The City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue Services sprang into action yesterday when a wildfire broke out in the mountains of Hangberg in Hout Bay on Wednesday, 16 January 2025.
While the rest of the afternoon consisted of multiple choppers water-bombing the slopes, fire engines and other resources arriving on scene and courageous firefighting crews assembling on the ground to prevent the fire from spreading, the mountain blaze was successfully contained just before 6:30pm.
With all the action taking place, it wasn’t long before a curious group of youths from the Hangberg area gathered to watch the firefighters do what they do best, and, according to City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith, the crews happily took them in to show them a thing or two about firefighting.
‘When the need arose to couple additional hose lines, the youth were only too ready to lend a hand towards firefighting efforts,’ said Smith in a Facebook post.
‘Some of the youth gathered behind the firefighters and demanded that they wanted to assist, helping to drag additional hosing across the mountainside as firefighters advanced.’
Smith explained that the firefighters embraced the youths’ curiosity to teach them the art of firefighting and explain some of their reasoning during their missions.
‘Once the fire had been subdued, firefighters needed to dampen down on the area to prevent smouldering vegetation from reigniting. The youth themselves were again only too happy to assist,’ added Smith, who said the youths were then given their own smaller jet to join the crews in dampening the mountainous areas.
‘Firefighters are trained and have specific skills and qualifications. More than this, they are “friends” who are there to assist,’ said Smith.
‘[On Wednesday], that relationship was formed in the community of Hangberg, Hout Bay.’
Take a look:
This, however, is not the first time the relationship between a Fire & Rescue Service and its community is so beautifully demonstrated.
In addition to providing necessary protection against fires and emergencies, Drakenstein Farm Watch (DFW) Fire & Rescue NPC has long formed a bond with various communities in Paarl with a little bit of extra fun.
During days of intense heat when temperatures reach scorching heights (which Paarl is more than familiar with), DFW uses some of its water resources to create splash parties in informal settlements where access to pools and beaches are not always accessible.
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Picture: JP Smith / Facebook
