Fire and Rescue International Vol 3 No 6 by Fire and Rescue International

Strap

Integrated fire, rescue, EMS and incident command technology

Volume 3 No 6

Contents 2

Comment

Competition 4 FRI Images Cover profile 5 Major South Peninsula fires unify responders and city Advertorial 16 The Cape fire storm – who are the real fire fighting heroes – by Linton Rensburg,

News 18 Best-practice disaster management system being adopted throughout SA – by Evelyn John Holtzhausen 20

Dräger opens new office building

22 Prescribed burn at Tygerberg Nature Reserve a success 24 Major fires at Overstrand – by chief fire officer Lester Smith

Technology 58 European cars will automatically call emergency services after a crash

Mines Rescue Services 59 Mines Rescue Services celebrates 90 years of service Case study: Open ended firebreaks 63 Open ended firebreaks – a safer new technology for the future – by Dr Winston and Lynne Trollope

Heritage 65 History of the bagpipes in the fire service What’s on? 66 Fire, disaster and rescue related events across the globe

Poem 68 ‘Why fire fighters are not heroes’ – by Di Brown

Obituaries 26 Hendrik Willem ‘Bees’ Marais 28

Corrie Craukamp – by Cindy Kleinhans

29 Nazeem Davies – by Karel Willemse Forcible entry 30 Forcible entry using the Halligan tool – by Colin Deiner

Incident command 35 Typing of resources – by Reinard Geldenhuys

Fire service 39 Cape Winelands District Municipality Fire Service 45 The accidental fire chief, an exceptional leader and teacher

Emergency medical service 46 The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS)

Rescue roundup 50 Suction entrapment in swimming pools: a case study – by Julius Fleischman and Neville van Rensburg Personal protective equipment 52 Personal protective equipment (PPE) standards Wildfire management 54 Vulnerability to wildfires – by Malcolm Procter Leadership 57 Integrity in the fire house – by Wayne Bailey Volume 3 | No 6

39 FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 3

Comment Editor Lee Raath-Brownie lee@fireandrescue.co Cell 082 371 0190 Journalist edit@fireandrescue.co Cell 071 641 3884 Advertising advertising@fireandrescue.co Cell 079 107 3967 Design and layout Marc Raath marc@fireandrescue.co Digital newsletter Pierre du Plessis

The 30th edition of Fire and Rescue International (FRI) brings our readers an interesting line-up of incidents, news, technology and practical advice. Enjoy! Cover profile Our front cover features the World Rescue Organisation (WRO) The recent South Peninsula wildfires in the Western Cape received much media attention. We bring you an overview of the incident and look at the impact the incident command (IC) system had on the management of the incident. With some of the governing national Acts contravening each other, this incident proved that a wellmanaged and implemented IC system can make all the difference.

Lee Raath-Brownie

News section The multiple fires, many occurring concurrently in the Western Cape Province, dominates this month’s news section and we endeavour to provide readers with an insight into these incidents. Other news includes the roll-out of the incident command system in the Western Cape Province and we hope that all provinces will see the benefit of this important incident management tool.

Finance Noddie Knibbs accounts@fireandrescue.co

Forcible entry Forcible entry using the Halligan tool is Colin Deiner’s topic of discussion this month. Although a very basic piece of equipment, the Halligan tool is probably the most used tool on the truck and is always ready. Deiner describes its history, design, uses and elaborates on the various methods of forcible entry and exit.

Circulation Vicki Jacob subs@fireandrescue.co

Incident command The typing of resources forms the basis of Reinard Geldenhuys’ article on incident command. Geldenhuys provides user-friendly tabled information for ease of reference.

Secretary Vicki Jacob pa@fireandrescue.co Administration Mirriam Moroane Contributions USA Wayne Bailey Africa Colin Deiner Ian Schnetler Philip Prins Clinton Dilgee Pierre Gallagher Reinard Geldenhuys Lester Smith Malcolm Procter Neville van Rensburg Julius Fleischman Karel Willemse Cindy Kleinhans Evelyn Holtzhausen Linton Rensburg Dr Winston Trollope Lynne Trollope Di Brown Publisher Lee Raath-Brownie FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL Tel 011 452 3135/6 Fax 086 671 6920 Box 8299 Greenstone 1616 www.fireandrescue.co Subscriptions 12 editions per annum South Africa R285 per annum incl VAT 4 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Fire service We visited Cape Winelands District Municipality Fire Service in Stellenbosch and profile this well-organised and well-trained service that specialises in wildfire fighting. We overview its statuary functions, history, strategic objectives, training, challenges, risk profile and resources. We also look at its operations and chief fire officer Danie Wilds provides an overview of the challenges of wildfire fighting. As is customarily, we profile CFO Wilds, his career history and what makes him tick. Emergency medical service The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) provides an essential air ambulance service. We provide an in depth profile of this innovative non-profit organisation. Rescue roundup A case study on a recent entrapment in a swimming pool forms the basis of Julius Fleischman and Neville van Rensburg’s new column on rescue issues. Specialists in their field, they provide a platform for discussion on all rescue scenarios. Personal protective equipment We look at the issues pertaining personal protective equipment (PPE) and the importance of matching PPE to the discipline. Protection is of the utmost importance when lives are at stake. Wildfire management Vulnerability to wildfires is Malcolm Procter’s topic of discussion this month and unpacks the issues around prescribed burns and the impact on the rural communities.. Leadership Wayne Bailey looks at integrity in the fire house in his monthly column on leadership and provides a thought-full scenario, driving home a strong message. Mines Rescue Services Celebrating 90 years of service, the Mines Rescue Services has provided the mining industry with an effective emergency service through the training of volunteer brigadesmen and acquisition of specialised rescue equipment. We trust you will find this edition informative and enjoy reading it. Fire and Rescue International is your magazine. Read it, use it and share it! Lee Raath-Brownie Publisher

Non-subscribers: R35 incl VAT per issue

International (airmail) R680 per annum

Southern Africa (airmail) R480 per annum

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StrapImages

This month’s FRI images winner! Congratulations to David Morris for his photograph ‘Into the night’ taken with a Canon 70D with a Canon 24-105 F4L lens, ISO-50, a shutter speed of 1/90 of a second, ISO 100 and an aperture 4 F-stop with a 45mm focal length.

Photo description: Working on Fire’s crew change before heading into the burning forest in the foreground.

David Morris wins this month’s prize money of R 2 000!

Well done!

Submit your rescue, fire or EMS photo and win R2 000! Fire and Rescue International’s (FRI) monthly photographic competition is open to all its readers and offers you the opportunity of submitting your digital images of fires, fire fighters, disasters, emergencies and rescues.

The rules are simple: • • • • • • • •

All photographs submitted must be in jpeg format and not bigger than 4 megabytes. Photographs must be in high resolution (minimum 1500 pixels on the longest edge @ 300dpi) for publishing purposes Allowed: cropping, curves, levels, colour saturation, contrast, brightness, sharpening but the faithful representation of a natural form, behaviour or phenomenon must be maintained. Not allowed: cloning, merging/photo stitching, layering of two photos into one final frame, special effects digital filters. Fire and Rescue International (FRI) reserves the right to publish (printed or digitally) submitted photographs with acknowledgement to the photographer. Winners will be chosen on the merit of their photograph. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into afterwards. Brief description should accompany photo.

6 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Entries must include:

Name of photographer Contact details (not for publishing) Email: (not for publishing) Name of photograph Brief description of photograph including type of fire Camera, lens and settings used

All entries must be emailed to: lee@fireandrescue.co

>>ENTER NOW! Volume 3 | No 6

Cover profile

Major South Peninsula fires

Photo: Nathan Fenner

unify responders and city

The recent fires in Cape Town’s South Peninsula unified responding agencies

he recent fires in Cape Town’s South Peninsula, although destructive, generated a unique platform, not only uniting the public, politicians and cultures but also the responding agencies. The main fire, which started on the Saturday evening, 28 February 2015, above Boyes Drive in Muizenberg, initially spread from above Boyes Drive to Silverhurst Estate, Silvermine Naval Headquarters, Table Mountain

National Park (TMNP) Silvermine tented camp area, Noordhoek, Chapmans Peak, Hout Bay and later on to Constantiaberg, Tokai and Constantia areas of the South Peninsula, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Station commander Ronald Jacobs at Lakeside Fire Station received the original call and responded to the incident. Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) SANParks fire management

received the call at approximately 21h45 on 28 February and responded with multiple crews from the TMNP Newlands Fire Base. The entire area was covered in heavy mist and took four hours to eventually locate the fire after exhausting all available accesses to the largely inaccessible area. The head and left flank of the fire was largely contained by Sunday afternoon. Unpredicted weather changes occurred rendering the maintained fire lines extremely volatile. “The Cape Point fire was started due to a lightning strike on 4 March 2015 and burned approximately 985 hectares,” said Philip Prins, fire manager, SANParks Table Mountain National Park. “On 7 March 2015, another fire ignited at Scarborough on private property which burned approximately 3,3ha,” added Pierre Gallagher, general manager, Cape Peninsula Fire Protection Association (CPFPA).

Boyes Drive incident Volume 3 | No 6

“The fires were fuelled by very strong winds and fire fighting efforts were further hampered by extreme temperatures at 43 degrees Celsius,” said Clinton Dilgee, senior section ranger: fire management at SANParks Table Mountain National Park. FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 7

Cover profile “Approximately 6 000 hectares of vegetation on TMNP land was affected. In total, four residential homes were destroyed and 10 others partially affected. Two homes in Zwaanswyk, one in Noordhoek and one in Constantia were destroyed. In addition, an exclusive hotel in Hout Bay was destroyed, where one fire officer, divisional commander Frank Forbay, was seriously injured and is still recovering from burns to his hands and face due to a cylinder that exploded,” reported City of Cape Town’s chief fire officer (CFO), Ian Schnetler. In our interview with SANParks and the Cape Peninsula Fire Protection Association, Philip Prins, Pierre Gallagher and Clinton Dilgee explained that the Table Mountain National Park consists of more than 28 000 hectares of which only 7 000 hectares were fenced off. “The rest is open access,” said Prins. “We had about 120 fire incidents in the park this fire season,” added Prins. “We fight fires aggressively, especially in young veld as per our biodiversity mandate governed by the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No 57 of 2003). Dilgee added that in the case of such a major wildfire, the fire dynamics combined with the prevailing weather must dictate the fire fighting attack strategy. “This is of the utmost importance,” added Prins. “We have many years of

experience in fynbos and wildfires and found that fire dynamics in fynbos fires differs from that of eg grassland fires. Fynbos reignites quickly when left smouldering.” “There was a big difference between these fires,” said Dilgee. “The Muizenberg fire had an 11km fire line. The fire stood up and ran. The winds would change direction fairly often which ruled out a back burn. The wind speed would be between 70 and 80km/h and at times even up to 100km/h. Cloud cover also hampered aerial attack. In some cases the fire would stop itself at the well-established circum-peninsula firebreak network but some firebreaks efficacy was affected by adjacent alien vegetation stands and the gale force winds. With a 97 percent humidity, this fire burned like the devil was behind it,” admitted Dilgee. Gallagher confirmed that all landowners were kept informed at all times. Landowners were instructed to keep their staff ready and to leave their gates open, providing easy access for fire crews. The CPFPA managers also assisted Working on Fire crews from up north by instructing on the dynamics of fire in fynbos vegetation. “Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) spent a total of 3 912 hours on the South Peninsula fires with a high of 87 members on 2 March 2015,” stated

Incident command was set up at Lakeside Fire Station 8 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Patrick Ryan, VWS vice chairman and marketing director. Mandates In our interviews with the two major responding agencies ie SANParks Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue, it was evident that each agency’s mandate differs from the others. SANParks TMNP’s mandate is to ensure an ecological balance within its areas and fire forms part of its management tool. SANParks’ mandate also includes the implementation of the whole spectrum of integrated fire management while the CoCT Fire and Rescue Services only concentrates on fire suppression. The difference in mandate is also reflected in the difference in legislation applicable to the two organisations. While SANParks is functioning under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (57 of 2003) it also has to comply with the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (101 of 1998). CoCT Fire and Rescue Service’s mandate is the suppression of fires in its operational area and it is governed by the Fire Brigade Services Act (99 of 1987). Multi-agency response The fires, which burned from 28 February to 12 March 2015 and were classified as a type 2 incident, necessitated a multi-agency response, which included several volunteer agencies. Members of the community also assisted with food donations and distribution. The agencies involved included: • City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service • Table Mountain National Park (Primarily the responsible agency as the fire occurred almost entirely on their land) • Working on Fire (assisting Table Mountain National Park) • Cape Peninsula Fire Protection Association (CPFPA) • Environmental Resource Management (Bio-diversity) from the City • Nature Conservation Corporation (NCC) Environmental Services • West Coast District Municipality • Eden District Municipality Volume 3 | No 6

Cover profile The initial IC team was: I Schnetler - Incident commander/ liaison G Cilliers/S Martin - Deputy incident commander/s Barry Alers - Operations chief Ettienne Van Bergen - Planning Mark Bosch - Logistics Willie Olivier - Aerial operations I Smart - Safety officer Theo Layne - Media liaison officer Timothy Ackerman - Finance Walter Petersen - Representative in the DOC at the DRM Centre at Goodwood IC type 2 remained on site from 2 to 6 March 2015, after which it was scaled down to a type 3 and 4. SANParks TMNP responding • Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Fire Service • Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) • Enviro Wildfire Services • City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management • South African National Defence Force • Traffic Services • Metro Police Services • Law Enforcement Services • Emergency Medical Services • City of Cape Town Technical Services • Cape Pine Incident command “A disaster operation centre (DOC) (regional command) was set up at Goodwood and a forward command post was set up at Lakeside Fire Station,” added CFO Schnetler. “The incident command (IC) team was activated and managed the incident from the Lakeside Fire Station. Aerial operations used Newlands Fire Base, Table Mountain National Park. All fire fighting, emergency services, law enforcement and support agencies were activated and involved.” “The duration of the fire/s in and around Muizenberg occurred from 28 February and ended around 12 March 2015,” said Schnetler. “On 1 March the fire spread beyond control of the attending resources. Various disciplines were involved for longer periods. Incident 10 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

command type 2 was handed over to type 3 at Lakeside on Friday, 6 March 2015.” The divisional commander on call, Brent Murtagh, was the original incident commander (IC) but as the incident escalated, CFO Ian Schnetler became IC from Monday, 2 March 2015 and implemented a full-scale type 2 incident command system. “The IC was originally established at the foot of Ou Kaapse weg near the Silvermine headquarters. As the incident escalated, the IC was set up at Lakeside Fire Station. Reasoning behind this was that it was ideally situated, a large section of the fire could be observed, facilities were available to set up incident command to run efficiently. Electricity, water and the size of the yard of the fire station were made it the ideal command post. It was also easily accessible for resources to report to and depart from,” said Schnetler. “The command team could be equated to an incident command type 2 as it had all the relevant IC positions deployed ie incident commander, deputy incident commander, planning chief, safety officer, operations chief and divisions, logistics chief, situation unit leader, resource unit leader, liaison officer as well as financial officer.”

“In terms of the overall position, this was essentially a fire on SANParks’ land. However, the overall responsibility for fires within the city boundaries rests with the City and its fire and rescue service. In terms of the threat to the urban edge, on a number of days during the fire, the damage to property had to be averted and as such, the City took command of the incident in conjunction with the TMNP. In truth, there was a split in the command structures as a representative from TMNP was not always in the command post, nor at the DOC. This was essentially the result of lack of TMNP staff to provide such representation at the incident command post.” Gallagher was co-incident commander on some occasions but had to retract to Newlands base due to staff deficiencies. The TMNP Fire Base at Newlands essentially became the aerial command post, at which communications with the incident command post was established via landline, radio and electronic media. “There is still a lot to learn regarding unified command,” said Prins. “As a landowner, we find the incident command system very beneficial. It levels the playing field as far as separate ‘kingdoms’ are concerned. Due to the location of the WoF dispatch centre at the Newlands Fire Base, which was essentially responsible for the dispatching of all aerial resources and ground crews, Volume 3 | No 6

Cover profile

The fire fighters endured long hours in extreme temperatures except for the CoCT Fire and Rescue Services, it can be questioned whether the location of the IC centre at Lakeside was the right decision,” Prins added. When asked what his biggest challenge was as incident commander, Chief Schnetler said, “Staying awake. No, seriously; ensuring that the team was well informed of the goals and ensuring that each operational period addressed the goals of the plan. Also ensuring that each operational period minimised the threat to property and that fire fighters were safe at all times.”

12 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

The biggest success as IC, said Schnetler, was that no human lives and those of any fire fighters involved were lost as a result of this fire. “The one life that was unfortunately lost was that of a pilot who was working at the Cape Point fire and was not as a result of any incorrect procedure or deployment or lack of training. Very few injuries of a serious nature occurred. The IC team I was privileged to command were already experienced and did their individual functions well as a result of their training.” Resources The extent of the fires and the prevailing weather conditions

necessitated a multi-prong response, which included an average of 200 fire fighters per 24hour shift from the City of Cape Town including operations section chiefs comprising one IC team, numerous conventional pump crews, one support team, one safety team and six seasonal Hot Shot crews consisting of 20 fire fighters per crew. On any specific day Table Mountain National Park had approximately 200 fire fighters under its command. These included crews from the , Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), Working on Fire, Cape Peninsula

Volume 3 | No 6

Cover profile Fire Protection Association, Enviro Wildfire Services and the CoCT Biodiversity Branch.

Challenges “The biggest challenge regarding resources for City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service,” said CFO Schnetler, “was to ensure that the rest of the City still had adequate fire cover for any other emergency that may have occurred. As it was, the day of the fire starting, CoCT were already in their second day of assisting Overstrand Fire and Rescue with six Pumpers and two water tankers, which had to be withdrawn. At the same time on the Sunday, a planned implosion of the Tulip Hotel occurred in the central business district (CBD) at which the CoCT had technical rescue and conventional resources deployed. The major incident command vehicle was at this scene. Coupled to this, nine pumpers were in attendance at a wildfire in the Klipheuwel area far to the North of the Muizenberg fire scene.” “All this had to be coordinated and resources deployed accordingly, which was well managed by the central fire command and control centre at Goodwood, as well as the initial establishment of the joint operations centre (JOC) at Goodwood.”

Volume 3 | No 6

Photo: John Murray

City of Cape Town (CoCT) responded with 28 front line pumpers, 14 water tankers, six skid units and six rescue vehicles. Table Mountain National Park, responded with their specialised all-terrain vehicles attending to fires in inaccessible areas while the City attended to the integrity of the urban edge.

Volunteer Wildfire Services responding “As it is, in addition to managing the Muizenberg fire, the CoCT Fire and Rescue dealt with 682 other fires and incidents for the week,” added CFO Schnetler. “One other major challenge, which is nearly always present in Cape Town, was the alternating and fluctuating weather conditions; on the Tuesday, 3 March 2015, the City experienced one of the hottest days on record. The rain, which arrived on the Wednesday, did little to assist overall fire fighting operations.” Other challenges that needed to be dealt with were breakdowns of some appliances, which required that vehicles that were in for servicing or minor repairs, had to be recalled to service provided they were still in compliance with safety standards. The challenges in terms of human resources was to ensure crews were

rotated and kept fresh during the incident, as well as ensuring staff did not over-extend themselves in terms of hours spent at the incident. The City did have access to two thirds of its staff complement that were off duty and many of them heeded the call to come in off their day leaves to assist. The City Fire and Rescue works on a 24-hour shift system and therefore rotation of crews was relatively smooth. Refreshments for all crews were plentiful due to the overwhelming response from the communities to assist fire fighting operations. A local feeding station was set up at the incident command post. “Many staff members were also willing to go the extra mile to ensure that operations ran smoothly. The IC team must be commended for their endurance in this respect as they

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 13

Strap profile Cover

Photo: Nathan Fenner

“In addition, the CoCT has evolved from a conventional urban fire and rescue organisation, to one which is geared to manage all aspects of fire fighting and other emergencies. We have done this through adaptation and innovation to develop vehicles and equipment to better deal with (especially) wildfires as well as structural fires. Previous conventional fire engines and water tankers have been adapted and modified to become more functional units.” “If you go back in history a couple of years, mentioning a skid unit as a fire fighting tool to previous city fire chiefs, would have gotten you a very unwelcome response!”

Fire fighters in Houtbay spent many hours ensuring operations ran well and that the fire was wellmanaged throughout the duration of the event,” said Schnetler. The media The South Peninsula fires received extensive media coverage in all media platforms including print, radio, television and quite obviously, social media. The fires triggered a frenzy of media coverage both local and international. “In the initial stages, when the fire, from the public’s point of view, seemed out of control, there was a lot of media attention given to the fires. Social media played a big part in providing ‘eye-witness’ accounts, which were sometimes very inaccurate and contributed to resources being deployed to areas that ‘appeared’ dangerous. Once incident command was fully in place, regular and streamlined media accounts were provided,” reported CFO Schnetler.

