Working on Fire Limpopo’s Fire Safety and Survival Training Camp started on a high note in Sondela Nature Reserve just outside Bela Bela yesterday.
The week long camp is in preparation for the fire season which lasts from June to October when many fires are anticipated. In the training, fire fighters will place their skills and knowledge of battling fires into practice to save lives. Rigorous training based on national and international standards is involved in the transformation of individuals to professional veld and forest fire fighters.
Veld and forest fires are not consistently intense throughout the year and therefore fire fighters do not face a fire season all year round.
This presents WoF with the extremely important task to make sure that both fire fighters and management are mentally and physically ready for any type of fires that may occur during the fire season.
“This training camp is important because it will test and monitor their fitness and preparedness for mass mobilization,” said Mr Sam Maepa, General Manager of WoF Limpopo.
The training camp involves real life simulations of fires and the protocols and actions that should be followed to maximise the safety and wellbeing of people, livestock and vegetation. It features self defence sessions that will sharpen their knowledge of how to act on the fire line, fire safety and survival lectures, burnout competitions and more.
“They also partake in a 36 km route march that will expose them to rough terrain. This is important for their mental and physical preparedness as fire fighters sometimes spend days on end fighting a fire in very rough terrain,” said Mr Maepa.
The camp is also aimed at raising awareness among the fire fighting fraternity and the public so it will have fire fighters and trucks march through Bela Bela on Wednesday next week. The camp has lighter activities in the Mr and Mrs WoF beauty pageant and more that will help fire fighters unwind.
More info available from Hitekani Magwedze, Media and Community Liaison Officer Working on Fire, Limpopo, Cell. 073 379 3220. Email
Fire fighters preparing their tents for the training camp.
Song is a major motivational tool for fire fighters during a training camp.
Pushing hard. Fire fighters during the push-up competitions last night.
The Working on Fire Programme, funded by the South African Government, is one of South Africa’s most successful poverty alleviation, job creation and community upliftment initiatives. Through the programme young men and women are recruited and trained as skilled wildland fire fighters to be deployed throughout the country to reduce the personal, economic and environmental harm caused by unwanted wildfire.
There are currently more than 3000 people deployed at more than 100 WoF bases across South Africa. Limpopo has already increased the number of teams across the province from eleven in 2009/10 fire season, to sixteen in 2010/11 fire season.
WoF is an integral part of the South African Governments’ future planning for the custodianship of South Africa’s natural environment. Speaking in the South African Parliament in April 2011 the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa said “The environmental sector is a major contributor to job creation and the fight against poverty. In the 2011/2012 financial year, through programmes such as: Working on Water, Working on Fire, Working for Wetlands as well as Working for Coasts and People for Parks, we plan to provide almost 5 million person-days of employment. As pivotal as the job creation abilities of these programmes is, it is important that we also emphasize that these programmes have many other positive social and economic benefits.”
In 2005 WoF was awarded a Platinum Award, the highest accolade, by the Impumelelo Innovations Trust that recognizes exceptional achievement by government-initiated projects that are sustainable and can be replicated.
In 2009, the remarkable work done by WoF in reducing the impact of unwanted fires on people and the environment was acknowledged when the programme received the Kamoso Award for Best Environmental Programme.
In March 2010, Working on Fire was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Impumelelo Awards Trust for its KwaMemela Firewise Community project, which has successfully pioneered community-based fire management concepts in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Danny Mafuma, crew leader of the Working on Fire (WoF) firefighter base in Nebo, distributes pamphlets and posters to the Phokoane Tribal council members during a WoF fire awareness campaign in Nebo recently. (Pics: Victor Magwedze)
Sharing firsthand experience. The Phokoane Tribal council attentively paying attention to Tonic Mahlare, a firefighter from the Working on Fire (WoF) Nebo base.
Phokoane Tribal council members left the Working on Fire (WoF) fire awareness campaign having clear understanding of the risks of veld and forest fires and how to deal with them when they occur, all courtesy of the WoF firefighters.
Limpopo’s Working on Fire fire fighters have come out magnificently set for the fire season after an unforgiving week of training in Sondela Nature Reserve outside Bela Bela.
The 2012 Fire Safety and Survival Camp was a daunting contender, but fire fighters proved to be equal to the challenge. They showed bravery as they ran through towering flames of simulated veld fires while watching for the safety and wellbeing of their fellow colleagues. This exercise provided training officials with a brief window that showed whether fire fighters could be depended on to keep their heads up and straight during a nerve wrecking situation.
