WESTERN CAPE NEWS - In preparation for the summer fire season, more than 600 firefighters within the Western Cape stationed at 27 bases, will undergo the annual Yellow Card Training Camp to refresh their firefighting skills and test their physical and mental fitness.
These firefighters have been deployed across the province to reduce the personal and economic harm caused by unwanted veld and forest fires. Within the Western Cape, the training started on 26 September and will continue until 6 October.
WOF (Working on Fire) acting general manager Ray-yaan Majiet is confident of the firefighters' capabilities. "As we head into what is predicted to be a difficult veld fire season, the training is a good opportunity for our firefighters to be refreshed in their physical and mental abilities to tackle this year's fire season. We are expecting an excellent pass rate from both the South and West sectors. Together with our various stakeholders and partners, we aim to reduce the risk of fires throughout the province, and ensure that our communities remain safe from unwanted fires," he said.
The training includes physical activities such as the 2,4km run in under 12 minutes for men and 14 minutes for women, 40 push-ups and sit-ups in one minute, 7 pull-ups and a team-building exercise where they complete in a 10km route march.
The firefighters are also assessed on fire behaviour knowledge, fire watch-outs, fire line safety principles, as well as fire line equipment and its use.
During the 2017/18 summer fire season, more than a 1 000 firefighters from Working on Fire assisted partners such as CapeNature, the Southern Cape FPA, South African National Parks, the Cape Peninsula FPA and local fire authorities, in suppressing 235 veld and forest fires, limiting the areas burnt to 186 600 hectares.
Aerial support flew over 1 300 flying hours, resulting in an 85% success rate in containing fires in the first hour.
Over its 15-year existence, the Department of Environmental Affairs's Working on Fire programme has won several awards and has grown from 25 teams (850 beneficiaries) in September 2003 to its current force of over
5 000 personnel spread across 200 bases in all the provinces of South Africa.
Article: Lauren Howard
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