Preparedness When asked whether CoCT Fire and Rescue was prepared for such an incident, CFO Schnetler said, “Yes, CoCT was prepared for this event. Our training in the fire and rescue service is of a high standard and events such as these are prepared for. The fact that ICS has been continued in the service and many hours of training in ICS have occurred resulted in the CoCT being able to implement ICS and manage the incident far better than may have been the case in the 2000 fires (where the City was not a single entity yet).” “It was a good opportunity to test our level of preparedness and I believe we achieved positive results.”

This incident can also be used as a case study to prepare CoCT for similar future incidents. Many positives resulted from the incident as well as lessons learned in that although it was a major fire incident, it was much better managed and coordinated than the 2000 fires, which occurred across the same area. When asked whether CoCT would alter training practices post this event, CFO Schnetler answered, “In some areas only, specifically in ensuring ICS is rolled out across the service and other agencies. Major events such as these would be quite easily managed if everyone practices ICS and implements the system.

There were some overlaps of media provided by the City, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and the other responding agencies and this, at times, were not coordinated. SANParks and WoF Communications staff issued joint press statements as the fire was primarily on SANParks property; regular and accurate updates kept the public and landowners informed. 14 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Loss to property kept to a minimum Volume 3 | No 6

2015

Military and civilian collaboration in African disaster response and recovery missions

6 – 7 July 2015 Pretoria | South Africa

Natural, man-made and technological disasters are an ever present threat. Disaster Management Africa (DMA) will be co-located with Land Forces Africa and provide a separate conference track dedicated to Disaster Management, specifically regarding military and civil collaboration in African response and recovery missions. With the support of our endorsing partner - the South African Military Health Service – DMA will feature case studies about SANDF Disaster Relief operations, the successes and challenges relating to cross border disaster relief, interoperability, multinational and multiagency operations and PPPs. The conference offers a unique learning experience, networking prospects, access to new vendors and suppliers and the opportunity to present yourself as an expert in your field.

Expert speakers on the topic of disaster management include:

Visit the exhibition

•

Mr Ken Terry, National Disaster Management Centre, Republic of South Africa

•

Mr Colin Deiner, Chief Director: Disaster Management and Fire/Rescue Services Western Cape Government

•

Mr Narciso Rosa-Berlanga, Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit, UNOCHA, Southern Africa

•

Colonel Theo Ligthelm, South African Military Health Service, Republic of South Africa

•

Brigadier Leonie Ras, Forensic Identification, South African Police Service & Chairman Interpol Victim Identification Workgroup, Republic of South Africa

•

Lt Col Rob Bedford, Institute for Aviation Medicine

•

Lt Colonel Danie Wehl, South African Military Health Service

Disaster Management Africa also forms part of the Land Forces Africa exhibition where you can view and test equipment such as: Hazmat, detection systems, medical services, field medical facilities, hospital equipment and decontamination units See the latest products and technologies, network with other visitors, talk to product experts and technical staff and source new suppliers and business partners. Exhibition entrance is free – preregistration at www.landforcesafrica is required. Right of admission reserved

SEATS FOR THE CONFERENCE ARE LIMITED AND AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. For more information or to register, contact Carly Ballan on +27 21 700 3540 or Stephan Herman on +27 21 700 3598. Endorsed by:

www.landforcesafrica.com/dmac for more information

Strap profile Cover in the Jonkershoek area in the Cape Winelands, which burned for approximately two weeks.”

The rugby match at Newlands were also used to honour fire fighters Lessons learned “Communications are important, both with your staff, other agencies as well as with the media. Deal with the media as soon as possible and correct the misinformation that is distributed as soon as possible; it saves many headaches and queries,” acknowledged Schnetler. Advice to fellow CFOs “Stay focussed on the task at hand, ensure your staff is well trained in all

aspects of their profession, look after their well-being at incidents of this magnitude (and in general) and stay alert to changing conditions. And furthermore, training, training and retraining is the only way to go.” “Remember that virtually only 20 percent of a fire fighter’s career, including that of current chiefs who have made it through the ranks, are spent at fire and other emergency situations. What are you and the staff doing with the other 80 percent of your time???

Photo: Mike Hutchings

“It should all be geared towards ensuring that when the big one comes along, you can manage it with ease and thereby ensure your community is safe from fire and other related dangers,” concluded Schnetler.

Aerial support during the fires 16 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Colin Deiner, chief director: Disaster Management and Fire/ Rescue Services, Western Cape Government said, “I feel that the period February to March 2015 must be seen in greater context than only the fires in the Peninsula. In fact, while the fires were raging in the Peninsula, Western Cape fire services were dealing with 18 other fires in the province. The biggest of these was at Paardebont near Oudtshoorn. Clearly the Peninsula fires had a larger life and property risk and therefore vast resources were deployed there. We also had a major fire soon thereafter

“I am of the opinion that the fires were managed very successfully due to a number of factors. Firstly, the implementation of the provincial incident command system ensured a coordinated approach to the fires. The establishment of incident command posts at Lakeside Fire Station (for the Peninsula fires) and Jonkershoek Cape Nature offices (for the Jonkershoek fires) ensured optimal use of resources, good communication and integrated planning and this was, for me, the biggest factor in the success of these fire fighting operations. The central coordination of air resources from the Provincial Fire Services unit ensured that all 24 contracted aircraft could be moved into areas where they were needed the most and maintenance and crew issues could be addressed immediately. I would like to mention the names of Etienne du Toit and Francois Weyers specifically, who did sterling job in responding to requests under extremely stressful circumstances.” “The second major contributing factor was the high volume of air support that was available. Since 2010, the provincial Government has steadily increased the number of aircraft and together with the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), we were able to utilise approximately 30 aircraft over this period. The introduction of the Airtractor AT802 fixed-wing bomber made a massive difference and with support from the National Disaster Management Centre and the South African Air Force, we were able to utilise the Ysterplaat Air Force Base for operations at Cape Point,” added Deiner. “Finally, I believe that the hours of planning and preparation done by the Western Cape Fire Working Group under the chairmanship of Reinard Geldenhuys, has ensured that all services involved in fighting wildland fires in the province are on board and play an active role,” concluded Deiner. Volume 3 | No 6

Advertorial

The Cape fire storm – who are the real fire fighting heroes By Linton Rensburg, Working on Fire The national Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire programme was instrumental in fighting these fires and ultimately their ground teams who were active and often unseen high up the mountains and their aerial support, made out a large part of the operations. Working on Fire is funded by the national Department of Environmental Affairs’ and was launched in September 2003 and the programme is one of the leading government job-creation and poverty alleviation programme which recruits and trains young people into becoming professional veld and forest fire fighters.

he recent devastating fires that occurred in South Africa’s South Peninsula in Cape Town, Betty’s Bay and Hawston in Hermanus, Saron near Tulbagh and on the West Coast, left a mental imprint on most South Africans. The Muizenberg and Cape Point fires in particular had the whole country glued to their television sets and mobile devices for instant Twitter and Facebook updates, which took reporting on fires to new heights. The fires started in the early hours of Sunday morning, 1 March 2015, on the Muizenberg Mountains and spread significantly to all vegetation of the Silvermine section of Table Mountain National Park, which was badly burnt and caused damage to the infrastructure including office buildings, campsites and board walks. Furthermore, the Tokai Plantation was completely burnt out and the fire also caused damage to some properties. The images of runaway fires, helicopter and fixed wing water bomber drops, 18 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

fire fighters working tirelessly on the ground and the generosity of the people of Cape Town to provide much needed donations such as food and water captured the imagination of the entire country. A total of 500 fire fighters from the Working on Fire programme worked on these fires at any given time from Sunday, 1 March to Wednesday, 11 March 2015. These young men and women worked tirelessly and often outside of the public eye. At least 200 flying hours were logged by the Working on Fire aerial resources, which included fixed-wing water bombers, Huey helicopters and spotter planes resulting in 2 000 water drops, equivalent to about two million litres of water. The flying hour cost is currently estimated at R2,4 million. Moreover, an additional 250 Working on Fire fire fighters were dispatched from other provinces ie KwaZuluNatal, Free State, North West and the Eastern Cape, to join in the fire suppression efforts.

The programme has grown from its humble origins involving 25 teams (of 850 beneficiaries) and currently employs over 5 000 personnel spread across 200 bases in all the provinces of South Africa. During the Western Cape fire season, which runs from 1 December to 30 April each year, Working on Fire has the following resources available for utilisation by district municipalities, Western Cape Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services and fire protection associations (FPAs): A total of 26 aircraft (11 helicopters, six fixedwing bombers and nine spotters) based in Tulbagh, Porterville, Donkerhoek, Stellenbosch, Bredasdorp, Stilbaai, Newlands, Plettenbergbay and Knysna. In addition, it has a total of 820 fully trained and super fit fire fighters based at 28 bases across the Western Cape. A total of 5 000 fire fighters from across the country, that could be deployed to the Western Cape, should the need arise. In total the national Department of Environmental Affairs spends about R50 million rand on the Working on Fire budget each year in the Western Cape. Volume 3 | No 6

Advertorial Working on Fire draws their fire fighters from the poorest of the poor. They go through extensive training and are characterised by their fitness, discipline and exceptional work ethic and bravery. It does raise a question as to how we can build on this to bridge the divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘havenots’, beyond when gratitude is shown to the Working on Fire fire fighters who are risking their lives to protect the assets of others. Many of these fire fighters, who spend days and nights on end fighting these fires, come from the impoverished communities on the Cape Flats and Khayalitsha. Thanks to their employment in the Working on Fire programme as an extension of the Expanded Public Works programme of government they have been given a work opportunity to earn a living and to put food on the table.

“They have been very generous to us, even when we stop at the garage they give us food and nice things.”

For 27-year-old fire fighter Songezo Fobosi from the Helderberg base in the Western Cape, this work opportunity in Working on Fire has changed his life. Fobosi, dubbed hero by many on social media after he saved a tortoise while suppressing the Muizenberg fire, says his work in the programme is much more than just fighting fires. He joined the programme a year ago and says that putting out fires and saving nature was his job.

“The Working on Fire programme gave me a new opportunity in life not only to protect the environment but also to save lives. We arrived in the Western Cape within twenty four hours of being deployed to assist our colleagues in Cape Town. I have never been to Cape Town and it was difficult to work under extreme heat and windy conditions but I also felt special as I always wanted to be in this city”, Kondlo said.

He was congratulated by his colleagues for saving the life of an animal. “I am able to learn many skills and with my stipend I am able to put food on the table for my family, before I joined Working on Fire, we had nothing at home,” Fobosi said.

Lebogang Moatshe, from the North West Province is one of the many women crew leaders in Working on Fire who led her Highveld Team at the Muizenberg fires. Working on Fire holds the highest percent of females in the fire fighting fraternity, which is currently at thirty one percent.

Unlike Fobosi who have put out multiple fires, for Lubabalo Kondlo from the Eastern Cape, the Muizenberg fire was his first fire line experience, which lasted for so many days. He joined Working on Fire in Middleburg in the Eastern Cape in 2012. He said this fire experience was hard and way beyond what he expected. He also attributed the difficulties to frequent wind changing direction. It was the 26-year-old’s first time the in Cape Town and he said people ‘here’ are very kind and supportive. Volume 3 | No 6

“It was the most difficult conditions to work under with high temperatures and strong winds but the training in Working on Fire prepared us well for these types of conditions. The support and well wishes from the people of Cape Town also helped us,” Moatshe said. She added, “Working on Fire has given me many skills as I previously had nowhere to go after finishing school. Today, thanks to the training in the programme, I am a crew leader of twenty fire fighters.”

These are only few comments from the young men and women who make up the highly acclaimed Working on Fire programme. They may not have worldly possessions, they are media shy and they stay away from the limelight, they are ordinary hardworking young men and women who through the Working on Fire programme are able to protect the environment and to save lives. The programme, through these work opportunities, has been able to restore the dignity of these young men and women, our unsung heroes of fighting the ‘Cape fire storm’. FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 19

News

Best-practice disaster management system being adopted throughout SA By Evelyn John Holtzhausen

he best-practice National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) used to fight Cape Town’s recent runaway wildland fires is rapidly being adopted throughout South Africa to deal with emergencies ranging from natural and person-made disasters to managing at public events. Developed in the United States where it became the national incident response system after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, NIMS and ICS have been steadily rolled out in South Africa since being introduced in the country in 2004 by the Kishugu Group, which implements government’s Working on Fire (WoF) programme. The system was implemented in South Africa for the first time on a major scale to combat the Cape Town fires, which laid waste to large tracts of fynbos and forests in Table Mountain

National Park and surrounding areas. Reflecting widespread public praise for the work of fire fighters and support teams, Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, said NIMS and ICS have enabled personnel, facilities and equipment from different agencies to be integrated into a common organisational structure. This level of coordination “was simply not there” when Cape Town had to fight its last major fire back in 2000, she said. ICS has been adopted by the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre (WCDMC), the City of Cape Town and provincial district municipalities and was used to combat wildland fires that broke out in many parts of the province soon after the Cape Town conflagration. On another level, ICS has been used to manage events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour. “ICS has been embraced by public and private organisations across

Attending an ICS Advanced Multi-Agency Coordination training course in Cape Town recently were: Hew Smithers, Working on Fire (WoF) Training project manager; Ian Schnetler, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue; Tim Murphy, US Forest Service programme manager of USAID NIMS/ICS initiatives in southern Africa, Etienne du Toit, Western Cape Disaster Management Centre; Jan de Villiers, Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association and Gerhard van Niekerk, WoF 20 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

South Africa, including provincial disaster management centres, municipalities, forestry companies, fire protection associations, SANParks and conservation agencies,” says Fred Favard, managing director of WoF Training, which, together with US Forest Service experts, conducts accredited ICS training courses funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Forest Service. A total of 3 742 people have attended ICS accredited training courses conducted by South African and US Forest Service instructors since 2004, adds Favard. With growing numbers of agencies adopting ICS, the South African ICS Working Team representing public and private organisations exposed to fire and other major risks, hopes that ICS will soon be incorporated in national standards for managing disasters and become the country’s all-hazard response system. “ICS has been operationalised in South Africa and we hope it will soon be institutionalised,” says Favard. In addition to the US, ICS has been adopted in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. USAID is extending its support for ICS training to other southern African countries, starting in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, says Tim Murphy, deputy fire operations specialist for the US Forest Service and technical programme manager for USAID NIMS initiatives in southern Africa. In what he describes as a “monumental development”, a South African ICS team provided extensive support to Malawi authorities during the country’s recent devastating floods. WoF Training describes NIMS and ICS as “a systematic, proactive approach guiding organisations at all levels of government and the private sector to prepare for, Volume 3 | No 6

News prevent, respond to, recover from and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of the cause, size, location or complexity”. ICS, which Murphy jokingly refers to as “It’s common sense”, is based on four principles: ● The system must be organisationally flexible to meet the needs of incidents of any size and kind ● Organisations must be able to use the system on a daily basis for routine situations and major emergencies ● ICS must facilitate a common management structure that integrates personnel from a variety of agencies and organisations from different locations ● The system must be cost effective. A frequent visitor to South Africa, Murphy and US colleagues were back in the country recently to conduct incident commander, area command and multi-agency coordination (MAC) training courses hosted by WoF Training and

Volume 3 | No 6

WCDMC. The courses were attended by senior officials from WCDMC, the City of Cape Town, Cape Nature, Overberg Fire Department, the national Department of Forestry, the Eastern Cape and Free State umbrella fire protection associations and the Letaba Fire Protection Association in Limpopo. WCDMC deputy director, Etienne du Toit, who attended the MAC course, describes ICS as “the best system for managing incidents.” ICS, he says, is “flexible, modular and scalable. It enables different agencies to speak a common language and integrates all communications during emergencies and non-emergencies, such as management of major public events. “It enables comprehensive resource management. By sharing resources among different agencies, you avoid duplication and save costs. We are not where we want to be with ICS but we are moving strongly in the right direction,” he added.

Also at the course, Ian Schnetler, chief fire officer, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, was the incident commander during the Cape Town fires. He and his incident management team coordinated services ranging from City Fire And Rescue, disaster management, metro police and emergency medical and technical support units, WoF, conservation agencies including Table Mountain National Park and Cape Nature, volunteer fire fighters, the SPCA and fire and rescue services from other parts of the Western Cape. “Unlike the situation in 2000, on this occasion every agency knew precisely what its function was,” says Schnetler. “ICS enabled us to put operational requirements in place quickly, without which you risk having chaos. We had to work a lot on instinct in 2000 but this time we received quality communications from all agencies on the ground and we had a comprehensive overview of what was happening. This made operational decision making much easier.”

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 21

News

Dräger opens new office building of the company has established a very successful BEE shareholding with Community Investment Holdings headed by Dr Anna Mokgokong and Dr Joe Madungandaba.

The new Dräger offices offer a world class design centre

räger South Africa’s officially opened its new office building at the Waterfall Commercial District in Buccleuch, Johannesburg. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by directors, shareholders, investors, clients and the media and included a guided tour of the premises, showcasing Dräger’s innovative products and research. The new Dräger offices offer a world class design centre, which presents products and solutions for all customer areas/segments where users and planners can work together with Dräger experts to plan and design their work place thus optimising the total customer experience. The merge has facilitated further growth for the business and has enabled Dräger to be a step ahead in serving existing and new customers. The objective of the move was to form part of the

Schnetler believes the City will extend ICS to all of its emergency and public order agencies. “We need to train more people so that we can develop a number of incident management teams because ICS can be used in any incident, from fires through to traffic jams and big events.” Jan de Villiers, chairperson of the Free State Umbrella Fire Protection Association, says his organisation has adopted ICS and members have 22 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

One Dräger philosophy, where the medical and safety divisions merged into one united Dräger. Since investing in South Africa, Dräger has undergone structural changes and the medical division

Marius Fourie, managing director, for Dräger South Africa welcomed all to the inauguration ceremony and emphasised the importance of the South African market for Dräger. An acrobatic dancing performance entertained guests after which president of Middle East Africa for Dräger Dubai, Michael Karsta, thanked everyone involved with the new building and added that he was proud to officially inaugurate the new premises. Dräger’s chief sales officer, Thomas Engler, highlighted milestones achieved by Dräger South Africa, specifically mentioning Dräger’s support of broad based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) in South Africa.

Dräger provides fire fighters all around the world with state-of- the-art-equipment

received training. “We have 63 fire protection associations and we aim to rationalise the number by merging some of them. We then want to roll out ICS to all associations.” “We hope that by using a common system in which all officers have a clear understanding of their roles and how they fit into the overall system, emergency services will be able to work together to take on any disaster or incident,” says Favard.

As Mike McPartland, deputy chief of New York City Fire Department First Division, put it during a US Forest Service sponsored training in South Africa recently, “Imagine if all agencies responding to an emergency in South Africa were on exactly the same page. Imagine if agencies from every town and province had a common understanding of how an incident should be managed and could seamlessly work together. That’s what we hope NIMS and ICS will bring to South Africa.” Volume 3 | No 6

News

Prescribed burn at Tygerberg Nature Reserve a success Prescribed ecological burns are therefore crucial and are conducted for the following reasons: • They help with seed germination because by removing the canopy created by the mature vegetation, sunlight is allowed to penetrate at ground level • These carefully managed burns are necessary to obtain maximum species diversity • The burning of old vegetation reduces fuel loads, which in turn reduces the risk of wildfires • Fires that take place frequently can lead to a decline in slow growing species, whereas fires that are too infrequent (over 20 years) lead to the domination of woody species. Therefore renosterveld should burn every five to 10 years

City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue,Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) and BMB staff

ygerberg Nature Reserve’s planned ecological burn, which took place in February 2015, proved to be a success, with approximately 70 percent of the intended vegetation being removed. This is thanks to the various teams that were working on the fire line on that day. The ecological burn was managed and facilitated by fire fighting teams from various organisations including the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue and Environmental Resource Management Departments, Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) and Working on Fire (WoF). Rapid encroachment of development is the single biggest threat to renosterveld, and it has led to its depletion and fragmentation. To conserve what’s left, it is necessary to simulate a natural fire pattern. The burning of old vegetation is necessary to help with land conservation because fire plays a fundamental role in in the lifecycle of renosterveld.