Discipline is an integral part of the fire fighting service, and because of this, it was tested rigorously. They took part in the 2.4 km run in their Personal Protection Equipment PPE, which includes a helmet with visor, fire beater and boots. “Fire fighters are required to complete this exercise in a set time which is 12 minutes for men and 14 minutes for women to prove their fitness in case they need to run for their safety or to save people,” said Mr Hitekani Magwedze, Media and Community Liaison officer for Limpopo.
The challenge that topped them all off though, was the dreaded 36 km Route March with knapsacks, backpacks and sleeping bags on their backs in a route of sand under the Limpopo sun. The fifteen teams left the base after 9am and the last team returning just after 7 pm with zero dehydrations or serious injuries but sore feet and exhaustion to prove the hardship of the trial.
The exercise was aimed at exposing them to rough terrain. “The Route March was extremely hard because aside from the things they were carrying and the length of the march, the route had a lot of sand which can take a lot out of your system.
They displayed a lot of discipline,” said the Grounds Operations Manager Mr Mortas Khambule.
Although fire fighters are generally taken through training before they are qualified fire fighters, the camp had a number of new recruits and new teams that had never been exposed to the goings of a camp like this. “We also had crew leaders who were still trying to find their feet. But we are impressed because there were less injuries, credit must be given for their discipline,” said Khambule, adding that looking at the week past, they can guarantee the readiness of Limpopo’s fire fighters.
A fire in the Soekmekaar area burnt through an estimated 10 000 hectares over the weekend, before two Limpopo Working on Fire teams could contain it. Neither lives nor livestock were lost during the blaze.
The fire started on Friday 10:00am and was contained on Saturday morning at around 03:00am.
Working on Fire attended to another seven fires that were contained within hours. We attended to four plantation fires - three in the Tzaneen area and another in the Soekmekaar area. The other fires were vegetation fires in Zebediela area, the Ga Maja area and in the Hasivona area in Tzaneen.
According to provincial dispatch and coordination manage, Alwyn Kruger, these fires were propelled by the high winds caused by the pre frontal system ahead of the cold front.
The cause of the fires are unknown, but a majority of fires are started because of ignorance and human negligence.
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FIREFIGHTER TRAINING CAMP STARTS
Working on Fire Limpopo’s Fire Safety and Survival Training Camp started on a high note in Sondela Nature Reserve just outside Bela Bela yesterday.
The week long camp is in preparation for the fire season which lasts from June to October when many fires are anticipated. In the training, fire fighters will place their skills and knowledge of battling fires into practice to save lives. Rigorous training based on national and international standards is involved in the transformation of individuals to professional veld and forest fire fighters.
Veld and forest fires are not consistently intense throughout the year and therefore fire fighters do not face a fire season all year round.
This presents WoF with the extremely important task to make sure that both fire fighters and management are mentally and physically ready for any type of fires that may occur during the fire season.
“This training camp is important because it will test and monitor their fitness and preparedness for mass mobilization,” said Mr Sam Maepa, General Manager of WoF Limpopo.
The training camp involves real life simulations of fires and the protocols and actions that should be followed to maximise the safety and wellbeing of people, livestock and vegetation. It features self defence sessions that will sharpen their knowledge of how to act on the fire line, fire safety and survival lectures, burnout competitions and more.
“They also partake in a 36 km route march that will expose them to rough terrain. This is important for their mental and physical preparedness as fire fighters sometimes spend days on end fighting a fire in very rough terrain,” said Mr Maepa.
The camp is also aimed at raising awareness among the fire fighting fraternity and the public so it will have fire fighters and trucks march through Bela Bela on Wednesday next week. The camp has lighter activities in the Mr and Mrs WoF beauty pageant and more that will help fire fighters unwind.
More info available from Hitekani Magwedze, Media and Community Liaison Officer Working on Fire, Limpopo, Cell. 073 379 3220. Email
Fire fighters preparing their tents for the training camp.
Song is a major motivational tool for fire fighters during a training camp.
Pushing hard. Fire fighters during the push-up competitions last night.
*******
Nico
WORKING ON FIRE - FIGHTING FIRE, FIGHTING POVERTY
There are currently more than 3000 people deployed at more than 100 WoF bases across South Africa. Limpopo has already increased the number of teams across the province from eleven in 2009/10 fire season, to sixteen in 2010/11 fire season.
