The heat may be on as the fire season approaches, but the crack Working on Fire (WOF) Team based at the Ndlambe Fire Station in Bathurst Rd have been declared fit to tackle any wildfires that may impact the region during the new fire season.
The WOF team of 25 members have received their yellow cards qualification which certifies them fit for the fire season after an intensive accreditation process under jurisdiction of the WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture programme in the Western Cape and the western region of the Eastern Cape.
At least 300 firefighters from 14 bases in the Eastern Cape and 756 from the Western Cape were assessed for the fire season that starts from December 1 over six months.
The yellow card training and assessment conducted by the Eastern Cape’s Grounds Operation Manager and Regional Manager included various fitness routines – such as 10km route march, firewall exercises, a 2.4km run, push-ups, and pull-ups. Various equipment utilised by the WOF group was subject to a rigorous check.
WOF team senior crew leader based at the Ndlambe Fire Station, Mzimkhulu Mdladlamba, says the yellow card accreditation process, conducted on an annual basis was a stringent test of every member’s state of readiness for the fire season.
“If you don’t get your card, you can’t be included in the group, simple as that,” he said during Talk of the Town’s visit to station headquarters.
“We prepare very well, but when someone walks in to do our assessment, we are all very nervous. But I’m happy that everyone in my team received their yellow card. It can be very challenging if team members don’t make it, because that disrupts the team’s strength.”
Sophisticated tools
Mdladlamba who last year embarked on his third trip to Canada with SA’s WOF team to assist with fighting the wildfires in that country, documented as the worst in their history, says that experience has been a huge eye-opener. Five members of the Ndlambe WOF team have been to Canada at various times to assist with fire fighting initiatives,
“That experience was on a different level … when you are on the list to fight these fires in Canada, you have to go to Mpumalanga to pass a very strenuous seven-day assessment test to join the group.
“In Canada, it is different in a way … the tools that we are using are sophisticated … we fight fires even when it is raining because they still burn underground even during bad weather
“As a WOF fire fighter, safety and discipline are very important in Canada. If you are not disciplined, the authorities will book you out immediately.”
Mdladlamba says mental wellness mental and mental fitness are important facets of the job, and as team leader he makes sure that there are structures in place to assist personnel if required.
“We emphasise that it is important for any member to report to us when they have a personal problem (outside of work) … we might not even allow a Working on Fire member to go out to fight a fire if they are battling any personal issues.
“In firefighting, listening skills are very important … we communicate a lot … and we use a buddy-buddy system where if you have a problem you have someone you can talk to. We also have safety and educational talks every morning on matters that might affect performance in the workplace.”
Phumza Dyantyi, General Manager of the WOF-Kishugu JV in the Eastern Cape, says firefighters will not be allowed to battle wildfires during the summer season without valid yellow cards.
“This assessment is not just a legal requirement; it’s a critical process to ensure our firefighters are at their peak – physically, mentally, and tactically prepared for the challenging fire season ahead,” she said.
Fire and Emergency Services manager at Ndlambe Municipality, Mervyn Sauls, said though the WOF group was a separate entity from their operation, they were stationed at their base and could perform integrated tasks.
“They (WOF) are not urban fire fighters .. they are wild fires fire fighters who are trained specifically for that and are working under the jurisdiction of the Veld and Forest Fire Act … we work together when there is a fire, but they are on a different payroll,” said Sauls who is also base manager for the WOF team.
“With the yellow card competency test you are confident that you team is at the required standard where you want them to be.”
Sauls says team members have to be ready to be moved anywhere in the Eastern Cape should any wildfires occur “such as the case with recent fires in Transkei and Zuurberg earlier this year.”
Sauls says endurance is one of the more important attributes any fire fighter should have in his skills set.
“We test endurance most days … they run 2.4km and are timed over 12 minutes; for women it’s 14 minutes and other physical fitness routines. Our Working on Fire Group are very fit. Last year during our Eastern Cape sports event our base took all the trophies – we had the fastest male, fastest female and best crew leader.”
“We have a young, vibrant team … they love their singing, they have good teamwork and great energy. I am very happy with them.”
Ndlambe’s fire season
Sauls says the state of fire fighting readiness is more intense as the impact of global warming makes its presence felt. “We have to be ready … one can see the inclement weather is unseasonal; winters and summers are sporadic. The windy season continues to move and seems now to be towards December, February, March and the dry veld with the wind poses a high fire risk.”
Ndlambe’s fire chief says their area of jurisdiction stretches further east to Kleinemonde and also Alexandria, towards the Fish River and Bloukrans area – a huge stretch of 2,000 square kilometres.
Sauls, who sits on the Farmers Association as a Fire Protection Officer, says though the hot, dry, summer season at times brings with it veld fires the Ndlambe region does not have fires that are out of control due to rigorous checks and balances.
“I guide farmers according to the fire prevention legislation and safety. We issue burn permits on a regular basis – farmers need to do controlled burning as they want to access the grain sprouts on the surface for their livestock/animals – and it also controls tick infestation. I liaise with farmers all the time; I advise them on weather conditions and they need to keep us informed when they are burning and when they have finished.
“We normally get controlled burning prohibition notices from the provincial department over December because of windy weather … and the farmers are really cooperating,” said Sauls.
- This article was first published in Talk of the Town, October 31, 2024. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