Success a product of team work The formal collaboration between the City of Cape Town, VWS and WoF started when the new reserve manager of Tygerberg Nature Reserve, Penny Glanville, implemented an ecological burning plan for the nature reserve in 2010. A 24-hectare block was burnt that year on the eastern slope near the Kristo Pienaar Environmental Education Centre. In 2011, a 66-hectare area was burnt on the western slope in 40-year old veld. However, due to the slope, wind change and density of this veld, the fire jumped a 30 metre cut-and-burnt firebreak, causing the fire to enter a management block that was not intended to be burnt. Helicopters from the Newlands fire base were deployed and the fire was brought under control within four hours. “Although this fire might be construed as an ‘error’, we were able to garner significant learning capacity from it and have used it to implement a number of highly successful ecological burns. From this fire, we have rethought our fire plans. The relationship between City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue and the Environmental Resource Management Department is now stronger.” says the area manager, Penny Glanville. All planning is done in collaboration with the other organisations, each filling a role in the incident command structure and providing important resources such as manpower and water tankers. The availability of the latter ensures that there is always plenty of water on site.

Having a break, fire fighter with Tessa Oliver and Willie van Rensburg 24 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

“Working in an urban environment makes an ecological burning that much harder; therefore the collaboration and integration of the departments, volunteers and WoF are crucial for not only a successful burn but also ecological conservation in general. The camaraderie between the staff and volunteers of the various organisations grows stronger each year. People now recognise each other and even bond over marshmallows Volume 3 | No 6

News as a traditional successful burn snack. With everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication and hard work, the controlled burns are always a pleasant experience and a lovely way to build new friendships,â&#x20AC;? says Glanville. Reap what you sow Three members of the Environmental Resource Management Department completed the theory section of the ecological burning course by FFA Training and funded by the GEF FynbosFire project last year. This was held at Cape Point Nature Reserve and participants ranged from SANParks, CapeNature, WoF and the City. Glanville completed her practical portion of this course by conducting her sixth ecological burn at Tygerberg Nature Reserve on 9 February 2015. She eagerly awaits her results. Building capacity and promoting cooperation The GEF FynbosFire project acknowledges that fire management training is widely available but that many courses tend to focus on various practical aspects of fire suppression. Important elements of integrated fire management (IFM) applicable to the Fynbos biome, such as fire ecology, fire behaviour, assessing fire risk, application of prescribed burning and the likely impacts of climate change on fire management are being focussed on. The project is currently supporting the ongoing professional and technical development of landowners and public institutions that are directly responsible for the planning, coordination and implementation of integrated fire management activities in the Fynbos biome. Stakeholders have been sponsored to attend various courses covering IFM and incident command systems (ICS). Many of these courses are also focused on fire protection association (FPA) members in order to incrementally improve their skills and competency levels to make decisions that will need to be made under conditions of climate change, which will increase the risk and possibility of wildfires. It is only through cooperation and integration between various authorities that the disaster risks will be reduced.

Penny Glanville and team

To date the project has sponsored over 400 people to go on courses worth over R1million. Tygerberg Nature Reserve Tygerberg Nature Reserve situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, conserves one of the largest remaining areas of the critically endangered Swartland shale renosterveld. It is situated on the hills of Tygerberg and forms part of the many nature reserves and natural areas managed by the City of Cape Town. Its renosterveld is renowned for its diversity of plant life and the 388ha reserve boasts 562 recorded plant species with new species which are continuously being discovered. To date, 23 plant species are threatened with extinction and three are endemic to the reserve. Through conducting these successful ecological burns we can only hope to conserve and protect what is left of this precious area of land. Volume 3 | No 6

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 25

News

Major fires at Overstrand By chief fire officer Lester Smith, Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services Tuesday, 3 March 2015, by Overstrand Fire, West Coast Districts Municipality, Stellenbosch Municipality, Overberg Districts Municipality, Working on Fire ground crew and a helicopter.

Photograph: Dan Fick

After a recognisance flight it was decided to water bomb the fire and the fire was contained. Continuous flare-ups occurred throughout the day on 3 March 2015 due to high temperatures of 38 degrees but the flare-ups were brought under control by fire crew and ground crew. Crews continued with mop up operations on 5 March and no flareups were reported.

Fire in Davidskraal

verstrand Fire and Rescue Services, situated in the beautiful Overberg district in South Africa, attended to 29 incidents from Friday, 27 February 2015 to Sunday, 8 March 2015, stretching the small fire services resources to its limits. Although we urged the community to be extra careful with open fires, the weather abetted the runaway fires. Major fires occurred in Hawston, Betty’s Bay, Pringle Bay, Voggel Valley, Platbos and Heidehof, some of which needed aerial support as well as additional resources from other municipalities and agencies. Assistance was called in from City of Cape Town, West Coast District Municipality as far as Moorreesburg, Overberg District Municipality, Stellenbosch Municipality, Cape Winelands Districts Municipality, Working on Fire ground teams and aerial support, Cape Nature, Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, Overstrand Municipality Environmental, Overstrand Municipality Law Enforcement and Overstrand Municipality Traffic and Provincial Traffic.

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Hawston fire A wildfire on 28 February in Hawston was fanned by gale-force winds from the eastern side. The fire jumped the R43 and spread along the RDP houses and from there to the Hawston graveyard. The fire fighters managed to contain the fire under Eskom power lines. However, the fire was still burning towards an Eskom substation. Overstrand Municipality Fire Services decided to do a back burn along the Eskom power station, to the main road (R43). The entire block was left to burn out. Conditions were very difficult due to the dense vegetation and age of the veld. The fire fighting teams remained on scene until Monday afternoon as there were some flare-ups. An incident command post was set up at the Hawston Thusong Centre to manage the incident and resources. The fire spread fuelled by an easterly wind towards Vermont, jumped the road at Hawston and threatened the houses along the R43. The fire teams managed to contain all spot fires and no damage to property was reported. The fire burnt throughout the night above Hawston towards Vermont but was contained on

Betty’s Bay fire On 28 February 2015, a wildfire that was spreading along Otter Close in Betty’s Bay was burning out of control within the Palmiet vegetation in the Dawidskraal River. An incident command was set up at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens to manage the incident, resources and manpower. Additional resources and aerial support was immediately requested through provincial Government and was activated to assist. At the peak of the fire there were three helicopters bombing and five fire engines from Overstrand Municipality fighting the head of the fire to prevent damage to property. Additional resources were requested from Overberg District Municipality and City of Cape Town as property was threatened. A helicopter was put on standby for first light to assist with water bombing of the fire on 1 March 2015. Continuous flare-ups occurred during the day due to strong winds that also changed direction right throughout the day but was contained by the helicopter, fire engines and ground crews. City of Cape Town also requested their vehicles back due to fires in their area and their resources were sent back at 12h00. Overstrand Fire Services continued with mop-up operations throughout the day. A major flareup occurred at approximately 21h00 and the fire was again out of control, Volume 3 | No 6

Obituary

Hendrik Willem ‘Bees’ Marais

endrik Willem ‘Bees’ Marais, a well-respected pilot, died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, 8 March 2015, while battling a fire at Cape Point Nature Reserve , Western Cape Province in South Africa.

Hundreds of Mourners gathered in Cape Town on 16 March 2015

life and property was in danger and evacuation was also in progress. Additional resources were requested and Cape Winelands District Municipality sent three vehicles, West Coast District Municipality sent seven vehicles, Overberg district Municipality sent one vehicle and Stellenbosch Municipality sent two vehicles. Fire and ground crew continued to fight the fire throughout the night their objective to safe life and property. After the recognisance flight the helicopter was deployed to continue water bombing. Fire crews continued with active fire fighting ensuring extinguishing of all fire lines and started with mop-up operations. Another flareup occurred and one house sustained fire damage in Clarence Drive and another house sustained heat damage in Bass Road. The fire was contained at approximately 10h00. Several other houses also sustained heat damage and an assessment needed to done by the fire services. Continuous flare-ups occurred and suppressed until the area was declared safe on 7 March 2015. Platbos fire in Grootbos A fire at Flower Valley farm was reported on 3 March 2015. Strong 28 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Fire fighting helicopter pilot Marais radioed to fellow pilots that he was going to make a forced landing and within seven seconds, his helicopter was on the ground and it was all over. Marais was trained for war but spent most of his career saving the lives of others. Fellow Working on Fire (WoF) pilot, Fred Viljoen, who was fighting the Cape Point fire with Marais on Sunday, immediately landed and rushed to his friend but there was nothing he could do. The 71-year-old Marais had spent more than 10 000 hours flying a wide range of aircraft, 9 422 of which he was the officer in command. He started his career in the South African Air Force, where his duties included

winds caused spotting of the fire and it jumped several firebreaks spreading to Platbos farm in the Grootbos area. Additional resources were requested but fire fighting efforts were hindered due to minimal resources as there were various fires limiting the availability of resources. Overstrand Fire Services and farm owners continued to fight the fire throughout the night and managed to contain the fire during the early morning hours of Wednesday, 4 March 2015. A flare-up was brought under control and mop up operations continued throughout the day to ensure that no flare-ups occur. Pearly Beach A fire was burning at Heidehof Farm Pearly Beach area on 3 March 2015, necessitated aerial support and additional resources. Working on Fire team from KwaZulu-Natal consisting of 60 members assisted Overstrand Fire and Rescue. The fire was out of control and the main objective was to ensure that no life and property were lost. Fire fighters worked throughout the night but were unable to contain the fire. The fire spread towards Baardskeerdesbos on 4 March and Overberg District Municipality sent crews to assist. On 5 March it spread towards Pearly Beach and fire crews,

flying scientists and provisions to South Africa’s scientific bases in Antarctica and to the remote Marion and Gough Islands. He then worked for a number of organisations where he flew thousands of hours saving people in flood-stricken areas, fighting fires that threatened lives and property and airlifting patients to hospital in medical emergencies. Gert Uys, a freelance pilot with WoF, said “I worked with Bees for many years; became close to him during a five week operation on Marion Island where he was team leader. Bees was a man who lived life to the full and always had time for everyone. He was a God fearing man and his religion came through in the way he treated people. Although he was full of mischief and

Working on Fire ground team as well as landowners was fighting the fire to ensure that there were no loss of life and property. Aerial support was also requested and therefore activated to help fire and ground crew to contain the fire from spreading towards Pearly beach. The Fire was contained at approximately 19h00 by aerial support, fire crew, ground crew as well as landowners. Mop up operations continued on 6 an 7 March, a flareup was suppressed and the incident commander declared the fire safe and under control after a thorough inspection on 8 March. Kleinmond and Pringle Bay fires On Friday, 6 March 2015 calls were received in the morning of fire in Voggelvalley, Kleinmond and again at 22h10 of a fire in Pringle Bay. Strong winds fuelled both fires and additional resources were requested. Overstrand Fire and Rescue had four vehicles on scene, Overberg District Municipality assisted with two vehicles as well as a Working on Fire ground team. The Kleinmond fire was contained at approximately 13h00. The Pringle Bay fire was brought under control at 02h54 the following morning with assistance from Hermanus vehicles and a ground team from Working on Fire. Volume 3 | No 6

Obituary Strap fun, he always took his work extremely seriously. He was a perfect grandfather and dad and an example to all.” Philip Erasmus, CEO of The South Africa Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS), wrote online, “A giant in the aviation industry has tragically lost his life while serving others. Oom Bees Marais has taught us the true meaning of selflessness in his acts of kindness and service to others. Bees was probably the most loved person that has ever worked for the AMS in my time here. RIP my friend; it was such a privilege knowing you.” South African National Parks (SANParks) board chairperson, Kuseni Dlamini, said, “Bees, as he was affectionately known by friends and family alike, played a vital role in suppressing the fire that has burnt across the Table Mountain National Park during the course of this week. His vast knowledge, experience and skill as a helicopter pilot was respected by all.”

Hendrik Willem ‘Bees’ Marais

Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa, sent condolences to his family following his death. “I wish to express the governments and my personal condolences to the pilot’s wife, Mrs Jackie Marais, family, friends and his colleagues in the Working on Fire programme,” Molewa said in a statement. Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Arno Lamoer, also conveyed his condolences on behalf of the police unit. “Colonel Marais worked as the first unit commander of the South African Police Service’s Airwing in Cape Town. He retired in 2004 at the age of 60. His former colleagues described him as a remarkable human being who was always prepared to help others. Colonel Marais was sworn in to the SAPS in 1990.” Lamoer said he remembered Marais as a pilot with a strong work ethic. “He was affectionately called Bees and trained a number of police members with the Airwing environment. What an incredible human being he was. You could not miss his positive spirit.” Tribute Working on around the Volume 3 | No 6

Fire staff gathered SANParks’ Newlands

Working on Fire honouring the fallen hero Forest Station helipad and sang the national anthem as a tribute to pilot Hendrik Bees Marais. The fence is festooned with flowers the public had tied on to the barbed wire. Fellow pilot, Trevor Wilson, Working on Fire, described Marais as the father figure of the Working on Fire pilots, who would say to them when things got rowdy: “Okay, enough now boys.” On Sunday night, the pilots gathered at Foresters Arms in Newlands. “It’s an old World War I tradition with pilots that if someone is gone, you gather to have a few drinks and talk about him. It has to happen quickly. It was very good for us to talk about what he meant

to us and about the accident. With a couple of beers, we talk more. We’re more like a family than colleagues. We’ve got two families; one at home and this family. We’re all adrenalin junkies. What we do is not dangerous but it has inherent risks. We’re highly trained and highly skilled. But some things are just out of our hands, said Wilson. Wilson looked over at the helipad where the public had tied flowers on to the fence, a tribute to the pilot many of them had not met but seen water-bombing the raging peninsula fires all last week. “Bees was a man with a quiet wisdom. A solid gentleman. And he was a friend.” FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 29

Obituary

Obituary: Corrie Craukamp By Cindy Kleinhans

May 1963 - February 2015

R24 inter-facility transfer agent, Cornelius (Corrie) Craukamp, age 51, went missing in Bloubosrand on 17 February 2015 and was found dead on 19 February at around 7h15am.

Corrie Craucamp would stand his ground and stand up for the patients

Craucamp, father to four daughters, was an avid photographer

Craukamp, who was a keen wildlife photographer, was born on 15 May 1963. He joined the emergency services as fireman but a motorcycle accident ended his physical fireman career and he was transferred to the control room at the fire service. “I met him at Netcare 911 in 2003. We worked together there for plus minus seven years at the Netcare 911 call centre. He lived with me for six of those seven years. When I moved over to ER24, shortly afterwards, so did he.” He started off as an emergency call taker at Netcare 911. He then went over to the inter hospital transfer (IHT) desk. “He was a brilliant agent. I remember that he fought with the fund managers on a regular basis when the transfers were declined. He often won the case with the fund manager. He believed in fighting for the patients. He would not accept no for an answer, he would stand his ground and stand up for the patients.” Craucamp, father to four daughters, loved his photography and his camera. He would not go anywhere without his camera. He was so attached to this camera that he would rather leave his cell phone at home but never will he leave home without his camera. He was into wildlife photography. Birds and wildlife was his passion.

A memorial service was held at South Africa Emergency Care (SAEC)

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A memorial service was held at South Africa Emergency Care (SAEC) in Modderfontein, Ekurhuleni, South Africa, commemorating Craucamp. Volume 3 | No 6

Obituary

Obituary: Nazeem Davies By Karel Willemse, public relations officer, West Coast District Municipality

September 1989 - March 2015

undreds of people gathered along the procession route from the Worcester fire station to the house of fire fighter Nazeem Davies, aged 25. Family members, colleagues and friends of the fallen fire fighter, came to pay their last respect during a memorial service in his hometown, Worcester in the Western Cape Province of South Africa on Saturday 14 March 2015. Davies died earlier in a vehicle accident after it left the road and hit a boulder in the Dasklip Pass, outside Porterville. He was on his way to the fire station in Vredenburg, after fighting a fire in the Groot Winterhoek Mountain, when the incident took placed. His colleague Niklaas Nel, who was with him escaped with slight injuries. Hydraulic rescue tools were used to free Davies. He was certified dead on the scene. Davies joined the fire fighter unit of the West Coast District Municipality (WCDM), four months ago. Earlier, he was a member of the Cape Winelands District Municipality’s fire unit in Worcester. WCDM’s chief fire officer, Bertus Senekal, said the whole fire fighter fraternity will miss Davies, “Who died as he lived, serving his community.”

Walter du Toit, Nazeem Davies’ brother, with his photo

CFO Bertus Senekal paying tribute

Executive mayor of the West Coast, Alderman Harold Cleophas, called upon the community to respect and appreciate the fire fighters and the services they provide. “We can’t afford that communities attack our vehicles with stones and other objects, while they are trying to save lives.” He was referring to an incident earlier where some of WCDM fire engines came under attacked from an unruly crowd. The service was conducted from the AME-church in Worcester. Davies left behind his mother, three sisters and a brother. Volume 3 | No 6

The Guard of Honour was made up from fire fighters of Cape Winelands District Municipality’s fire unit in Worcester

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 31

Forcible entry

The greatest thing about the Halligan is that it is always ready to go

Forcible entry using the Halligan tool By Colin Deiner, Chief Director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government

t is probably the best known fire service tool in the world. It also comes with a rich history and although many manufacturers have developed their own variations (and even changed the name) the tool has largely stayed the same since it was developed by Chief Hugh Halligan of the New York City Fire Department in the late forties. Hugh A Halligan started his career as a fire fighter with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) in 1916. During a career spanning 43 years (1916 to 1959), he rose through the ranks from fire fighter to deputy commissioner. Fire fighters, at this time, were using a tool called a ‘claw tool’ to force open doors. The claw tool also has an interesting, almost folklorish history. The story goes that a fire was started in a lower Manhattan bank in order to cover-up a burglary in the early 20th century. Fire fighters found an odd tool with a claw-like end among the rubble and, upon investigation, it was determined that the tool was used by the burglars to break into the bank. Fire fighters had thought that if the tool was good enough to break into a bank, it was good enough for them. And so the ‘claw tool’ became the primary forcible entry tool used by the FDNY. Many believe that this was the first tool used specifically for forcible entry. During Chief Halligan’s time at FDNY, numerous injuries resulted when an axe struck the rounded bow on the hook end of the tool. It would tend to slide quickly to the side and hit the fire fighter’s arm or fingers. FDNY had also 32 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

started using the ‘Kelly Tool’, designed by Captain John F Kelly of FDNY Hook and Ladder Company 163, for opening doors and other barriers. This tool wasn’t the answer to their needs, which then led to Chief Halligan designing the tool that has carried his name ever since. The Halligan tool was introduced to the fire fighting world in the March 1948 edition of ‘Fire Engineering’ magazine. An excerpt from this feature reads: “A new, lightweight forcible entry tool has been designed by Chief Hugh. A Halligan of the New York Fire Department, which possess new and original features. It is said to combine attributes of the utilitarian standard claw tool and the efficient Kelly (sic) tool as well as certain advantage of the ubiquitous pick, or hook and flat head axe.” The city of Boston was the first to purchase and use the Halligan tool. However, unfortunately because of a conflict with New York City laws, the FDNY couldn’t purchase the tool until the legal issues had been resolved; a familiar concept which we still live with today. Numerous other fire departments did, however, buy the tool directly from Chief Halligan, some even using their own money. Since those heady days, the tool has undergone many modifications, and even some name changes. The basic design has however not changed radically and is still probably the favourite tool of fire fighters. Tool design Essentially, the Halligan is a steel rod that with a steel fork on one end and a wedge and tapered pick on Volume 3 | No 6

Forcible entry

The Halligan was developed by Chief Hugh Halligan of the New York City Fire Department in 1948 the other end. It generally weighs around five kilograms and has a length of 76cm. While the original (and preferred) Halligan tools are a one-piece steel rod, some manufacturers have secured the ends on by means of pins sunk into the main shaft using drive pins. They have also over the years adapted the length of the shaft in both directions (either shorter or longer). Both have specific advantages and disadvantages. A shorter Halligan might not give you the leverage while a longer one will impede working in confined spaces. For me the ideal Halligan should be a one-piece forged steel construction with a tapered fork bevelled to act as a fulcrum for projecting greater force and a wedge with a slight downward curve. I also like the Halligan with a rough surface on the rod which increases grip. If you don’t have this feature, go down to your local sports store and see if you can find the type of grip cover used on cricket bat handles and wrap that around the bar.

the right tactics and the appropriate tools for the job. Knowing your response area is where it starts. If you are responding to a commercial occupancy, the forcible entry challenges will be somewhat different to those you will encounter at a residential occupancy. This will dictate which tools come off the truck first. Don’t overburden your crew with too many forcible entry tools. Remember, someone needs to carry them from the fire truck to the staging area and then put them into action without hurting themselves. Although we face more and more security barriers, especially in

special risk fire protection

A further neat trick is to paint marks on both the wedge and fork which indicate the depth of the tool’s penetration into the door. Many fire departments have gone for cheaper alternatives with a straight wedge and a non-tapered thick fork, which makes it difficult to penetrate the opening between the door and its frame. Take care when deciding which tool to buy for your department. Small things like the width and angle of the wedge and fork could mean the difference between a quick entry into a structure and lives being saved or lost. The greatest thing about the Halligan is that it is always ready to go. There are no working parts; it doesn’t need fuel, doesn’t have an engine and no batteries are required. It also doesn’t need to be set-up beforehand. How well it will works depends on the operator and his/her knowledge of the tool and the situation in which it will be used. Forcible entry Forcible entry is the same as any fire ground tactic; you need to size-up the situation beforehand and decide on Volume 3 | No 6

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 33

Forcible entry fire ground. You need to constantly exercise. Find out if any buildings are due to be demolished anywhere close to your station area. Move in before the demolition and go to work on the doors, windows and any other structures that could keep you in practice. Also be alert while doing your daily job. I once read a report of a paramedic who noticed a particular lock assembly at a liquor store while on an EMS call. He described the lock to his colleagues who approached a local security firm for help. They had in fact installed a number of these devices in businesses in the area and although it looked intimidating due to the fact that it had bars running into the locking mechanism it was actually quite simple to open by using a ‘throughthe-lock’ technique.

