The most recent fire dabbed the Garden Route Fire: Albertinia and Hessequa which blazed for two days is evidence of a need to be prepared for wildfires. Heading this call, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment’s Working on Fire Programme added two teams which will be based in the Hessequa Municipality region in Heidelberg at the Slangriver and Duiwenhoek base.
This group of 25 young people who will be integrated into two teams, recently returned from an extensive 25-day firefighting training in Mpumalanga where they learned veld and forest firefighting skills that covered advanced firefighting, fire safety, and other specialized skills.
According to the Working on Fire Western Cape Provincial Communications Officer, Limakatso Khalianyane this move will significantly reduce fire response time while also tackling youth unemployment.
“The establishment of the new bases will close the gap between Riversdale and Swellendam which is close to 100 kilometres. Therefore, this will decrease the response time to emergencies in that area. The end goal is to provide this region with an additional ground crew to support the Hessequea Municipality and render integrated fire management service during this fire season and offseason. Taking into consideration that these were previously unemployed young people who were recruited and trained in firefighting to help save lives and conserve our environment ” she said.
Working on Fire Western Cape General Manager, Melany Duthie-Surtie added that the new teams will provide the necessary ground crew support to Hessequa Municipality as well as the Garden Route District Municipality in terms of integrated fire management.
“Previously the closest teams to the Western border of the Hessequa region were Swellendam and Riversdale which are far apart from each other. The two teams could not sufficiently service the area between the two towns. The two new teams will bridge that gap,” she said.
She continued and commended the participants who came back with awards of excellence at the training academy and the next step she said will be to integrate them with the existing nearby teams so that they will implement what they learned during training under the supervision of experienced teams.
Working on Fire in the Western Cape has 30 bases that are strategically placed all over the province to be able to render integrated fire management services to various partners.
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Picture: Supplied