of cancer will be covered by firefighters’ disability insurance coverage, rather than only the 14 forms previously covered, under legislation signed into law Friday by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Dozens of firefighters watched as Reynolds signed the bill into law during a public ceremony Friday in downtown Des Moines.
Featured FRI Magazine article: Integrity in the fire house by Wayne Bailey
This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Integrity in the fire house written by Wayne Bailey (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 Antequera north of Malaga province, Spain
Spain’s Antequera has opened its new fire station, Parque de bomberos Antequera José Gil, on 19 June 2025 in memory of José Gil, a firefighter who died in the line of duty in October 2018, following a storm that hit the local area. The Diputación provincial authority has invested 2.6 million Euros in the new facilities in Cuesta de Talavera. Located in the La Verónica area and funded by the Málaga Provincial Council, the new facility will serve 70 000 people in the Antequera, Mollina, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Alameda, Cuevas de San Marcos, Cuevas Bajas and Valle de Abdalajís areas. By relocating to the town centre, emergency response times will be reduced by seven minutes.
Technology: Heavy duty water bombing drones able to lift 400 kilos are being tested in Canadian forest fire conditions
Heavy-duty drones, known as Thunder Wasp drones, are being tested in British Columbia to aid wildfire firefighting efforts. Fireswarm Solutions and the Strategic Natural Resource Group aim to make these drones “fire-ready” with AI swarm algorithms and heavy-lift capabilities, enabling them to carry up to 400 kilograms each and fly for two hours. Unlike helicopters, these drones can operate at night when fires intensify and traditional aircraft cannot fly, the CBC reports.
This firefighter workout featured in CRACKYL Magazine Issue 15 is designed to optimise your strength, power, and on-the-job performance. Training protocol: 20 seconds of work/10 seconds of recovery x 8 sets per exercise. Rest 1 minute between exercises. Always start with a dynamic warm-up and finish with a cool-down. This workout may be performed at moderate or high intensity. Training exercises:
Training: Search and rescue firefighter training: low visibility (Part 3)
Part 3 of 3 In the final part of the fire-rescue training series from Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins, Co, recruit firefighters learn how to manage their hand tools when navigating a low visibility environment in a structure fire. This recruit firefighter training provides firefighter rescue training. This recruit firefighter training shows the basics of hand tool management in a low visibility environment.
Source: Fire Spotlight
Vintage: Raleigh Fire Department Circa 1950
Silent film footage documenting Raleigh Fire Department training activities around 1950. Also included is footage of Station 1 on South Salisbury Street and of a dormitory fire at Saint Augustine’s College on November 26, 1950. Drill locations include the front and east sides of Memorial Auditorium, Station 2 behind Memorial Auditorium, and Dorothea Dix Hospital.
Source: Raleigh Fire Museum
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