The neatest Halligan tool or best other tool means nothing if the person handling it doesn’t know when and where to use it residential occupancies, they can mostly be addressed with the same tools that we have been using all these years. More on this later. Check out the types of doors you may encounter and decide which additional tools you may need. Don’t stop training. Forcible entry can’t be learnt once and then not exercised until the skills are needed on the

Always remember that when you have to force open a door or other opening, to try and do so with minimum damage. You might be feeling very proud at having cut open all the roller doors of a small business but appreciate that someone has to pay for it. It also needs to be secured after the incident and this might be difficult depending on the amount of damage you have done. Once the opening has been created, you need to ensure that the access route is sustainable. Use a ceiling hook to keep the roller-shutter door open. You might need to but a smoke extractor near the top of the door you have just forced open. Ensure that your opening is going to allow you the maximum opportunity to do this. Every fire fighter should carry two devices that are able to keep doors open. These could be wedges or a device that fits over hinges forcing them open. The reason you need two devices are that in some cases the area might be too congested for hinges, with people continuously knocking them out of place, or the doors might not have hinges necessitating the need for wedges. Consider including a hydraulic forcible entry tool in your arsenal. It might be relatively simple for most forcible entry teams to open one or two doors with their standard irons but when faced with multiple doors in a hot, smoke-filled environment, it could lead to exhaustion and severely compromise the team’s safety. Before starting on a door, do a thorough assessment of its construction. How is the door frame and adjoining wall constructed? Does it swing away from or towards the forcible entry team? How is the lock constructed and how complicated is it to defeat. Would a ‘through the lock’ technique not be the best option?

As an alternative, the bar positioned and striking the ‘shoulders’ instead 34 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

When dealing with commercial garage doors, security gates and window bars, the tool of choice will be a rotary saw. In South Africa with our high security awareness, it is vital that a rotary saw with the right choice of blade be included on each responding unit. I recall some years back when a fire department responded to a fire in a mattress factory, which had a number of commercial garage doors, without a rotary saw. They wasted precious time trying to bash down the door with sledge hammers while one good rotary saw would have saved the lives lost in that fire. Volume 3 | No 6

The neatest Halligan tool or best other tool means nothing if the person handling it doesn’t know when and where to use it. Don’t lose sight of the big picture; if the door is hot, chances are there is a fire on the other side. Will it be safe to knock it down? What other options exist? If you have access to a thermal imaging camera it could be of great value in helping you make the correct decision. The sector officer must continuously evaluate the forcible entry effort and make the decision to change tactics if there is no progress. This is sometimes difficult as the team will feel that they have made significant progress and ‘are almost there’ and will try to finish the job. You might have to make a hard call and follow it through. The officer must communicate any delays in achieving their objective to the incident commander. The entire plan of attack might be based on how quick the fire suppression team can gain entry into a particular part of a structure. Any lengthy delays might necessitate the incident commander to change the plan and the sooner this is communicated, the sooner the plan can be changed. So, where should we attempt our entry? The best advise here is for fire crews to use the same entrance as that used by the normal occupants to enter. Other doors might be bolted and secured for security reasons and cause all kinds of problems in trying to get through. Occupants might have changed the layout of rooms and decided not to use certain doors anymore and placed obstacles like shelving or furniture in front of them. Forcible exit Once entry is gained into a structure and the attack teams start ‘chasing the fire’, they might move a considerable distance into the structure and with every step forward move away from their escape route. When things go south, it might be necessary to exit the building through the closest possible exit. If the entire structure is barred up this could become a very difficult and possibly fatal exercise. Some solutions would be for the nozzle team to carry a Halligan tool and some smaller tools with them or for a truck company crew to move along the outside of the building in tandem with the nozzle team and create a series of openings close to the team at certain strategic places. I know this goes against my earlier observation of causing the minimum damage but if the incident requires such actions eg the possibility of saving lives, it is acceptable. A balanced fire attack means that the supporting units ie truck company, should not sit idly by and wait for a panic alarm before attempting a search and rescue. They should proactively support the interior nozzle crew by creating openings, placing ladders and ventilating the structure to enable a safer interior working environment. Training Due to the high cost of doors and windows many fire fighters in this country get very little practice in actually forcing locks or breaking doors and windows. A visit to the United States Air Force Fire Academy in 1995 exposed Volume 3 | No 6

Forcible entry me to a large variety of forcible entry props, which were essentially doors and windows built on wheeled carts that could be moved into position for any range of exercises. Each prop had a space where a sacrificial lock, glass or wood could be connected and be used over and over. Those ideas haven’t yet blown across the ocean to us but I am hoping that someone somewhere will look into this in the near future. Using the Halligan By combining the Halligan tool with a flathead axe and sledgehammer, you will have a versatile tool selection that will get you past most normal forcible entry challenges. The axe can cut through laminated wood and laminated safety glass and can also be a powerful chisel for cutting through objects when it is being driven by a sledgehammer. You can also use the axe blade to increase the gap between the doorframe and the door allowing easier insertion of the Halligan. It can also be used to widen the gap to allow for a rotary saw to freely cut the lock mechanism. After an opening has been created, the axe blade can be used as a wedge to increase the fulcrum for the Halligan to force the lock open. By placing the axe head flat against the door or gate close to the opening, the Halligan’s wedge can then be inserted into the opening and push back onto the axe head to increase its leverage.

The axe blade can also provide a greater surface against which the Halligan tool can push back on and prevent wedge or spike from penetrating a wood or other thinly covered door. Using a sledgehammer as a striking tool is much more effective than the head of an axe and is safer. Inward opening doors can also be easily knocked off its hinges with a sledgehammer. You can also use your sledgehammer to knock out masonry if the other openings create too much of an entry problem. The primary function of the Halligan is forcing a door but it has plenty of other uses. When you become proficient with the Halligan, you’ll discover many other ways to use it and wouldn’t want to be without it when you enter a fire involved structure. In closing For me, the effectiveness of a fire service can be gauged by how its engine compartments (lockers) are configured. It indicates how the department thinks operationally. If your flathead axe and Halligan tools are stored in separate compartments, you are not taking forcible entry seriously. Placing your Halligan, flathead axe and sledgehammer in the same locker, close to the crew cab or even in the crew cab, will let you get to the front door quicker and then allow you to get working faster. Think operationally.

Training props used in forcible entry exercises can be cost effective

36 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 6

Incident command

Typing of resources By Reinard Geldenhuys, chief fire officer, Overberg District Municipality

akkie sakkie…… when I hear this word bile rises in my throat and my mind conjures up images of empty ‘pap sakke’ (wine bags) discarded next to our roads and around our picnic sites. So if we use the term bakkie sakkie and we deploy four of them, all we need is cheese and we have ourselves a cheap cheese and wine function! The venerable bakkie sakkie or ‘baakie saakie’ as my good friend Tim Murphy from Montana, USA, pronounces it, is also known as

a bakkie unit, a skid unit, a strike unit or a bushpump type six. So therein lays the rub: If an incident commander (IC) needs three of these vehicles, what does he ask for? Bakkie sakkie, bakkie unit skid unit……. And furthermore, when he asks for one of these things what will he get: 200l, 1 000l tanks, four by four or two by four. High pressure with compressed air foams systems (CAFS), low pressure unit etc etc. It is for this reason that we, in South Africa, have realised the need

Resource CATEGORY

EQUIPMENT

PERSONNEL

Volume 3 | No 6

4x4 Truck

TYPE II

TYPE III

TYPE IV

TYPE V

TYPE VI

TYPE VII

PUMP CAPACITY (l/min)

3850

2250

1850

1800

190

TANK CAPACITY (litres)

1800

2800

1800

1000

800

HOSE (63mm)

360m (12 x 30m)

300m (10 x 30m)

150m (5 x 30m)

90m

HOSE (38mm)

300m (10 x 30m)

150m (5 x 30m)

300m

90m

60m

HOSE (25mm)

60m

90m

200m

90m

60m

LADDER

9-10m OR 13.5m / 3 Extension

9-10m / 3 Extension

6m / 2 Extension

Optional: HYDRAULIC RESCUE (JAWS of LIFE)

Full Set with rams and chains

Comboset

PERSONNEL

4 (excl. driver and Officer)

3 (excl. driver and Officer)

3 (incl. driver)

2 (incl. driver)

Metric

TANKER PUMPER (Water Tender) Firefighting [ESF #4] Hazardous Materials [ESF #10]

Tanker -T-

Call Sign Designation

Drive Train

4x2 or 4x4, 6x6 Truck

TYPE I

TYPE II

TYPE III

TYPE IV

PUMP CAPACITY (l/min)

1200

1135

450

250

TANK CAPACITY (litres)

10000

7000

4000

3500

Metric

Comments

4x2 or

Drive Train

TYPE I

MINIMUM CAPABILITIES Component

ENGINE -E-

Call Sign Designation

Firefighting [ESF #4] Hazardous Materials [ESF #10] Search & Rescue [ESF #9]

RESOURCE CATEGORY

The Western Cape Chief Fire Officers Committee and the Western Cape Fire Working Group, together with the Provincial Government workshopped the typing of resources quite intensely and came up with the following typing structure:

ENGINE (Urban Pumper)

Minimum Capabilities COMPONENT

to follow the American example and type all our resources. For the operations section chief asking for a resource and the logistics section chief ordering and procuring the resource, it now makes their lives a lot easier in ordering resources.

All Types to have connection compatibility of being able to have direct pump connection to Engine or Bush Pumpers.

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 37

Incident command RESOURCE CATEGORY

Foam tender, Firefighting Firefighting [ESF #4] Hazardous Materials [ESF #10]

MINIMUM CAPABILITIES Component eQUIPMENT

eQUIPMENT

Personnel

TYPE IV

TANK CAPACITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CLASS B FOAM CONCENTRATE

2000

1000

800

500

Foam monitor

Fixed

(litres)

eQUIPMENT Personnel

Firefighting [ESF #4]

Component eQUIPMENT Personnel Comments

pumper -BP-

Call Sign Designation

Drive Train

4x2 or 4x4 Truck / medium truck or lcv

TYPE I

TYPE II

TYPE III

TYPE IV

PUMP CAPACITY (l/min)

1250

750

450

250

TANK CAPACITY (litres)

1800

1000

600

HOSE (63mm)

HOSE (38mm)

300m

90m

60m

HOSE (25mm)

200m

90m

60m

personnel

Metric

AERIAL FIRE TRUCK (Ladder or Platform) Firefighting [ESF #4] SEARCH & RESCUE [ESF #9]

Call Sign Designation

Ladder -L- or Platform -P-

Drive Train

4x2 or 4x4 large truck

TYPE I

TYPE II

TYPE III

TYPE IV

AERIAL (m)

37+

ELEVATED STREAM (l/min)

1200

Metric

1800

Same as Type I

GROUND LADDERS (m)

Same as Type I

personnel

4 person team

Same as Type I

3 person team

2 person team

RESOURCE CATEGORY

Other

BUSH PUMPER (Rural Pumper)

MINIMUM CAPABILITIES Component

4x2 or 4x4 Truck

TYPE III

RESOURCE CATEGORY

Drive Train

TYPE II

MINIMUM CAPABILITIES Component

Foam tender -FT-

TYPE I

Metric

RESOURCE CATEGORY

Call Sign Designation

ENGINE STRIKE TEAM (Fire) Firefighting [ESF #4] SEARCH & RESCUE [ESF #9]

Call Sign Designation

Drive Train

Strike team

Any

Metric

TYPE I

TYPE II

TYPE III

Engine Fire

Strike Team Leader

(per) Engine

Total

Strike Team defined as the number of resources with common communications and a leader. TYPE refers to the actual Typed Resource Definitions for Engines

38 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 6

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Incident command The ground crew typing is also well advanced: Ground Crew Standards and Typing Crew Size: Stick: 10-16 Crew: 17-25 Type 2 A with IA Capability

Minimum Standards

Type 1

Fire line Capability

Initial attack/can be broken up into sticks where applicable, fire line construction, complex firing operations.

Leadership

1 Type 1 Crew Leaders and 2 type 2 crew leader

Bilingual Requirement

Yes

Experience

80% 1 season

60% 1 season

40% 1 season

Minimum Standards

Type 1

Type 2 A with IA Capability

Type 2B

Type 3

(work and train as a unit 40 hrs per week)

Yes

No (seasonal)

No ( Seasonal Crew)

5 programmable radios

4 programmabl e radios

2 programma ble radios

2 programmable radios

2 qualified

None

Full Time Organized Crew Communications

Type 2B

Type 3

Initial attack/can be broken up into sticks, where applicable fire line construction, firing to include burnout

Initial attack, fire line construction, firing to include burnout

Fire line construction, fire line improvement, mop-up and rehab

1 Type 1 & 2 Type 2 Crew Leader

1 Type 1 & 1 Type 2 Crew Leader

Crew leader type 2

Yes

Chainsaw operators

3 qualified

Basic firefighter training and/or annual firefighter safety refresher

Training

80 hours annual training

Basic firefighter training and/or annual firefighter safety refresher

Fitness

Arduous

Logistics

Team self- sufficient for min of 12 hrs

No supplies or logistics

Dispatch Availability

1 hour

2 hrs

Agency dependant

Transportation

Own transportation

Arduous

Own Transportation

Moderate

Transportation may be Needed

Personal Gear

Capability to camp in base camp for extended periods.

No personal gear

First Aid Training

1 x level 3 per 10 people

1 x Level 1 per 10 people

Rations

Must arrive with 24 hrs. rations as per own agency standard

Minimum Standards

Certification

Type 1 Must be annually certified by the local host unit Agency Administrator or designee prior to being made available for assignment.

Type 2 A with IA Capability N/A

Type 2B

Type 3

N/A

The typing remains a work in progress. Some typing might still be considered to be very complicated and, as time goes on, changes will pan out to an effective workable model. 40 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 6

Strap

Cape Winelands District Municipality Fire Service

An immaculate array of apparatus that serves its community well

ituated in South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winelands area of fairest Cape, the Cape Winelands Fire Service has been in existence for many decades during which time it resided under various divisional and district councils. The current service was formed by the almalgamation of the fire services of the former Breede River and Winelands District Councils. The service is headed up by chief fire officer Danie Wilds. The Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) Fire Service was

established and functioned to provide the full range of fire fighting services in peri-urban and rural areas in terms of the Fire Brigade Services Act, 1987 (Act 99 of 1987). Over time, it has developed an extensive infrastructure, including a wide communications network, comprehensive inventory and fulltime personnel and reservists. The service offers the rural community of the Cape Winelands district an exclusive and professional service covering an area of 217 474km2 with its headquarters in Stellenbosch and

satellite fire stations in Paarl, Ceres, Worcester and Robertson. Its vision is to render a quality emergency service to the community and its mission: to develop and maintain a people and community-centred fire service that: 1. Continuosly strives to achieve service excellence 2. Is accessible and responsive to client and community needs and demands 3. Equitable service delivery in all areas and to all communities 4. Maintains its material and human resources in an optimal state of readiness 5. Consistently achieves acceptable standards of service delivery through the efficient and effective use of material and human resources Its strategic objective is to maintain existing service levels and acquire the necessary additional infrastructure, material and human resources to provide all statutory functions and to improve service delivery standards over time.

Cape Winelands Fire Servicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CFO Danie Wilds and some of the officers Volume 3 | No 6

Statutory functions The statuary functions of the CWDM Fire Service include delivering fire fighting services in terms of Section 84(1)(j) of the Municipal Structures FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 41

Fire service personnel in terms of Section 84(1)(j) of the Local Government: Municipal Structure Act, 1998 (Act 117 No 1998) and has established the Cape Winelands Fire and Rescue Training Academy to fulfil this mandate.

Some of Cape Winelands Fire Services’ station commanders Act, (Act 117 of 1998). These functions are: Planning, coordination and regulation of district fire fighting services; specialised fire fighting services such as mountain, veld and chemical fire fighting services and the training of fire fighting officers. Staff The total personnel compliment of the Cape Winelands is 75 members, 10 reservist fire fighters and 12 Working on Fire structural fire fighters. During the wildfire season, 20 additional reservist fire fighters will be appointed as well as 96 contract ground crew fire fighters. “The most important asset the CWDM has is its staff and it is through our staff, that we are able to render a professional service of an excellent standard to the community. Cape Winelands Fire Service strives for excellence. The passion we have for the fire service fuels our goal to venture into an arena of service excellence. At the Cape Winelands we believe passion fuels excellence,” CFO Wilds added avidly. “The difference between a champion and a contender is passion. If you take a candid look at global winners in the energy field, from sport to business, the champions are always those who have infused a passion for excellence into their chosen path.” “At Cape Winelands, our goal is to learn from the successes of great leaders and become champions in 42 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

the national fire services profession through our passion for excellence. We acknowledge that the fire services profession is overrun with challenges and has limited differentiators, which define excellent service standards.” “While we understand that sometimes we may not always get it right, we take the feedback from our fire fighting personnel to heart knowing that they too are passionate about quality emergency services.” “We want to cultivate a performance driven culture in our department and to reignite the passion within our staff.” “Rebuilding our fire service into a service whose excellence is fuelled by passion, is an extensive process. Working hard towards ensuring that each of our invaluable staff members utilise their knowledge and experience optimally, is crucial in achieving our goal.” “Cape Winelands Fire Services passion for excellence will see us become champions in the fire services profession. Serving our community with loyalty and integrity we will work together towards actualising our goal.” Training Chief Wilds said that it was essential that they ensure that all CDWM members are trained and skilled through continuous training and are uniquely motivated to provide a quality and efficient service. The Cape Winelands District Municipality is legislated to provide training for fire

The training academy has accreditation with the South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). The head office is situated in Stellenbosch, which is traditionally and culturally a town synonymous with education and training. Over time, considerable investments were made in the training academy, thus resulting in it being one of the leading training centres in Western Cape Province. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 program, which consists of Fire fighter I, Fire fighter II, Hazmat Awareness and Hazmat Operations, is being conducted at the academy annually, attended by fire fighters from various municipal fire departments, South African Navy, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and Transnet from March to December. Challenges Challenges faced by the service seem mainly due to the restructuring. Chief Danie Wilds said that the division of functions resulted in a number of serious problems and concerns: • Duplication of expensive specialised equipment and infrastructure • Duplication and centralisation of fire stations in the bigger towns, which contradicts the purpose of risk mapping for fire stations in accordance with the national standard • Duplication of vehicles and too many vehicles concentrated in one area while the response time to other high risk areas are inadequate • Shortage of staff at the CWDM during the summer fire season where the wildland fire fighting is the sole responsibility of the Cape Winelands Fire Services and the fire service being much busier and operationally active than the other municipal services due to functional responsibility • The community is still confused about which authority to call when in need and unnecessary delays Volume 3 | No 6

Fire service

are caused when an emergency call must be handed over to another service when reported to the wrong municipality.

