The Athlone Stadium will be ablaze this Saturday – but not because of a fire.
Following one of Cape Town’s busiest fire seasons to date, 4 May marks International Firefighters Day and the Mother City will be hosting the South African leg.
Also read: Western Cape boosts wildfire defence budget during intense fire season
This summer has proven to be one of the most challenging, with hot, dry and extremely windy conditions contributing to a 28% increase in vegetation fires compared to the same period during the previous year.
According to the City of Cape Town, the number of overall incidents went up by 15%:
| Oct 2020 – 21 April 2021 | Oct 2021 – 21 April 2022 | Oct 2022 – 21 April 2023 | Oct 2023 – 21 April 2024 | |
| Overall incidents | 15 527 | 17 390 | 17 570 | 20 164 |
| Vegetation fires | 8 271 | 8 649 | 8 217 | 10 507 |
| Informal residential fires | 1 024 | 1 332 | 1 418 | 1 335 |
| Formal residential fires | 825 | 1 042 | 1 061 | 1 004 |
During the summer of 2022/23, City-contracted helicopters logged 68 hours and spotter planes logged 38 hours. Since 1 December 2023, preliminary indications are that the helicopters logged at least 280 hours and spotter planes logged 132 hours.
International Firefighters Day
In light of International Firefighters Day, honouring the efforts and sacrifices of firefighters to save lives and property, the City’s Fire and Rescue Services takes over the Athlone Stadium to host a single free-to-all event of firefighting fun this Saturday.
Come view an impressive array of firefighting and rescue vehicles as well as vehicle rescue demonstrations, spectate the stretch as a Bronto skylift heads off on a rescue mission high up into the clouds or participate in a firefighting drill or two.
Grab a photo opportunity alongside a helicopter or don the breathing apparatus and bunker gear that firefighters Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan used to run the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon and take a photo alongside them (bring along your Two Oceans Marathon medals for extra bragging rights).
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Also read: Firefighters beat previous record in Two Oceans Half Marathon
The arrival of the vehicle procession at 9am kickstarts the International Firefighters Day celebrations and will be followed by a welcoming address by Cape Town’s Chief Fire Officer at 9:30am. Then the festivities begin!
The event will be joined by Fire and Rescue departments from across the country, set to take on a variety of fitness challenges and compete for the title of Toughest Firefighter Alive. There will also be a World Rescue Challenge simulation that will see district teams cutting their way through the wreckage of a motor vehicle accident in a race against time.
Also read: Competition proves that Cape Town has the toughest firefighters alive
Catering to the young and young-at-heart, Blue Ribbon bakeries and Pick n Pay will have an activity area set up for little ones to bounce their way around jumping castles after a morning of rubbing shoulders with Cape Town’s heroes.
In addition to food stalls and many more activities, rumour has it there’ll be some special firefighter entertainment for the adults…
Details:
- Date: Saturday, 4 May 2024
- Time: 9am to 4pm
- Location: Athlone Stadium, c/o Cross Boulevard and Klipfontein Road
- Cost: Free entry
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
