It's fire with fire as George appoints new commander

GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality has appointed a new divisional commander for Fire and Rescue Service, Johan Brand (53). He assumed his duties on 1 May.

Brand, whose surname in Afrikaans means 'fire', brings 33 years of experience to the municipality's fire brigade.

Brand started his career in the fire and rescue services in January 1990 in Vereeniging in the Vaal Triangle, Gauteng.

He moved up the ranks in municipal fire services in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, holding various positions such as junior firefighter, firefighter, senior firefighter, and leading fire fighter, where he was introduced to the first level of management. In 2001, he ventured into industrial fire services as a fire officer at Columbus Stainless in Middelburg, to expand his knowledge in industrial rescues and fire prevention for 14 years.

In 2014, he also studied further in Fire Technology and achieved his higher diploma with the South African Emergency Services Institute.

One of the highlights of Brand's career is when he had to face the devastating fires of Knysna and George in 2017 and 2018 as the Garden Route District Municipality's Fire and Rescue Services' station commander for mountain veld and bushfires.

"I would like to thank George Municipality and our Heavenly Father for this opportunity, and I hope to contribute positively to the service and share my knowledge and skills of the past 33 years with the next generation of young firefighters," said Brand.

When cooling off from fighting fire blazes and rescue operations, Brand enjoys watching and playing sports. He played rugby and volleyball and achieved provincial colours in volleyball for Mpumalanga in 2002.

Brand affirms a saying that, "behind every successful man there is a standing woman", as he attributes his career success to his wife, Lynette, who has been his "support and inspiration". "We have been blessed with two beautiful children, Bianca and Werner, who have already left the nest and are flying on their own by the grace of the Almighty," he said.