Short comings CFO Wilds added that one of the major short comings of the Cape Winelands Fire Service is the lack of proper fire station facilities, which has a serious effect on the morale of the personnel. Notwithstanding these short comings, the fire service will ensure operational preparedness and prides itself on efficient and effective service delivery to the entire community. Fire fighting vehicles The Cape Winelands Fire Service is fortunate to be equippped with excellent off-road fire fighting vehicles and equipment to deal with its legislated function. The fleet consists of: • 12 x major fire fighting vehicles • 2 x 10 000 litre tankers • 3 x medium fire fighting vehicles • 12 light fire fighting vehicles • 2 x hazmat vehicles • 1 x decontamination vehicle • 2 x rescue vehicles • 1 x incident command vehicle • 26 x service vehicles Chief Wilds proudly showed off the fleet and said, “Cape Winelands Fire Service is constantly in the business of building and customising vehicles to suit our operational needs and the topographical demand of our area. With this in mind, we are constantly evaluating and assessing to produce practical, yet efficient fire tenders within the road traffic legislation to develop the ultimate fire tender.” Risk profile A snapshot of the risk areas within the Cape Winelands Fire Service’s district: • Approximately 65 percent of the surface area comprises mountains • About 20 percent of ground coverage is veld and fynbos • Farming and plantations make up the majority of the remaining ground cover • The region experiences a very high number of wildfires from November to April • All major national and regional road and rail routes transit the CWDM and carry hazardous cargoes for local and Volume 3 | No 6

national consumption • There are numerous informal settlements and vulnerable communities throughout the district • Major fires and chemical incidents are a regular occurrence in the district. The environment and communities are extremely vulnerable to these types of disasters that have the potential to set back economic and social development. Evaluating local risks and planning for necessary resources Wildfires have been identified as a major and critical risk to the Cape Winelands community. As risks cannot be entirely prevented, effective evaluation and planning is necessary to minimise loss of life and property. Control measures include pre-incident planning; adequate fire services deployment and staffing and effective emergency management techniques. The core mission of the Cape Winelands Fire Service is to protect people, their property and the environment from fires. The primary goal is to prevent fires and, when they do occur, eliminate loss of life and reduce property loss. “Our preparedness planning for the 2014/15 wildfire season included a wildfire risk assessment,” said CFO Wilds. Determining the current and the acceptable level of risk for the district enables the fire services to set objectives for minimising or reducing

the risk. This is also necessary for future planning, and includes the identification of critical resources and actions that will allow for efficient and effective fire services at an acceptable level in the future. Chemical fires and incidents Chemical fires or incidents pose a serious risk to life and property and pollution would have major environmental consequences in agricultural and ecologically sensitive environments as are found in the Cape Winelands district. Wildfires Chief Wilds said that wildfires are classified as a vegetation fire of any size that occurs in fynbos, natural veld, plantations, crops or invasive vegetation outside a built-up area. “Integrated fire management includes all the strategies, plans and measures that are required and implemented to control the origin and cause of wildfires, prevent untimely and unwanted wildfires, prevent disastrous fires, respond to and control wildfires in order to achieve prescribed management objectives,” he added. “The effective management of wildfires requires planning and coordination in terms of the incident command procedures accepted by all role players within the Cape Winelands District. Response to a wildfire must begin with local incident management,

Some of the Cape Winelands dedicated and brave fire fighters FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 43

Fire service to live in more scenic and less densely populated areas. Others, without the resources to purchase land, are increasingly finding shelter in informal settlements located in the veld. This expanded human development is progressively increasing the vulnerability of lives and properties to wildfires as well as increasing the potential for ignitions to occur. As a result, the likelihood of disastrous fires grows continuously.

Rapid response light off road wildland fire fighting vehicles

expanding as the incident becomes more complex, with higher-level coordination when and if this is required or anticipated. Wildfires have always been a feature of the environment; however as the district developed, has become an increasingly problematic hazard to life, property and the environment,” he elaborated.

and dry conditions. Maximum temperatures can be as high as 47 degrees Celsius. Strong Southeasterly winds often occur in the area. In recent years, winds of up to 100km/h have been recorded on a regular basis during the fire season. “This causes extreme fire behaviour and makes fires difficult to control,” confirmed Chief Wilds.

Chief Wilds said that fires burning on high fire danger days (high temperatures, low relative humidity and high wind speeds) are often uncontrollable and highly dangerous.

Origins and causes of wildfires He described the main reported causes and reasons for spread of wildfires as follows: • Runaway prescribed burns, for example when landowners lose control while creating a firebreak. Also during other prescribed burning operations especially on high FDI days • Ignitions due to negligent treatment of picnic, cooking or warming fires • Runaway fires due to the ignition of informal refuse sites (eg burning compost heaps) • Lightning • Harvesting of natural produce like honey and buchu • Tools and appliances used by landowners in an unsafe manner • Lack of firebreaks • Overgrown road reserves • Arson

Weather Dry, hot and windy weather increases the probability of a major wildfire. High winds in particular, can transform a small, easily controllable wildfire into a catastrophic event. High temperatures combined with low humidity will cause fuels to dry out making them burn more readily. Large and intense wildfires can even create their own weather by increasing the velocity of winds near the fire, dramatically increasing the spread and intensity of the veld fire. Wildfires often become uncontrollable during periods of very high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds. Fire season The area normally experiences the most fires between November and April due to intense heat, windy 44 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Urbanisation The urbanisation of natural areas is an accelerating trend in many areas of the Cape Winelands. Many people are moving into natural areas in order

Effect of alien invasions Under extreme fire hazard conditions, the total amount of biomass (fuel) is the most important factor to consider. Sites densely invaded by alien shrubs and trees will develop much higher biomass than non-invaded sites of the same age. Alien-invaded sites will generally burn more intensely, which can damage the chemical and physical properties of the soil, with consequences of increased erosion when it rains. Operations 2014/2015 wildfire season The Cape Winelands District Fire Services experienced an extremely busy and rough fire season and responded to a very high number of fires including major devastating fires, which ravaged large areas of Fynbos, timber plantations and agricultural land. The fire services responded and attended to more than 1 300 fires during the summer wildfire season, which stretched the resources, beyond its limits. Fire fighting personnel and equipment from various agencies have been tested and stretched to the limit on numerous occasions and full incident command teams were deployed to manage a number of the operations. A unified command post was established at all the major fires to ensure the safety of the fire crews, to manage and coordinate the incident action plans .The high number of fires and, especially the major and devastating fires, could only be attended to, in many instances, with the assistance of the local municipalities, City of Cape Town, Cape Pine, Cape Nature, Working on Fire, contracted ground wildfire crews and aerial fire fighting support. Volume 3 | No 6

Fire service The most devastating and destructive fires were in the vicinity of Trompsberg in Ceres, De Vierde Liefde and Kluitjieskraal in Wolseley, Saron/ Tulbagh, Jonkershoek and most recently, Bainskloof where fire fighters also struggled to cope with multiple scattered blazes. The majority of the other larger fires were brought under control and extinguished within a period of two days. The extent of the areas of vegetation burned amounts to more than 50 000 hectares. Aerial resources ie helicopters and fixed wing bombers, were called out on 54 occasions. The total cost to Cape Winelands for the use of aerial support and ground wildfire crews amounts to approximately R13 million. The Provincial Government Western Cape (PGWC) also assisted Cape Winelands by providing aerial support as initial attack on ten occasions. A possible disaster to the community was prevented by the rapid response and effective fire suppression operations by all agencies involved. The incident command team and fire crews did extremely well to manage the incidents, contain the devastating blazes and avoid catastrophic fires. There was no loss to life or serious injuries and damage to property limited to only a few buildings destroyed by the fires. Other damages were limited to vineyards, orchards, water pipes, water tanks, hay bales, etc. Cape Pine experienced extensive damage to timber plantations when more than 1 700 hectares of plantation were destroyed during the Kluitjieskraal, Franschhoek and Jonkershoek fires.

“The fire fighters and pilots displayed tremendous dedication, commitment and skills during the fires that ravaged the Cape Winelands over the past season. Were it not for the fire fighter’s exceptional work, Cape Winelands would have experienced far greater damage and losses of property and risks to lives. The bravery and service of these dedicated fire fighters and unsung heroes need to be saluted,” enthused Chief Wilds. “Our inherent biodiversity, changing weather conditions due to climate change and negligent human behaviour increases the challenges when dealing with fires. The extremely high temperatures that the fire fighting personnel are exposed to, makes them prone to dehydration, which could lead to heat related illnesses. In addition, the excess hours- normal and overtime that the personnel have to work, further exposes them to physical and mental exhaustion that could make them prone to injuries whilst in the line of duty,” he added. Some of the outstanding key issues from the season are the size and duration of some of the incidents and the associated high costs of suppression. A lot of the incidents and expansion into complex and costly suppression operations were as a direct result of a few common denominators. These are as follows: • Excessively large fuel loads as a result of poorly managed

Hazmat response vehicle and decontamination unit Volume 3 | No 6

alien clearing operations and poor vegetation management by landowners • Inadequate clearance around structures has been repeatedly identified as a major factor in the destruction of homes and other buildings • Repetitive deliberate ignitions by members of certain communities • Negligence by members of the public and landowners due to open fires during adverse weather conditions (hot, dry and windy). • Extended periods of extreme fire weather ie hot, dry and high velocity winds. There were at least two extended heat wave periods in the district during January and February 2015, with no rainfall relief periods at all. Another concern is the general lack of adherence to national legislation by landowners and government institutions, with respect to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (No 101 of 1998). A single fire protection association (FPA) known as the Winelands Fire Protection Association has been formed and registered and this organisation will attempt to grow its membership and ensure that at least the members are compliant with the relative legislation, with the enforcement of its rules and regulations. It is also the intention to ensure that there is a coordinated and standardised approach to the management of fire risk within the district, such as the specifications and siting of firebreaks, equipment and training of members etc.

The outdoor training facility FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 45

Fire service stages or the spread and impact of larger fires being reduced,” reported CFO Wilds. The Cape Winelands District Municipality, through its fire services management, have embarked on a proactive approach to managing wildfires, which occur mainly between the months of November and April each year.

The Jonkershoek burn scar Interagency involvement Memorandum of agreement with the Department of Local Government The Cape Winelands District Municipality and the Department of Local Government entered into an agreement whereby the department will assist CWDM managing wildfires to deploy aerial fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to respond to fires in the initial stages and commence an early fire attack with the objective of preventing extended attack operations and major fire spread. Cape Winelands District Veld Fire Workgroup The fire services of the Cape Winelands District Municipality, Cape Nature, Winelands Fire Protection Association and Cape Pine entered into a memorandum of agreement with the objective that the parties agree to cooperate in the optimisation of their organisations and resources for systematically and expeditiously managing wildfires within the Cape Winelands District Municipal area. The workgroup met three times and attended an incident command training exercise prior to the commencement of the wildfire season to exchange information regarding resources available for wildfire suppression, areas of high fire risk, wildfire action plans and incident command structures to plan coordination at all major fires. 46 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

The operational procedure and incident command system during major fires was discussed and clarified with the aim that all role players will commit themselves to cooperative fire fighting strategies for the summer season. Continual engagement with all role-players was undertaken during the wildfire season to ensure good coordination and relations. Community assistance While the fire fighters were hard at work with their difficult task to manage and control the Jonkershoek fire, members of the Stellenbosch community coordinated a project to provide food and refreshments to the fire fighters. The community diligently got involved and generously offered their help. The management of the fire services and all other fire fighting agencies extend their sincere appreciation and gratitude for the selfless assistance offered by the community of Stellenbosch, all private companies and community organisations that contributed in providing food and refreshments to the fire fighters. Wildfire management “It must again be noted that the partnership between Cape Winelands District Municipality, Cape Pine and Cape Nature is working well and will result in fires being contained in their incipient

The aforesaid proactive approach to managing these fires includes the rapid response of helicopters, which can be deployed to rapidly respond to fires in the incipient stages and commence an early fire attack with the objective of preventing extended attack operations and major fire spread. This was used with great success during the 2014/2015 summer season. CFO Wilds explained, “Please note that fire suppression is only one part of wildfire management. Fire prevention is the most important component of fire services and combined with this is the safety of all our personnel during the fire fighting operations.” “The management of emergencies is a shared responsibility involving many organisations and people in the community. Although some organisations have specialist roles, wildfire management is not something done by one single organisation. An integrated organisational approach is the only way to ensure timely action to wildfires and provides a mechanism for achieving better outcomes by allowing the fire services, Cape Nature, FPAs and landowners to effectively work together before, during and after a fire,” Incident command system At all major fires an incident command post will be established with the priorities of life safety, incident stabilisation and property conservation being the main objective. An incident action plan will be compiled to determine strategic goals and identify tactical objectives needed to accomplish goals. Preparedness planning for wildfire season In terms of the Local Government: Municipal structures Act: 2000, Section Volume 3 | No 6

CFO profile

The accidental fire chief, an exceptional leader and teacher

hen visiting the Cape Winelands Fire Service on our recent trip to Stellenbosch, it was an honour to meet with its chief fire officer, CFO Danie Wilds. Although Chief Wilds never had the ambition to become a fire fighter, he always wanted to be a teacher. “My late elder brother, Johan, was a passionate and proud fireman at Bellville Fire Department and introduced me to the fire service and the examination study material. It was the mathematics and science subjects that triggered my interest and probably inspired me to become a fire fighter,” confessed Chief Wilds. “My first experience of lecturing to fire fighters happened when I was still at school in standard eight (grade10) when I explained the workings and diagram of an electrical doorbell, which was a popular examination question at that time,” he added. Chief Wilds joined the Bellville Fire Department on 1 December 1975, only three days after he had written his last matric subject and thoroughly enjoyed the action-filled adventurous profession and the opportunity to study and develop. Unknowingly, he developed a passion and dedication to his

84(1)(j) and council’s decision in this regard, the Cape Winelands Fire Services is responsible for the fire fighting function of mountain, veld and chemical fires. Due to the very high number of fires and major fires generally experienced during the summer season, resources are stretched to the limit and therefore special planning and organising is required. The Cape Winelands Fire Services, Cape Nature, Cape Pine and members of FPAs realise that preincident planning provides significant advantages to incident commanders Volume 3 | No 6

career as a fire fighter. “I have always collected study material, educational fire service magazines and improved my general knowledge,” he shared. He obtained the necessary qualifications and progress through the ranks and was appointed as the deputy chief fire officer at Paarl Fire Department in 1988. On 1 January 1993 he was appointed as the chief fire officer at the Strand Municipality and moved to the Cape Winelands Fire Service as chief fire services on 1 November 1997. Chief Wilds said, “I am still employed, passionate and dedicated to my profession and council at the Cape Winelands District Municipality.”

CFO Danie Wilds

“At the end of November, I will have 40 years of experience in the fire service profession and the last 23 years at the level of chief fire officer.” He has been involved with the education committee of the Southern African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) as examiner and/or moderator since 1987. “I have developed and compiled the study material used by SAESI students for the national examination. I have also compiled and conducted fire and disaster management courses to many municipalities during my career,” he added.

“My ultimate passion in the fire services was always training, lecturing and developing the skills of fire fighters to make them more effective and motivated. I have always learned from the experience of every emergency incident that I have attended and continuously cultivated the knowledge and skills of my superiors,” said Chief Wilds, sharing his motivation.

and emergency responders, allowing them to capture critical information before an incident actually occurs.

Integrated wildfire management plan An integrated fire management plan has been drafted for the Cape Winelands District and this plan aims to strategically set out a number of approaches that will result in more cost-effective and sustainable management of the benefits and threats of wildfires. “Implementation of the integrated wildfire management plan will result in healthier natural ecosystems, preservation of catchment areas, communities that are less at risk from fires and a more cost-effective fire suppression program,” said Chief Wilds.

The following information was considered during the preparedness planning process: • The nature and extent of the fire risk • Current capabilities/capacities and constraints of the fire services • Analysis of selected fire protection methods • Existence or availability of mutual aid resources of other agencies • Ability to provide reliable communications

Leadership “During my career, I have also experienced and noticed the need of true leadership in the fire services

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 47

Emergency medical service

The South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) metropolitan areas and remote rural communities. AMS also provides cross-border flights and services the whole country.

Mark Sutton, Garth Moys, Dr Philip Erasmus, Farhaad Haffejee and Jesse Roos at AMS headquarters in Cape Town

In a land characterised by vast distances, the AMS has become a vital conduit for delivery of emergency and critical healthcare services to rural and urban areas. The AMS works closely with Provincial Departments of Health and health workers in the communities to assess needs and implement appropriate healthcare programmes. “Our commitment to saving lives and changing lives knows no boundaries,” said Dr Philip Erasmus, CEO AMS.

he South Africa Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) is an independent, non-profit aeromedical organisation with bases in the Western Cape (Cape

Town and Oudtshoorn), KwaZuluNatal (Durban and Richards Bay) and Limpopo (Polokwane) that provide an air ambulance network, outreach and emergency rescue service to

Established in 1966 with loads of enthusiasm and a Cessna single engine six seater aircraft, the AMS was established by the South African Red Cross Society; the first and only

profession and always wanted to make a difference and still do my utmost motivating personnel to be true leaders.”

and coercion. For all those reasons, leadership is not about style or technique as much as it is about character. The real leader is an example to follow.

lead. Enthusiasm is infectious and optimism is contagious.”

“I have always believed that the leadership role is a responsibility and leadership is not automatically bestowed by a box on the organisational chart. Leadership is not something automatically conferred by title or by rank. It is a matter of ability, not position.” “The truest kind of leadership demands service, sacrifice and selflessness. A true leader inspires followers,” he added with enthusiasm. “The ideal leader is someone whose life and character motivate people to follow. The best kind of leadership derives its authority first from the force of a righteous example and not merely from the power of prestige, personality or position. Real leadership seeks to motivate people from the inside, by an appeal to the heart, not by external pressure 48 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

A leader is not someone who is consumed with his own success and his own best interests. A true leader is someone who demonstrates to everyone around him that their interests are what most occupy his heart. A real leader will work hard to make everyone around him successful. His passion is to help make the people under his leadership flourish. That is why a true leader must have the heart of a servant.” “Good leaders are never passive leaders. They don’t ask others to do what they are unwilling to do themselves. Roll up your sleeves and work as diligently as anyone else. Don’t be afraid to get your own hands dirty. Be relentless and dedicated to your work and your personnel will follow your

“A real leader’s aim is to make everyone around him better. He makes them stronger, more effective and more motivated. His confidence will feed the strength of others. He will build them up. He encourages them to believe there would be a future.” Advice When questioned about advice to fellow fire chiefs and fire fighters, Chief Wilds said, “It is my wish to see all modern day fire fighters follow a self-development strategy and start studying to enrich themselves with the knowledge and skills that we desperately need and should have, in our profession. I would also like to see the return of dedicated, motivated and passionate fire fighters.” “It is my advice to all fire fighters to be enthusiastic, optimistic, hardworking and proud to be part of the noble fire fighter fraternity.” Volume 3 | No 6

Emergency medical service voluntary manned aero-medical service to the country. Since then, the AMS has expanded into a nationwide aero-medical network. The AMS was established as an independent trust in 1994 and shares the principles and creed of the South African Red Cross Society and Red Crescent Movement. It is the mission of the AMS to contribute to the improvement in the quality of life of all communities, facilitate access to equitable and effective healthcare and the provision of aero-medical and other associated humanitarian services. The AMS plays a vital role in providing not only emergency rescue and air ambulance services but also a community outreach programme taking critically needed healthcare to impoverished communities. The organisation’s role includes to manage and act as the overall coordinator of the aero-medical, emergency rescue service and rural health outreach in the various provinces in terms

AMS CEO, Dr Philip Erasmus of assessing the needs, planning, day to day operations, monitoring and feedback to provincial and national health authorities. It also accesses the volunteer network (aero-medical) of the AMS to support the provincial Departments of Health (DoH) by supplementing the skills pool and sources funding to support the development and expansion of the service.