WoF is an integral part of the South African Governments’ future planning for the custodianship of South Africa’s natural environment. Speaking in the South African Parliament in April 2011 the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa said “The environmental sector is a major contributor to job creation and the fight against poverty. In the 2011/2012 financial year, through programmes such as: Working on Water, Working on Fire, Working for Wetlands as well as Working for Coasts and People for Parks, we plan to provide almost 5 million person-days of employment. As pivotal as the job creation abilities of these programmes is, it is important that we also emphasize that these programmes have many other positive social and economic benefits.”
In 2005 WoF was awarded a Platinum Award, the highest accolade, by the Impumelelo Innovations Trust that recognizes exceptional achievement by government-initiated projects that are sustainable and can be replicated.
In 2009, the remarkable work done by WoF in reducing the impact of unwanted fires on people and the environment was acknowledged when the programme received the Kamoso Award for Best Environmental Programme.
In March 2010, Working on Fire was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Impumelelo Awards Trust for its KwaMemela Firewise Community project, which has successfully pioneered community-based fire management concepts in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
*******
Nico
WORKING ON FIRE IN RURAL AREAS
Danny Mafuma, crew leader of the Working on Fire (WoF) firefighter base in Nebo, distributes pamphlets and posters to the Phokoane Tribal council members during a WoF fire awareness campaign in Nebo recently. (Pics: Victor Magwedze)
Sharing firsthand experience. The Phokoane Tribal council attentively paying attention to Tonic Mahlare, a firefighter from the Working on Fire (WoF) Nebo base.
Phokoane Tribal council members left the Working on Fire (WoF) fire awareness campaign having clear understanding of the risks of veld and forest fires and how to deal with them when they occur, all courtesy of the WoF firefighters.
*******
Nico
FIRE FIGHTERS COME OUT STRONG FROM TRAINING
Limpopo’s Working on Fire fire fighters have come out magnificently set for the fire season after an unforgiving week of training in Sondela Nature Reserve outside Bela Bela.
The 2012 Fire Safety and Survival Camp was a daunting contender, but fire fighters proved to be equal to the challenge. They showed bravery as they ran through towering flames of simulated veld fires while watching for the safety and wellbeing of their fellow colleagues. This exercise provided training officials with a brief window that showed whether fire fighters could be depended on to keep their heads up and straight during a nerve wrecking situation.
Discipline is an integral part of the fire fighting service, and because of this, it was tested rigorously. They took part in the 2.4 km run in their Personal Protection Equipment PPE, which includes a helmet with visor, fire beater and boots. “Fire fighters are required to complete this exercise in a set time which is 12 minutes for men and 14 minutes for women to prove their fitness in case they need to run for their safety or to save people,” said Mr Hitekani Magwedze, Media and Community Liaison officer for Limpopo.
The challenge that topped them all off though, was the dreaded 36 km Route March with knapsacks, backpacks and sleeping bags on their backs in a route of sand under the Limpopo sun. The fifteen teams left the base after 9am and the last team returning just after 7 pm with zero dehydrations or serious injuries but sore feet and exhaustion to prove the hardship of the trial.
The exercise was aimed at exposing them to rough terrain. “The Route March was extremely hard because aside from the things they were carrying and the length of the march, the route had a lot of sand which can take a lot out of your system.
They displayed a lot of discipline,” said the Grounds Operations Manager Mr Mortas Khambule.
Although fire fighters are generally taken through training before they are qualified fire fighters, the camp had a number of new recruits and new teams that had never been exposed to the goings of a camp like this. “We also had crew leaders who were still trying to find their feet. But we are impressed because there were less injuries, credit must be given for their discipline,” said Khambule, adding that looking at the week past, they can guarantee the readiness of Limpopo’s fire fighters.
*******
Nico
FIRES KEEP WORKING-ON-FIRE BUSY
A fire in the Soekmekaar area burnt through an estimated 10 000 hectares over the weekend, before two Limpopo Working on Fire teams could contain it. Neither lives nor livestock were lost during the blaze.
The fire started on Friday 10:00am and was contained on Saturday morning at around 03:00am.
Working on Fire attended to another seven fires that were contained within hours. We attended to four plantation fires - three in the Tzaneen area and another in the Soekmekaar area. The other fires were vegetation fires in Zebediela area, the Ga Maja area and in the Hasivona area in Tzaneen.
According to provincial dispatch and coordination manage, Alwyn Kruger, these fires were propelled by the high winds caused by the pre frontal system ahead of the cold front.
The cause of the fires are unknown, but a majority of fires are started because of ignorance and human negligence.
*******
Nico