AMS’ vision is to be the most professional and effective aeromedical rescue, healthcare support and relief network to all communities in need. Its mission is in accordance with the principles and objectives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and in support of the National Health Systems to: • Contribute to the improvement in the quality of life of all communities

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Emergency medical service

A patient being loaded in the Pilatus PC-12 fixed wing air ambulance

Dr Erasmus chatting to a patient while the air ambulance is being readied

Pilots Jesse Roos and Jaco van Zyl preparing for take off

The Western Cape Department of Health EMS/AMS search and rescue helicopter with Jody Frantz, Jonathan Groenewald and pilot Donovan Köhl

• Facilitate access to equitable and effective healthcare • Provide aero-medical and other associated humanitarian services. The company’s core values are based on humanitarian principles, achieved by integrity, caring and commitment. The organisation is managed by a board of trustees who governs and oversees the activities of the organisation and consists of seven trustees. Core services and resources The organisation currently has a fleet of seven fixed wing aircraft ie Pilatus PC 12, six rotor wing (helicopters) aircraft ie two Eurocopter EC 130 B4 and four AgustaWestland 119Ke helicopters, which operate seven days a week. The Pilatus PC-12 fixed wing is a single turbine aircraft and is a fully equipped, 24-hour air ambulance, with a dedicated, medical intensive care-type interior. This nine seater aircraft has a pressurised cabin and has the capacity of up to 50 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

three stretcher patients. It cruises at approximately 450km/h, can reach an altitude of 30 000ft (9 144m), and has an ideal operating range of more than 250km. It is perfect for short striplandings and is utilised for transporting personnel on the outreach service. The single engine AgustaWestland 119Ke rotor wing is used as an air ambulance and for rescue missions. It is fully equipped with a dedicated, medical intensive care-type interior, with sling, winch capacity and emergency floatation gear for operations over the sea. This helicopter cruises at 250km/h and has an operating radius of 200km but can be utilised for further distances. It has the capacity for two pilots, three crew members and one stretcher and is mainly utilised for mountain and surf rescues, as well as interhospital transfers and primary calls. The Eurocopter EC130 B4 rotor wing is a single engine air ambulance and

is fully equipped with a dedicated, medical intensive care-type interior and sling operations with emergency floatation gear for operations over the sea. It has a cruising speed of 200km/h and an operating radius of 200km. It has a capacity for two pilots, two crew members and one stretcher and is utilised for interhospital transfers and primary calls. The AMS provides a comprehensive emergency aero-medical and rescue service in the Western Cape, Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and rural health outreach programmes (known as the ‘flying doctors’) to remote communities in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The work includes airlifting critically injured car crash victims or injured sailors at sea to flying teams of doctors to rural communities to provide specialist care. The ‘flying doctor’ services are directed at communities in isolated areas who have little or no access to basic health care services. The emergency aeroVolume 3 | No 6

Emergency medical service medical rescue service aids anyone who is critically injured and the teams will respond once dispatched by the provincial emergency services. The flying doctor and rural health outreach service (KwaZulu-Natal) • Provides delivery of appropriate and effective healthcare to rural communities, by flying specialists many of whom are volunteers, as well as support personnel to outlying hospitals • Provides specialist support to district and secondary hospitals • Decreases elective referrals from district hospitals to higher level facilities • Addresses acute backlogs at district hospitals for patients in need of specialist care • Addresses important community primary healthcare needs • Improves rural skills by training local and medical personnel • The KZN service has been extended to include ground support units to access areas that have limited access by aircraft. The ground support vehicles are also used to get to hospitals that are in close proximity to doctor’s supply. The flying doctor and rural health outreach service flies healthcare professionals to remote areas. Doctors, nurses, dentists, specialists and allied healthcare workers, many of whom are volunteers, visit rural hospitals to render clinical services to thousands of patients each year. Programmes include HIV/ AIDS management; ophthalmology; orthopaedic appliances; ear. nose and throat; speech therapy; occupational therapy; audiology; surgery; dental work; optometry; primary healthcare; obstetrics; gynaecology; teaching and training; trauma care etc. Air ambulance service The air ambulance service is provided at all the bases from which AMS operates via rotor and fixed wing aircraft. It complements the local road ambulance services by providing rapid emergency aeromedical transportation of patients who are critically ill and injured. The air ambulance fixed-wing services provide a 24-hour emergency medical service and inter-hospital Volume 3 | No 6

Precision flying skills demonstrated by pilot Donovan Köhl

transfers to hundreds of critically ill or injured patients each year. The rescue service (Western Cape) The rescue service, which is only available in the Western Cape at this stage, provides specialised medical, mountain and surf rescue services, working closely with local metro and affiliated rescue organisations. “Our crew extricate patients from life threatening situations and provide advanced life support (ALS) at the scene or in the air. Our air ambulance and rescue helicopters are crewed by specially trained pilots, flight paramedics, doctors and rescue specialists. Each aircraft is equipped with an intensive care unit (ICU) medical interior and can be configured with rescue capability ie hoist and sling, for mountain and surf rescues,” stated Dr Erasmus. “We currently have 106 staff members and a team of highly professional medical, nursing and paramedical volunteers and commercially rated pilots,” said Dr Erasmus. Volunteers AMS has many volunteers from pilots to medical specialists, paramedics, nurses and non-medical professionals who assist with coordination and administration duties. The volunteers

are vitally important to the functioning of AMS and they work tirelessly to perform emergency missions, often in inaccessible and inhospitable terrain. Because AMS operates a specialised service, there are stringent criteria for volunteer medical, rescue and outreach crews. Visit their website to obtain further details on becoming a volunteer. “Together with our provincial partners in government and the corporate sector the AMS continues to provide an integral service to the communities in which we operate,” added Dr Erasmus. “As part of our commitment to support the vison and mission of the National Department of Health by providing access to healthcare and contributing to the improvement in the quality of life of all South Africans, in this regard as far as we are aware the AMS is the first civilian organisation on the African continent to introduce night vision systems into its aero-medical operation in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health and the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund. This system will impact positively on one of government’s national development plans; reducing the maternal and child mortality rates in our country,” concluded Dr Erasmus. FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 51

Rescue roundup

Suction entrapment in swimming pools: a case study By Julius Fleischman and Neville van Rensburg For the rescuer and the public to understand why, we need to know the basics of pool and spa circulation. Pool and spa drains are different from those in sinks or bathtubs. Pool drains are actually part of a circulation system that’s driven by a pump to filter and maintain water quality. Water is continually being sucked into the drains and recirculated back into the pool. Swimmers, who come in contact with these suction outlets, can become entrapped, especially if the cover is broken or improperly installed. In some cases a vacuum can form, making it nearly impossible to free the victim.

Schematic of the incident ids need constant supervision around water, whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach or a lake.

Young children are especially vulnerable; they can drown in less than six centimetres of water. That means drowning can happen where you’d least expect it: the sink, the toilet bowl, fountains, buckets, inflatable pools or small bodies of standing water around the home, such as ditches filled with rainwater. On 20 February 2015, a boy in the Free State Province of South Africa barely escaped with his life when he became entrapped in the drain pipe of a local swimming pool. Statistics Since the 1980’s there have been at least 147 incidents documented of suction entrapment in swimming pools, including 36 deaths. Suction entrapment occurs when a swimmer, usually a small child, is trapped by the suction forces created by the water rushing out of the drain at the bottom of the pool. In some cases, swimmers have been trapped underwater until they drowned and in others they have suffered serious injuries to various parts of their bodies. Between January 1990 and August 2004, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 74 cases of body or limb entrapment in swimming pools, resulting in 13 deaths. During that same period, the commission also reported 43 incidents of hair entrapment or entanglement in pools or spas, resulting in 12 deaths and two cases of young children being disembowelled by drains. Entrapment is one of the hidden dangers of swimming pools many people aren’t aware of, until it’s too late.

52 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

There are five types of entrapment: • Body entrapment • Limb entrapment • Evisceration • Mechanical entrapment • Hair entrapment All often lead to drowning. So, what does the law state in South Africa about every public pool that we have; about an anti-entrapment drain cover to prevent such tragedies? The next time you visit your local pool, school or waterpark, make sure you ask the manager if they comply with this law. Ultimately, the issue of entrapment is just one more reason supervision is so important when it comes to water safety. In a life-threatening situation, when possible, it is necessary that the most qualified individuals available provide all assistance necessary during every moment of the situation. But when seconds count, there must be no delay in determining who is more qualified. Rescuers nightmare Scenario: a child came in contact with a suction outlet in a swimming pool and was entrapped. The cover was broken or improperly installed and it was impossible to free the victim who was trapped in the suction force. His head was barely above water and he was standing on his toes in a swimming pool. The nine-year old child’s hand and forearm were stuck approximately 25cm into the suction pipe. Rescuers needed to act very fast. The aim was to ensure that the victim could breathe and that the situation did not deteriorate further. The solution had to be quick and simple. Rescuers had to consider the level of entrapment, drowning and hypothermia, especially with the patient being a very young child.

Volume 3 | No 6

Rescue roundup The plan of action to extract the child had to include time, safety measures and team work. Case study: Free State Mangaung fire fighters chisel child’s arm from vacuum line That was precisely what happened on Friday, 20 February 2015, when fire fighters and rescuers from Mangaung Fire Department started a four-hour long rescue operation to free a nine-year old child from entrapment. A rescuer’s nightmare. At about 13h00, Mangaung fire fighters and paramedics were called to a local school in response to a call of a child who was trapped in a school swimming pool. When the first units arrived, they found the nine-year-old boy in the school swimming pool with his right arm stuck in the vacuum line. The boy’s school teacher was holding him above the waterline. Considerations Each entrapment situation that we may be confronted with will be different but the way each is dealt with, follows a basic pattern. The first officer on scene needs to consider the following: • Assess the situation • Stabilise the patient • Extract the victim Important questions include: • What hazards does the circumstances and entrapment pose for rescuers and victim? • Is the water level in the swimming pool rising or stable? • How big is the swimming pool and what type of pump system does it have? • Is the victim stable or unstable? • Time of the day; this will affect the water temperature and complicate the rescue operations as it becomes darker. • What is the quickest and acceptably safe way of getting into a position to be able to rescue the victim?

The rescue scenario The decision was eventually made to use a concrete breaker, chisels and a reciprocating saw to chip, dig and cut a 30cm by 60cm reinforced hole more than 60cm deep down to the pipe and remove the shutdown valve to increase access to the pipe. They covered the boy with hard protection, protecting him from flying chunks of concrete and he was given ear protection to muffle the noise and a mask to protect him inhaling dust. Rescuers placed two trauma boards below and above the nine-year old’s arm to protect it in case a chisel slipped.

We tasked two fire and rescue technicians who were highly qualified in aquatic rescue, medical and structural rescue to enter the swimming pool. Their function was to support, treat, monitor and stabilise the patient against drowning and hypothermia and to provide constant feedback on their progress and the condition of the patient and the level of entrapment. We called for more advance medical life support and placed the hospital on standby. We also focused on the victim’s body temperature, which would drop more rapidly in water than on land. It doesn’t take long for hypothermia to set in. If a child is shivering or experiencing muscle cramps, he needs to get out of the water as soon as possible. Using portable pumps, fire fighters drained 600 000 litres of water from the pool to reach the safe working environment for the patient and rescuers. With the boy entrapped in the pool with his head barely above water, fire fighters and paramedics attempted to lubricate the boy’s arm using K-Y Jelly, Vaseline and grease to free him from the outlet pipe. However, this did not work. Volume 3 | No 6

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 53

Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) standards

ersonal protective equipment (PPE) ranks last on the hierarchy of controls as the workers are regularly exposed to the hazard with a barrier of protection. PPE has tremendous utility and versatility and it is not the desired mechanism of control in terms of worker safety. However, in the emergency services it is, in most cases, the first barrier of protection in getting the job done. Therefore more effort, time and resources must apply when purchasing PPE. Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, gloves, goggles or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemicals, biohazards and airborne particulate matter. Protective equipment may be worn for job related occupational safety and health purposes, as well as for sports and other recreational activities. ‘Protective clothing’ is applied to traditional categories of clothing and ‘protective gear’ applies to items such as pads, guards, masks and shields. The purpose of PPE is to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are

Fire fighters and paramedics were concerned about hurting the boy further with their tools. After a considerable time, they managed to free the child and he was taken to hospital with the pipe still attached to his arm. The hospital safely removed the pipe after another two hours in theatre and no damage was reported to the hand and arm. Summary The rescue technicians took a lot of specifics in consideration during the rescue operation. These included: • It takes less time in cold water before the temperature of the heart, brain and internal organs begins to drop but skin and muscle temperatures cool far quicker, which may impair some essential early lifesaving actions. • Children cool much faster than adults because they are smaller and have less fat. Boys usually cool faster than girls. • Swimming may give a feeling of warmth but it accelerates muscle cooling. The body may produce more heat when swimming but it is also more quickly lost from the arm and leg muscles. • Normal clothes will not produce much insulation against cold water but they will slow down the rate of loss of vital body heat. • Wearing approved personal flotation devices, immersion suits and properly fitting wet suits will decrease the likelihood of hypothermia during the rescue event. 54 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

not feasible or effective to reduce these risks to acceptable levels. PPE is needed when there are hazards. However, PPE also has the serious limitation that it does not eliminate the hazard at the source and may result in employees being exposed to the hazards if the equipment fails. Any item of PPE imposes a barrier between the wearer or user and the working environment. This can create additional strains on the wearer, impair their ability to carry out their work and create significant levels of discomfort. Any of these examples can discourage the wearers from using PPE correctly or at all, therefore placing them at risk of injury, ill-health or under extreme circumstances, death. Good ergonomic design can help minimise these barriers and can therefore assist to ensure safe and healthy working conditions through purchasing the correct PPE and using it in the correct manner. Practices of occupational safety and health can use hazard controls and interventions to mitigate workplace hazards, which pose a threat to the safety and quality of life of workers. The hierarchy of hazard control provides a policy framework that ranks the types of hazard controls in terms of absolute risk reduction. At the top of the hierarchy are elimination and substitution, which remove the hazard entirely or replace the hazard with a safer

Signs and symptoms to look out for include uncontrollable rapid breathing, with possible dizziness and pins and needles, panic and a notable increase in both heart rate and blood pressure. Dangers include shock, drowning and stroke or heart attack. Preventative measures should include the wearing of approved lifejackets, clothing with good insulating and waterproofing properties, immersion suits (dry/wet). It is also important to hold on to some support and attempting not to move. We gave him plenty of fluids, particularly water, to prevent dehydration. We also monitored his airway, breathing and circulation, tried to prevent further loss of heat and protect him from wind. Apart from the loss or damage to the limb, hypothermia was our biggest concern. First the skin and limbs cool rapidly; then the heart, brain, and other deeper parts of the body. Hypothermia occurs when deep body temperature drops by at least two degrees Celsius. Body build, body fat, fitness level and types of clothing worn, all affect its rate of onset. The calculated actions of the rescue teams prevented such a young child from losing his arm and also the onset of shock and hypothermia. A basic understanding of the workings of a pool is very important so that you can react timeously to save a victim. All it takes is an inch of water. That’s it. Volume 3 | No 6

Personal protective equipment

PPE should be purpose-specific selected and purchased alternative. If elimination or substitution measures cannot be applied, then engineering controls and administrative controls that seek to design safer mechanisms and coach (teach) safer human behaviour must be implemented. The days when the ‘one suit fits all’ PPE policy prevailed amongst fire and rescue services are rapidly disappearing. As robust protection and wearer health and safety become the essential twin objective of protective clothing design for fire fighters, specialist technical rescue ‘protective clothing and gear’ have been deployed by a growing number of progressive services. These supplement structural fire fighting ‘protective clothing’ and lightweight wildland coveralls for scrub fire, vehicle extrication and specialised (technical) rescues; all these types of ‘protective clothing and gear’ reflect the growing trend to equip fire fighters with task-specific protection. Technical rescue by its very nature covers a range of activities and has become an increasingly important role for all emergency services including the police and ambulance services. Most fire brigades have changed their designation to ‘fire and rescue services’ to reflect the key role fire fighters now play in handling rescue missions either after fires have been extinguished or in scenarios ranging from building collapse, floods, road traffic accidents and terrorist incidents to recovering stranded humans from flash flooding rivers, mountains etc and not to forget animals from ditches and trees. Structural fire fighting requires wearer protection against heat, flame and water penetration while minimising the level of heat stress resulting from the physical burden of the PPE itself. Technical rescue, by contrast, is more about physical Volume 3 | No 6

protection from the hazardous environment in which rescue operations are carried out. This means providing adequate safety for rescuers from building rubble, sharp metal and glass, blood borne pathogens and a range of hydrocarbon fluids and chemicals. In addition, the clothing must be as light and flexible as possible to allow rescuers the agility and dexterity needed to work in confined spaces and use a variety of extrication equipment. The result is a PPE combination that is relatively lightweight, has a higher tear and cut resistant outer layer with an inner breathable moisture barrier. Additional protective gloves is also essential that will provide the wearer with the highest level of cut resistance and grip in wet and oily conditions while maintaining a slim fit not to lose the feeling of touch. Prior to 1991 independent, third-party certification was not required. Since 1991, the NFPA PPE technical committees have taken third-party certification very seriously. For example, all of the NFPA PPE standards have an entire chapter dedicated to third-party certification. Each standard goes into great detail about the qualifications of the certifying organisation, recertification, factory inspections, manufacturers’ quality assurance programs, returns, as well as manufacturers’ safety alerts and recalls. If an element of PPE includes the certifying organisation’s label on it, then that particular element meets or exceeds the minimum design, performance and related requirements of the standard. Each item (where a standard is available) must have a certificate of compliance and must be insisted on by the purchasing office. If a certificate (for example EN for European Standards) cannot be presented, such an item does not meet or exceed that standard. FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 55

Wildfire management

Vulnerability to wildfires By Malcolm Procter, deputy director, Department of Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Free State, South Africa (marginal areas of concern) hence escalating the footprint on the environment. Traditional authorities are owners of the land and individual communal farmers are stripped of the power and authority to make individual decisions to manage natural resources. With poverty rife in these communities, mitigation measures such as reducing livestock during drought are difficult to enforce for they are faced with land shortages.

When fires reduce the land’s inherent ability to control flooding, for example, they increase the hazard for households

ouseholds in particular geographic locations or socio-economic contexts may be more vulnerable than others due to differential exposure to risk and the presence or absence of social support systems and other safety nets and fall back options such as access to freely available wild resources or the ability to migrate. The risks, shocks and adverse trends and events that underprivileged people face can relate to external or internal factors including environmental hazards and extreme events, climatic uncertainty and drought, environmental change, disease, death and illness within the family, job loss and social disruption. The direct impacts of wildfires on lives and property, though dramatic, often are outweighed by other, indirect impacts on the economic well-being of underprivileged households and communities. Just the threat of fires reduces the market value of homes and other assets that are at risk and, all else equal, this reduction in value undoubtedly has a more intense

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impact on underprivileged households and communities too underprivileged to afford high-quality, fire protection services. Fires that disrupt normal commercial activities in a community eg causing evacuation from homes or temporary closure of work places, can have disproportionate adverse impacts on the families of low-income workers, who have the lowest financial reserves to cope with the disruption. Underprivileged people rely on ecosystem services for subsistence needs, food security, as inputs into a wide range of livelihood activities and for cash income, although the degree of dependency is often differentiated across communities, households, individuals and regions. Underprivileged communities use mainly natural resources as their livelihood strategies. While securing their livelihoods and food security, these communities exhaust finite resources thereby increasing their susceptibility to hazards especially in communal settings. A challenge posed under the circumstances is the overcrowding in pristine areas

Fires also can reduce the supply of goods and services derived from the ecosystems of veld and important to underprivileged households and communities. When fires reduce the land’s inherent ability to control flooding, for example, they increase the hazard for households, often underprivileged, residing in downstream floodplains. Fires can affect the welfare of underprivileged people throughout a city when they alter the vegetation of watersheds and thereby increase the cost of municipal water derived from them. Fires also can curtail the supply of some subsistence foods, indigenous plants and other resources important to underprivileged people and other groups. The connection between wildfires and poverty goes largely unnoticed and unaddressed because it falls between the cracks of institutions that focus on either poverty alleviation or fire management but not both. Rural populations in South Africa affect fire activity but the relationship is not simple. Van Wilgen et al 2009 conclude: “Human population densities have direct impacts on the size and number of fires in savannahs and grasslands. Fires in areas inhabited by people are much smaller due to human alteration and fragmentation of natural vegetation. The number of fires increases with increasing human population density (presumably due to increased ignition sources) but because the individual fires are smaller, less of the landscape is burnt.” And further: “If, as has been seen in other ecosystems, there were Volume 3 | No 6

Wildfire management to be a move to the cities and large parts of the landscape became depopulated, we would expect to see an increase in the area burned and the size of fires, without substantial changes in the fire intensity or the fire return period. The opposite would be true if rural population densities increased. (Increased human populations can fragment the landscape and can significantly alter fire regimes.) Compounding the problems of impoverished housing and derisory land rights are the squalid conditions that are synonymous with the poverty of slum settlements. The concept that ‘housing is a verb’ signifies the constantly shifting nature of the issues slum residents have to face and balance continually. Shack settlements are an accommodation option close to employment opportunities, as well as schools, college, hospitals, libraries, churches and other infrastructure that may be lacking in townships and rural areas. In other words, “the urban underprivileged have to solve a complex equation as they try to optimise housing cost, tenure security, quality of shelter, journey to work and sometimes, personal safety.” The crux of the housing problem is the issue of land rights. The dawn of independence in many countries triggered a population rush to claim their ‘right to the city’. However, this did not necessarily translate into a right to the land. Many post-colonial elites kept the same zonal restrictions and segregation policies of their colonial masters, separating the emerging African professional classes from the underprivileged masses. The citizens hardest hit during a disaster event are those communities living in poverty. A wildfire incident can cause an already underprivileged community to spiral into an even deeper level of poverty and with this also comes a greater sense of helplessness to change the circumstances in which they live. People lose everything in fires. They lose money, clothes, documents, medicine – everything. Children that lose uniforms can’t go to school. People that lose ID books can’t get grants and pensions. People that lose HIV treatments are sometimes considered to have Volume 3 | No 6

Each time households are faced with fire, their ability to recover is severely depleted defaulted. People sometimes lose jobs and have to drop out of studies. Children are haunted by nightmares. They can no longer feel safe in their own homes. Sometimes parents have to move to outbuildings that they can’t afford or to accept relocation to the human dumping grounds outside the cities because their children are too scared to sleep in the shacks. Impacted farmers are faced with the daunting tasks of repairing irrigation systems, clearing debris and unsalvageable crops, replacing equipment and buying trees and plants for replanting. These tasks are made more challenging by two factors. First, financing can be prohibitively challenging. Second, many impacted farmers face the prospect of multiple years without income while new plants and trees mature. And it follows that agricultural workers who remain in the area face the prospect of long-term unemployment and underemployment. For some employees who work for businesses that were temporarily closed after fires or were unable to get to work the short-term loss of earnings can cause a longer-term financial impact as mortgage payments, rents and other bills came due. The loss of personal tools and equipment needed for work is also difficult to quantify. Fires and fire-related programs can have numerous impacts, both short-

and long-run, on the local cost of living. During a fire, supplying the demands of fire fighters and support personnel for food, telecommunications and personal services can overwhelm the capacity of local communities and temporarily drive up prices for local residents. Or, a fire and fire suppression activities might disrupt transportation routes so that local residents incur additional costs to commute to work. But it is the downstream implications (intangible) that have the largest impact, increased prices for produce, the downstream beneficiation or add on benefits are nearly seven times the value, meat prices also increase as farms lose productivity until such time as the veld recovers equals impact on economy and the psychological shock of the devastation caused. Underprivileged people in developing countries have been found to be more vulnerable to disasters and other unfavourable events because they lack the capacity and resources to prepare for and respond to them. Inevitably they have no insurance cover. Further, even those with insurance sometimes lack sufficient coverage to replace what they lost. And even for those adequately insured, the settlement process can be daunting and difficult to navigate. Twenty head of cattle is a sizable portion of his herd and income, the loss of these cattle, no reserves and no FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 57

Wildfire management underprivileged people are more likely to lose more, or all, of their assets when their home catches fire. People with higher incomes, in contrast, are more likely to have assets like mutual funds and savings accounts that are not consumed by a fire. They are also more likely to have adequate insurance to cover the financial damage.

Underprivileged people can’t afford to buy replacement clothes when everything they own goes up in smoke money to repair fences equals cattle wandering off through broken fences and cause accidents in the road. Their farming activities lack diversification; after a fire there is no fodder and the availability of grazing is reduced. A fire could be crippling as he waits for the veld to recover properly. If he uses the veld early it may become overgrazed leading to a loss of vigor, loss of nutrients in the soil and follow on rains could lead to erosion. As the cycle continues the entire area may become degraded, thus affecting the economy as well as the vulnerability of the region. The adverse effects of frequent and uncontrolled fires threaten people’s livelihoods by causing damage to property and infrastructure, reducing the productive capacity of the land, destroying resources such as grazing and thatch grass as well as other nontimber forest products. This, in turn, has an impact on the national economy. “This economic impact can be illustrated by examining the effect of grazing loss through uncontrolled fires. Communities in communal areas mostly rely on subsistence farming. Regular crop failures brought on by failed rains or flooding often require government intervention in the form of food aid. Add livestock losses due to burnt grazing to these woes and the economic burden on the government escalates dramatically. In the freehold farming areas, grazing has to be leased from neighbours if more than 75 percent of the farm’s grazing is destroyed by fire”. Another

factor

influencing

wildfire

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risk is the availability of fire protection services. Primary responsibility for protecting rural areas from fire lies with district municipalities that lack capacity in terms of fire protection services, and underprivileged, rural communities may not be able to afford the level of fire protection available in urban areas. Most small communities are protected by fire protection associations that are almost entirely volunteer members. Though FPAs are often the first line of defence on the majority of wildfires, they suffer from a lack of funding for specialised equipment and have difficulty recruiting members and training members. Uncontrolled, untimely or indiscriminate wildfires pose a threat to healthy grasslands and good grazing. Large areas of protected areas have been burnt as a result of runaway wildfires sweeping into parks from sources in adjacent land, while large tracts of valuable grazing have been destroyed on neighbouring farms. “Indiscriminate or untimely burning can have a seriously negative effect on the palatability and nutrition levels of veld grasses. This, in turn, means that greater grazing pressure is brought to bear on areas where grasslands are still healthy”. In the event that fire prevention and fire suppression efforts fail and a home or other assets are destroyed or damaged by fire, the loss falls hardest upon the underprivileged. This is not to say that wealthier people and communities cannot suffer tremendous losses from fire. Instead, it is the recognition that

Poverty often is correlated with poor health and limited access to health care and both factors increase the vulnerability of underprivileged people and communities to fire-related risks. When underprivileged health reduces a person’s mobility, he or she either remains longer in a fire’s path or secures assistance from neighbours, FPA personnel or others. If the latter, then these people and resources are diverted from other fire response tasks. Fires can generate additional problems for persons with health problems. Those with respiratory problems may be more intensely affected by smoke. The stress of responding to a fire may trigger life threatening events for those with coronary problems. These problems are compounded by the limitations on health care typical of underprivileged communities and especially those in rural areas. A central characteristic of poverty is low resilience to economic disruption Wildfires have a devastating impact on agriculture, running into millions of Rand in damages to property, loss of life, livestock, game and grassland annually. Each time households are faced with fire, their ability to recover is severely depleted. Their assets, both social and physical, are gradually worn away by the continual incidence of fires and recovery can take time. Even if a household is not directly affected, it may lose social capital, as family and social relations break down when people are forced to resettle or temporarily relocate elsewhere. Underprivileged people can’t afford to buy replacement clothes when everything they own goes up in smoke or to live elsewhere for months while their properties are rebuilt or hire grazing whilst the veld recovers. They can’t afford to take time off from work to calm the fears of children frightened by fire. They struggle to search for a new job Volume 3 | No 6

Leadership

Integrity in the fire house By Wayne Bailey

consultant was interviewed about quality control. The consultant said, “In quality control, we are not concerned about the product. We are concerned about the process. If the process is right, the product is guaranteed.” William A Foster said: “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” If we substitute the word ‘integrity’ for the word ‘quality’, would it mean the same thing? Would the results be the same? Integrity is important in everything we do. I’m going to share a story with you called: “A very special seed – a story about integrity” from Character Counts in Iowa. A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have

when fires cause their employer to close shop either temporarily or permanently. They can’t afford to dip into financial reserves to backfill when budgets for other programs are depleted to bear the costs of fire response programs. “The evidence is conclusive that those at the bottom of the economic ladder are more vulnerable to the risks of wildfires. These findings are consistent with the conclusions of other studies of natural disasters, which find that the underprivileged are hit hardest in the face of catastrophes”. Due to the lack of sufficient income people start to use and overuse every Volume 3 | No 6

decided to choose one of you.” The young executives were shocked but the boss continued, “I am going to give each one of you a seed today – one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring and the one I choose will be the next CEO.” One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by; still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants but he had

resource available to them when their survival is at stake. As desperate hunger leads to desperate strategies for survival, many trees are harvested for fire wood, timber and art craft. Most of the underprivileged people use this fire wood as their source of income by selling it and art craft products are also used for income generation. The roots of the trees are dug out for medicinal purposes. This leaves the soil exposed as the grasses are also grazed by animals and also collected for roofing the houses. When it rains the entire top and good soil are eroded, which makes it difficult for that soil to produce better agricultural products.

Wayne Bailey nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues; however, he just kept watering and fertilising the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow. A year went by and the CEO asked the young executives to bring their plants to work for inspection. When Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot, she asked him to be honest about

As populations approach the carrying capacity of their environment, the concepts of capital and productivity are changing from straightforward economic (monetary) values to resource capital and resource productivity. Therefore, the sustained ability of the environment to provide resources is increasingly critical. The environment therefore needs to be protected for selfish as well as empirical reasons. In other words, for sustainable, economic as well as pure ethical reasons, the ability of the environment to provide resources and services needs to be cherished, sustained and maintained. FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 59

Technology

European cars will automatically

call emergency services after a crash

he European Union has approved plans to install an emergency call feature in all cars and light vans from 31 March 2018. The system, known as eCall, automatically contacts emergency services in the event of a crash, as determined by in-car sensors, such as those triggering the vehicle’s airbags. eCall establishes an audio connection with emergency operators and automatically transmits basic data including the vehicle’s type, location, and the time of the crash. Passengers and witnesses will also be able to activate eCall manually by pressing an in-car button.

of the type of vehicle or its purchase price.” Installing eCall is estimated to cost manufacturers €100 ($109) per car, although drivers wanting to retrofit it could expect to pay more. Sehnalova stressed that eCall will be completely dormant until the moment a crash occurs and that data is only transmitted once a car’s airbags are triggered.

“The European Parliament has repeatedly stressed that reducing deaths and the severity of injuries on the roads is its priority,” said Czech MEP Olga Sehnalova, the legislation’s lead negotiator, in a statement. She added that the system will be “a public service, free of charge for all citizens, irrespective

Last year, there were 25 700 fatalities on EU roads and motorways. eCall is expected to reduce emergency response time by 40 percent in built-up areas and 50 percent in the country and it’s believed the system could save as many as 2 500 lives each year. Sehnalova said eCall would also benefit tourists in the EU

what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next chief executive officer: Jim!”

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful; in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him! When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!” All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He asked Jim to come to the front of the room. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!” 60 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed. “How could he be the new CEO?” the others said. Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead, it was not possible for them to grow. “All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new chief executive officer!”

because “when you cross a border you have a language problem and often do not even really know where you are.” The vehicle’s location is established using satellite navigation systems such as Galileo, the European equivalent of GPS. Despite the potential benefits of eCall, some EU member states have objected to making it compulsory for all manufacturers. “The benefit of making eCall mandatory in all new cars does not justify the cost of implementing it,” said Claire Perry, the UK’s former transport minister, last December. “There was a view that, given the increasing responsiveness of our road network ... we did not feel that it was appropriate for the UK.” However, even manufacturers disagree. Erik Jonnaert, head of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, welcomed the law, saying: “The industry feels that the final text strikes a good balance between saving lives and protecting data.”

• If you plant honesty, you will reap trust • If you plant goodness, you will reap friends • If you plant humility, you will reap greatness • If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment • If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective • If you plant hard work, you will reap success • If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. Just remember, what we plant is what we reap. If you’re constantly planting bad seeds in the fire house, starting false rumors or using social media to bully someone, you’re not setting good examples for others to follow and produce bad fruit. You have the ability to stop the act of planting bad seeds and use your integrity to help others plant only good seed. You’ll be glad you did. Volume 3 | No 6

Mines Rescue Services

Mines Rescue Services celebrates 90 years of service

The MRS rescue drill unit

ines Rescue Services (MRS) is a private sector, non-profit organisation that, through the training of volunteer brigadesmen, provides the resources and expertise for an effective emergency service primarily to the mining industry.

emergency equipment and an emergency consultancy service to the industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We strive to provide quality training and to remain the leader in the world as far as mines rescue is concerned,â&#x20AC;? said Christo de Klerk, chief executive officer of Mines Rescue Services.

History With the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886, came underground mining at great depths, which in turn led to an increased amount of combustibles underground, mainly in the form of timber roof support.

Established in 1924 and officially opened on 23 January 1925, MRS, then part of Chamber of Mines (COM), provides training and rescue capabilities to all underground mines in South Africa. The organisation was established due to untrained persons trying to extinguish underground fires, which led to many accidents such as smoke inhalation and gassing cases. In 2014, MRS celebrated its 90th year of voluntary rescue service to the mining industry. MRS provides the emergency service to the mining industry through a cooperative agreement of sharing resources, training rescue teams, providing Volume 3 | No 6

MRS CEO, Christo de Klerk and Carletonville Rescue Station staff FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 61

Mines Rescue Services

Rescue team member rescue

The MRS 3 100m rescue winder

MRS Colliery rescue winder

MRS Colliery inertisation system

As gold mining on the Witwatersrand expanded and became deeper so the need for fire fighting and rescue operations increased. In 1924, the Rand Mines group established a Central Rescue Training Station (RTS) and commenced training selected employees as rescue brigadesmen. Training principles and equipment were generally based on the British Mines Rescue system and the breathing apparatus used was the Siebe Gorman ‘Proto’ with a duration of two hours. It is from this apparatus that the names ‘proto-team’ and ‘proto-man’ became synonymous with rescue brigadesmen. The station facilities and rescue teams were gradually made use of by practically all the mines on the Rand, the (then) Transvaal Collieries and even fire departments. Inevitably, the Rescue 62 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Training Station was approached to train employees of mines from other groups and in 1946 the station was taken over by the Transvaal and Orange Free State (OFS) Chamber of Mines and placed under the control of a committee of management. The huge post-World War expansion of the industry necessitated decentralisation of the Rescue Training Service and in 1961 the Welkom station was opened and served the OFS and Klerksdorp gold mines, including the base metal mines of the North West Cape. The expanding Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) coalfields and metalliferous mines prompted the establishment of a new station at Witbank. This station was moved to Evander in 1982 in order to provide closer facilities to the gold and coal mines.

In 1925 the Natal Coal Owners Society opened a rescue station in Dundee to maintain an emergency service for the Northern Natal coalfields. This rescue station operated independently but in parallel with the Chamber of Mines Rescue Training Service (RTS) until 1975, when it was taken over by the RTS and a new larger station was built in the same year. Unfortunately this station had to be closed in 2001 due to the downsizing of the mines in that area. In 1980 the original Johannesburg rescue station was closed and a new station was opened on the property of East Driefontein Gold Mine, Carletonville. This is the largest of the four rescue stations and provides an emergency service to gold mines west of Johannesburg, platinum and chrome mines in the Rustenburg area and since 1982 the Volume 3 | No 6

Mines Rescue Services Klerksdorp region gold mines which previously had been serviced by the Welkom station. In 1998 the Klerksdorp region was transferred back to Welkom. Recently, a new rescue station was opened in Steelpoort on 25 July 2012 to supply an emergency and response service to the mines in that area. July 1996 marked a change in the organisation. In line with the unbundling programme of the Chamber of Mines, the Rescue Training Service became a ‘standalone’ company. Changing its name to Mines Rescue Service (Pty) Ltd, the MRS is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Chamber of Mines Service (Pty) Ltd. 1 February 2008 marked another milestone in Mines Rescue Services when Chapter 16 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No 29 of 1996)1996 was promulgated and the brigadesman became rescue team member. Just as in the past, Mines Rescue Services (Pty) Ltd is a non-profit organisation funded largely by member mine subscription fees, calculated on a ratio of underground labour and tonnage produced. Alliances MRS works closely with all its member mines, the Association of Mine Managers of South Africa (AMMSA), the South African Colliery Managers Association (SACMA), the Department of Mineral Resource (DMR) as well as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Rescue training Volunteer brigadesmen (rescue team members) are employees of member mines who are between the age of 21 and 45, are medically fit, heat tolerant, have the necessary underground experience and have passed the prescribed training to become a member of a rescue team. MRS provides all rescue training together with refresher training to these brigadesmen as part of the service to the mining industry. Initial brigadesmen This is a five-day comprehensive course for all new Brigadesmen on the use of closed circuit, long duration breathing apparatus, fire fighting and associated techniques. Brigadesmen are required to be certified medically fit and will have an initial Heat Tolerance Test prior to attending the course. On completion of the course the candidate will be required to pass the Work Load Test before being issued with a ‘Licence to Practice’ as a rescue team member. Brigadesmen refresher This one-day course is offered four times a year to refresh Brigadesmen and to keep abreast of new techniques. This refresher will be carried out in a mine or simulated mine filled with smoke. Advanced brigadesmen This is a three-day course covering more aspects of mines rescue

incorporating leadership and planning skills designed for the rescue team captain and vice-captain. Control room manager A one day programme to equip managers with the techniques to manage an emergency control centre on a mine during an emergency. Rope rescue technician This three day course is designed to achieve competency in line rescue and high angle techniques and includes an annual refresher. Borehole rescue training A training course for specific rescue techniques utilising drilled boreholes and a mechanical winch to rescue persons trapped underground. Achievements “We have saved the lives of many underground employees as well as illegal miners during underground incidents,” elaborated De Klerk. MRS also has the most advanced rescue drill unit (RDU) in the world for rescuing trapped colliery workers. The organisation also has the only mobile rescue winder in the world that can raise and lower five persons at a time to a depth of 3 100 metres below surface. Challenges When asked about the challenges faced by MRS, CEO De Klerk said, “One of the challenges we face is

Geographical area and membership “We cover the whole of South Africa where there are underground mines from Messina in the north to Ulundi in the south and Black Mountain at Agenys in the west to Barberton in the east,” stated De Klerk. He added, “Currently, we have 127 member mines and 922 volunteer rescue team members. Our members benefit from world class training for their rescue team members as well as consultancy and assistance during incidents at the mine.” Volume 3 | No 6

MRS instructing a rescue team FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 63

Mines Rescue Services

Rescue team member training

to maintain the high standard of training. The other major challenge is illegal mining in South Africa.” Specialised equipment MRS has a number of specialised rescue equipment to enable swift rescue response. Equipment includes a trapped persons locating device (TPLD), a highly sensitive instrument that can locate any type of sound made by a trapped victim and locate the position of the victim above or below ground. The CCTV camera is an additional system for use with the TPLD, using a special electronic camera on an extension that relays a signal to a monitor for visual images to see or to reach locations where persons are trapped and to aid them with their rescue. The Bullard thermal imaging infrared camera allows the operator in a unique way to have visual in smoke and in dusty conditions, colouring the hottest objects in a scene blue image (Location of people in zero visibility). The Cyclops fully integrated remote eye (FIRE) is a wireless speed dome camera that allows the operator to have visual on the conditions in a vertical shaft while lowering the camera with the mobile rescue winder. The Rover is an ore pass camera with an umbilical cord PTZ camera that allows the operator to have visual on the conditions in an ore pass system and provides 180 degree panoramic and 360 degree surround view. 64 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

MRS provides all rescue training

MRS also utilises a bore hole probe camera to locate trapped miners in collieries as well as inspect the integrity of boreholes. The HOSAND heart rate telemetry system provides a remote controlled graphic representation of the heart rate of one or more people engaged in physical activity. The signal from the subject can be transmitted in range of up to 200 metres. Up to 32 signals from different subjects can be managed simultaneously. MRS also utilises a floxal inertisation system to inert coal mines during underground fires. The system comprises a floxal membrane plant that separates nitrogen from ambient air that can then be pumped into the underground fire area. “Inertisation is a method of controlling underground fires,” reported De Klerk. “The plant is entirely mobile making transportation and rapid deployment easy. The system allows for a safe process conducted from the surface. This means our brave fire fighters do not have to put their lives at risk by having to go underground during the inertisation process once the burn-area is sealed-off.” The long duration self rescuers are devices that allow underground workers to protect themselves against the toxic or oxygen deficient atmosphere that may arise in the aftermath of a fire or explosion. A self contained self rescuer (SCSR) operates completely independently from the ambient atmosphere, usually by reconditioning the user’s exhaled breath.

MRS also utilises various peripheral equipment that includes gas chromatographs, a continuous remote gas monitoring system, sub strata radios and Gene phones and various lifting, rope rescue and cutting equipment as well as compressors and generators. Latest technology In 2013, MRS invested with the financial backing of the Collieries Committee, its members and the Collieries Training College, in a new state-of-the art Schramm T130XD rescue hole drill with a pullback capacity of 59 000kg; a 15,24m mast length, capable of a 45 degree angle drilling. Its standard hole diameter uses a 660mm Numa RC 210 hammer bit with a 711mm casing advance system with Numa Surperjaws bit. The system uses three Atlas Copco XRVS617 compressors with output of 26,36m³ at 25 bar and an Atlas Copco booster compressor with an output of 145,44m³ at 69 bar. MRS also replaced its probe hole drill with a Schramm T685WS probe hole drill with a pullback force of 42 500kg, a mast length of 9,144m capable of a 45 degree angle drilling. The standard hole diameter is 165mm using the reverse circulation technology. The mobile rescue winder is a one person capsule that fits through the hole prepared by the rescue drill in order to lift or evacuated trapped persons to the surface. It can carry a maximum weight of 1 500kg at a maximum speed of 0,5m per second. Its operation is fully hydraulic and it has a Perkins four-cylinder back-up motor. Volume 3 | No 6

Case study: Open ended firebreaks

Open ended firebreaks – a safer new technology for the future By Dr Winston and Lynne Trollope

uring 2014, the research and development division of Working on Fire has researchedanddeveloped the best operating procedures (BOPs) for new and innovative technology for burning firebreaks. Conventional wisdom dictates that firebreaks are burnt at the beginning of winter when conditions, both of the weather and vegetation, is not optimal. This new technology focuses on optimal weather conditions that increase the safety of burning firebreaks and also factors in the condition of the grass fuel load. Open ended firebreaks are ignited in the late afternoon when the temperature is dropping and the relative humidity is rising. On a clear cloudless night dew point is reached in the late evening and the fire dies. Weather is all important when dealing with fire, a point the general public including farmers and wild life managers does not take into account. Weather in fact drives fire behaviour, particularly temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. Wild fires occur under ‘berg wind’ conditions with high temperatures, low relative humidities and high wind speeds. Grass curing is also an important factor impacting on fire behaviour; highly cured, dry grass increases the rate of spread of the fire. Rural communities living along the Lesotho border in the Matatiele district are regularly threatened by cross border wild fires started mainly because of cattle rustling issues. These often devastating wildfires cause great hardship to local communities with schools, preschools, abodes and extensive grazing being lost. The Firewise program was initiated to educate local residents in these Volume 3 | No 6

Collecting ecological data in this type of terrain is a challenge isolated areas to the dangers of uncontrolled fires to the community and provided simple measures and training to help mitigate the threats from wild fires. The director of Firewise, Val Charlton, requested Working on Fire to assist with burning a firebreak just below the Lesotho border as a barrier to these wildfires between Ongeluksnek and Quaggasnek in KwaZulu-Natal, their main area of operation. The best operating procedures for burning open ended firebreaks, as developed in the Kruger National Park where the research was initially conducted, dictate that the most opportune time to burn these firebreaks is in late summer or early autumn when the grass curing (the ratio of dry to green grass in the grass sward) is between 40 to 60 percent ie when the grass is still fairly green. The temperature must be less than 25 degrees Celsius, relative humidity higher than 50 percent and the wind speed less than 10km/hr. The window of opportunity was very

narrow as it was early June and if the venture was to be successful, the firebreak had to be burned before the first frost, which would escalate the grass curing to 100 percent. Collecting the basic ecological data on which to base the decision to burn (grass curing and grass fuel loads) was a challenge due to the inaccessibility and terrain of the area. In addition, the nearest weather station providing weather data for forecasting by the South African weather service was at Kokstad. The question was “How comparable would the weather forecast be to the actual weather at the higher altitudes at the time of the planned burn?” A Kestrel weather meter recording data 24 hours per day was located at a higher altitude before the planned burn to record actual temperature, relative humidity and wind speed closer to the border. The Firewise team collected grass samples for estimating grass curing and measured grass fuel loads using a disc pasture meter. The actual FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 65

Case study: Open ended firebreaks

62km of firebreak ignited in 40 minutes using aerial ignition

grass curing at the higher altitudes (1 800 to 2 000m) was between 40 and 60 percent and the grass fuel load was between 1 900 and 3 000kg/ha depending on accessibility to grazing animals. Although the ecological criteria for burning moribund, old grass is 4 000kg/ha, it was decided that even though the grass fuel load was below the

A successful open ended fire break along the border between South Africa and Lesotho

ecological recommendation, it was sufficient to burn a firebreak. Finally the weather parameters as recorded by the Kestrel weather meter fell within the best operating procedures and the decision was taken by Bob Connolly, the operations manager of Working on Fire, that it was all systems go! Open ended firebreaks ignited over long distances are achieved by aerial ignition using Australian RainDance equipment mounted in a Bell 206 helicopter, which primes ignition capsules and drops them out a chute. The ignition capsules were dropped at an altitude of 1 800m by the helicopter flying at 30m above ground level. The ignition line of 62kms was completed in 40 minutes!

A successful open ended fire break along the border between South Africa and Lesotho 66 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Ignition time was 14h10 with the temperature reading of 11,3 degrees Celsius and wind speed 6,6km/hr. The fire died at 23h00 (temperature -4,3 degrees Celsius) and the relative

humidity during the time of the fire oscillated between 28 and 41 percent. The average width of the successful firebreak was 200m. The reconnaissance flight the following morning picked up four hot spots where fires were still burning in kloofs where the fuel loads were possibly higher due to lack of grazing. A helicopter with a Bambi bucket was sent in to douse the four smaller fires. This remarkable achievement not only provides a welcome measure of protection from disastrous wildfires to isolated rural communities in South Africa but has also provided further insight into the role of weather in fire behaviour. On reflection, these results suggest that at lower altitudes, in warmer areas relative humidity is the controlling factor in extinguishing fires in the late evening whereas in higher, colder climes temperature is the factor that extinguishes the fire. This is a major breakthrough in fire behaviour! Volume 3 | No 6

Heritage

History of the bagpipes in the fire service

ontrary to popular belief, the bagpipes are not of Scottish or Irish origin. The first version of the instrument can be traced back to the Middle East several centuries before the birth of Christ. It was most likely a rather crude instrument comprised of reeds stuck into a goatskin bag. As civilisation spread throughout the Middle East and into the Mediterranean lands, the people brought along their music. It is generally believed that village musicians used the pipes along with drums for entertainment in an effort to brighten an otherwise drab existence. The instruments also contributed to other facets of community life, such as the burying of the dead. Some of their instruments were adaptations of the early bagpipe. Instrument sophistication grew with time, as reeds were replaced with the hollowed leg bones of small grazing animals. Holes drilled into the bones allowed the musicians to vary tones and pitch. Along with their trumpets and drums, the Romans carried with them their pipes. The legions spread the popularity of the instrument throughout Europe, eventually ending up in the British Isles. It was in the evergreen landscapes of Scotland and Ireland that the pipes reached their highest level of popularity. During the 14th century, the bagpipes could be found in nearly every village. Over the years, the bagpipes grew in sophistication. More pipes were added, enabling the musician to reach a wider range of notes. Mournful tunes were frequently played over the pipes following the death of a warrior. Villagers would gather around the body of their dead compatriot while the piper stood a distance away. It was said that the music was a sign to God that a brave and loyal subject was on his way to sit at ‘the steps of the throne’.

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The bagpipe was introduced to the New World during the great migration westward. British soldiers were led into battle by pipers and drummers. As the battle began, the musicians swung off to the side, encouraging the soldiers to fight on. Songs of victories past wafted over the battlefield, reminding the soldiers of their heroic legacies. During the great Irish potato famine of the 1840’s, hundreds of thousands of sons and daughters of Ireland left their homes for the promise of a better life in America. During the terrible voyage across the Northern Atlantic, the only respite was their music. Bagpipes, flutes and drums brought back memories of their heritage and when they could, they sang and danced to the tunes. Their music also mourned fellow travellers who fell sick and died along the way.

Those who have attended a funeral where bagpipes were played know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. The most famous song played at fire and police funerals is Amazing Grace. It wasn’t too long before families and friends of non-Irish fire fighters began asking for the bagpipes to be played for fallen heroes. The bagpipes add a special air and dignity to this solemn occasion.

The tradition of bagpipes played at fire department and police department funerals in the United States goes back over one hundred fifty years. When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to the USA, they brought many of their traditions with them. One of these was the Great Highland Bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and ceilis (dances).

Bagpipe bands represent both fire and police often have more than 60 uniformed playing members. They are also traditionally known as Emerald Societies after Ireland, the Emerald Isle. Many bands wear traditional Scottish dress while others wear the simpler Irish uniform. All members wear the kilt and tunic, whether it is a Scottish clan tartan or Irish single colour kilt.

It wasn’t until the great potato famine and massive Irish immigration to the East Coast of the United States, that the tradition of the bagpipes really took hold in the fire department. In the 1800’s, Irish immigrants faced massive discrimination. Factories and shops had signs reading ‘NINA’ - No Irish Need Apply. The only jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted, jobs that were dirty, dangerous or both, fire fighters and police officers. It was not an uncommon event to have several fire fighters killed at a working fire. The Irish fire fighters’ funerals were typical of all Irish funerals - the pipes were played. It was somehow okay for a hardened fire fighter to cry at the sound of bagpipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade.

Bagpipe making was once a craft that produced instruments in many distinctive local traditional styles. Today, the world’s biggest producer of the instrument is Pakistan, where the industry was worth $6,8 million in 2010. In the late 20th century, various models of electronic bagpipes were invented. The first custom-built MIDI bagpipes were developed by the Asturian piper known as Hevia (José Ángel Hevia Velasco). Today, the tradition is universal and not just for the Irish or Scottish. The bagpipes have become a distinguishing feature of a fallen hero’s funeral. Sources: Excerpted from Ohio Fire Chief, July 1997 and www.west-point. org/taps/Taps.html FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 67

What’s on?

2015 April 7 – 24 April 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Fire Instructor 1 course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 9 April 2015 SAEC Basic fire/fire marshall Training courses run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak Tel: 011 608 0907 10 - 11 April 2015 Ethekwini Fire’s ‘Grinder’ Challenge Fire fighter competition with categories such as age, gender and relay team. For all professional, volunteer and seasonal firefighters involved in municipal, aviation, military, petrochemical, ports authority and freight rail fire services Venue: North Beach Amphitheatre, Durban, South Africa Contact: Nicholas Orson Tel 0718596793/ 0313087019 Email nicholas.orson@durban.gov.za 13 - 16 April 2015 MIPS Moscow International exhibition for the safety, security and fire safety industry Venue: VVC, Pavilion 75, Moscow, Russia For more information visit: www.mips.ru/en-GB 13 – 17 April 2015 FPASA Fire prevention and safety strategies This course covers the theory of fire, legislation, use of extinguishers, flammable liquids and gases, hot work, fire hazards of electrical equipment and automatic fire detection systems, the organisation and management of fire teams and occupational fire brigades. Venue: 105 Springbok Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen Tel: 011 397 1618/9 Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 20 – 24 April 2015 FPASA Fundamentals of fire investigation Promotes a clear understanding of fire investigation and the rendering of opinion regarding origin and cause, includes practical investigation exercises and is aligned with NFPA 921. Venue: 105 Springbok Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen Tel: 011 397 1618/9 Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 20 - 24 April 2015 13th International Wildland Fire Safety Summit and 4th Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Managing fire, understanding ourselves: Human dimensions in safety and wildland fire Venue: Boise Centre, Boise, Idaho, USA For more information visit: execdir@iawfonline.org

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20 - 25 April 2015 FDIC International Conference Venue: Indiana Convention Centre, Indianapolis, USA For more information visit: www.fdic.com 21 - 24 April 2015 5th EMSSA international conference in combination with the 19th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine The theme for the 2015 conference is creating capacity, building resilience; with a focus on utilising prevention and preparedness to minimise the impact of disasters and hasten recovery by developing more disaster resilient communities. Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Western Cape, South Africa For more information visit: www.emssa2015.co.za/ 22 April 2015 Northern California Fire Science Field Day - Fire in Weaverville In 2014, a wildfire raced down Oregon Mountain toward the town of Weaverville. Just on the edge of town, the wildfire hit an area that had been treated with a prescribed burn earlier that year; fire intensities dropped, and crews were able to stop the fire Venue: Weaverville, California, USA Contact: Lenya Quinn-Davidson Email: lquinndavidson@ucanr.edu. Registration information and other details will be available soon 22 - 24 April 2015 EENA CONFERENCE The conference brings together European emergency services, public authorities, researchers and industry representatives from all over Europe and beyond. High-level issues will be discussed during the plenary sessions while operations and technical issues will be addressed during the parallel tracks. Venue: RIN Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania For more information email: tc@eena.org 22 – 25 April 2015 International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) 2014 Annual Conference Venue: Birmingham, Alabama, USA For more information visit: www.ifsac.org 25 April 2015 The African Federation for Emergency Medicine Third Consensus Conference The AFEM represents a broad coalition of national societies, organisations and individuals from over 25 countries Venue: IPM building, grounds of Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa For more information visit: www.emssa2015.co.za 28 – 30 April 2015 Fire and Safety 2015 - The 14th International Exhibition for Fire and Disaster Prevention Applications International Fire and Safety Expo will be held concurrently with Secutech, 18th International Security Expo. A gateway to buyers searching made-in-Taiwan products, exploring the latest technologies, connecting and building relationships with suppliers Venue: Taipei, Taiwan For more information visit: www.chinaexhibition.com/Official_Site/ 29 April 2015 ECCSA lecture: Generating research tools for descriptive studies A lecture aimed at young researchers and

clinicians (undergraduate and postgraduate) who have a passion for research in emergency care Venue: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa For more information visit: ecssa.org.za 29 – 30 April 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Resuscitation training for vessel entries course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com

May 4 – 15 May 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Vehicle and machinery rescue 1 course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 7 May 2015 Northern California Fire Science Field Day - Fire Effects in the Lodge Fire A visit to UC’s Angelo Reserve, which burned in the 2014 Lodge Fire Venue: Branscomb, California (Mendocino County), USA Contact: Lenya Quinn-Davidson Email: lquinndavidson@ucanr.edu. Registration information and other details will be available soon 8 May 2015 Marsh Fire Team Competition The competition comprises a number of set drills where the individual and the fire team are tested for capability and readiness Venue: Cape Town, South Africa Contact: Michelle van der Westhuizen 076 510 3541 or Email michelle. vanderwesthuizen@marsh.com 11 – 12 May 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Resuscitation training for vessel entries course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 12 - 14 May 2015 Securex and A-OSH Expo Securex will be the largest and most comprehensive show of its kind in Africa and the only show exclusively dedicated to the very latest developments in security, safety, fire and protection. Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa Contact: Joshua Low Email: joshual@specialised.com 12 - 15 May 2015 NAMPO NAMPO Agricultural Trade Show visitors offer latest equipment and technologies for the agricultural castor including demonstrations and competitions. Venue: NAMPO Park, Bothaville, Free State, South Africa For more information visit: www.nampo.co.za/

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13 - 15 May 2015 The Alan Brunacini Fire-Rescue Leadership Institute This retreat for chief officers introduces attendees to an array of case studies and personal experiences by some of the USA’s fire service leaders. Roundtable discussions and presentations designed to prepare individuals for their journey through fire and rescue leadership. Venue: Charleston Fire Department, 1451 King St, Charleston, SC, USA Contact: 00770 254 3900 Email: fireleadership @columbiasouthern.edu For more information visit: https://mycsu.columbiasouthern.edu 15 May 2015 Marsh Fire Team Competition The competition comprises a number of set drills where the individual and the fire team are tested for capability and readiness Venue: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Contact: Michelle van der Westhuizen 076 510 3541 Email michelle.vanderwesthuizen @marsh.com 18 May – 12 June 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Pump Operation Course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 19 May 2015 Northern California Chaparral Fire Hazard Summit Participants will learn about fuel hazard reduction treatments, tour a 10-year old fire/fire-surrogate study, and help build a decision support tool that focuses on these key questions in Chaparral: Should we treat or accept fuel hazard? If treatments occur, What treatment should be used?, and When should treatments occur? Venue: UC Hopland Research & Extension Centre, California, USA For more information visit: http://hrec.ucanr.edu/ 20 - 22 May 2015 Disaster Management Fourth International Conference on disaster management and human health: Reducing risk, improving outcomes Venue: Istanbul, Turkey For more information visit: www.wessex.ac.uk/15-conferences/ disaster-management-2015 21 May 2015 SAEC Basic fire/fire marshall Training courses run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak Tel: 011 608 0907 22 May 2015 Marsh Fire Team Competition The competition comprises a number of set drills where the individual and the fire team are tested for capability and readiness Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa Contact: Michelle van der Westhuizen 076 510 3541 Email michelle.vanderwesthuizen @marsh.com

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25 May 2015 ECCSA lecture: Sample size in descriptive research A lecture aimed at young researchers and clinicians (undergraduate and postgraduate) who have a passion for research in emergency care Venue: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa For more information visit: ecssa.org.za 25 – 29 May 2015 FPASA Fire appliance reconditioning A course to provide learners with a working knowledge of the correct measures to be taken to restore an extinguisher or hose-reel to full operational readiness Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen Tel: 011 397 1618 Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 25 - 27 May 2015 SAEC First Aid Level 2 Training Course Training course run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak Tel: 011 608 0907 28 – 31 May 2015 International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference Explore the latest innovations in hazmat Venue: Baltimore, Maryland, USA For more information visit: www.iafc.org/hazmat

June 1 – 5 June 2015 FPASA Confederation of Fire Protection Association’s (CFPA) certificate in principles of fire safety engineering course The course covers the application of fire safety engineering principles to the design of buildings Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen Tel: 011 397 1618 Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 4 – 7 June 2015 National Search and Rescue Conference SARCON2015 is a multifaceted exposition featuring instructional tracks and trade-show that caters exclusively to decision-makers and SAR professionals involved in all aspects of search and rescue. Venue: Estes Park, Colorado, USA For more information visit: mtrescueassoc.blogspot.com/?m=0 8 - 12 June 2015 FPASA Fire prevention and safety strategies This course covers the theory of fire, legislation, use of extinguishers, flammable liquids and gases, hot work, fire hazards of electrical equipment and automatic fire detection systems, the organisation and management of fire teams and occupational fire brigades. Venue: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen Tel: 011 397 1618/9 Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za

8 - 13 June 2015 Interschutz 2015 Originally conceived as a trade show for the fire services, Interschutz has grown to become the world’s leading exhibition for fire prevention, disaster relief, rescue and safety and security. Venue: Hanover, Germany For more information visit: www.interschutz.de/home 8 - 13 June 2015 Toughest Fire Fighter Alive 2015 The 2015 Toughest Fire Fighter Alive (TFA) competition will take place at Interschutz as part of the world championships Venue: Hanover, Germany For more information visit: www.interschutz.de/home 16 - 18 June 2015 IFSEC International This event will focus specifically on leading global technology, solutions, knowledge and the latest innovations Venue: ExCel, London, UK For more information visit: www.ifsec.co.uk/ 16 - 18 June 2015 FIREX International This event offers fire and security professionals access to leading global technology, solutions and knowledge to ensure life safety Venue: ExCel, London, UK For more information visit: www.firex.co.uk/ 16 - 20 June 2015 Thermprocess 2015 Trade fair and seminar Venue: Messeplatz, Germany For more information visit: www.thermprocess-online.com/ 17 - 20 June 2015 NYSAFC 109th Annual Conference and FIRE 2015 Expo Venue: Verona, New York, USA For more information visit: www.nysfirechiefs.com 18 June 2015 SAEC Basic fire/fire marshall SAEC Training courses run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak Tel: 011 608 0907 18 – 19 June 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Resuscitation training for vessel entries course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 20- 25 June 2015 NFPA conference and expo This conference and expo are the year’s largest event for the fire protection, life safety and electrical, widely regarded as the most comprehensive event in the industry Venue: McCormick Place Convention Centre, Chicago, Illinois, USA For more information visit: www.nfpa.org/conferencely 2015

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Poem ‘Why fire fighters are not heroes’ was written by Di Brown after the recent Muizenburg and Cape Point fires

“There is no place for a hero in a fire” Fire fighting is about team work, training, physical fitness and endurance. It is about respect for and understanding of fire and fire behaviour. Fire fighters are not glory seekers who want to be heroes; they are dedicated men and women with a calling. Most fire fighters I know, full time and volunteers, are humble people who have a fascination and passion for fires and fire fighting. Many of them display a strong sense of community service and you will often find they are involved in other ways, either as volunteers for other organisations or active on committees in whatever their particular hobby or sport is. Right now, the work of the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) may appear glamorous and exciting with many people wanting to do what they are doing. The reality is that a fire on this scale only comes around every five to ten years. The members of VWS spend many more hours doing training, standby duty, refresher courses and fitness skills than they do fighting fires. This requires a high degree of dedication and commitment. In my opinion, it is this dedication that makes them heroes. They give up their free time so that when a fire like this occurs, they are trained, ready and willing to take leave from their jobs to do what must be done. The fire fighters in the full time employment of the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services do what we are seeing now on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and more. Often on a smaller scale and out of the public eye, many times more dangerous than what we are seeing in this fire. Over and above wildfires, they also contend with countless veld fires that can take hours to put out, burning houses, runaway shack fires, false alarms, incidents regarding hazardous materials and burning factories. Fire and rescue workers are also trained in basic life support and part of their job is attending motor vehicle accidents. They have to keep their spirits up when being faced with death, tragedy and danger on a regular basis. There is no place for a ‘hero’ who wants to run into a burning building to rescue the little child or the fire fighter who breaks away from his crew to run down a ravine to rescue Bambi. This behaviour puts the entire fire crew at risk. Fire fighting is about teamwork, obeying orders and being in a frightening situation while staying calm, thinking clearly and putting the hours of training and studying into practice. The unseen side of the City of Cape Town fire fighters and the numerous fire departments across South Africa, are the hours and hours of drills and practice, the cleaning of the station and vehicles, sitting watch answering calls between midnight and 4h00 am and dealing with abuse, stoning of vehicles and disruptive bystanders when at calls. It is the abandoning of the supper they have just cooked at the station to respond to a call. It is busy shifts when they run out of clean gear and spend 12 hours in wet clothes. It is the effort required while off duty to maintain the fitness levels required to do the job effectively. I am not speaking as a representative of VWS or the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services. I am speaking as the mother of a son who has been with VWS for 10 years and who is a full time fire fighter for the City of Cape Town. I have washed the uniforms, seen the exhaustion, heard the coughing and missed my son when he has been on duty on countless birthdays, Christmas, public holidays and family celebrations. I salute all the members of the VWS, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, disaster management and Working on Fire members. By Di Brown Thank you for your selfless dedication. Twitter: @DiBrown5 ; Instagram: http://instagram.com/roaming_giraffe 70 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 6