Hi-tech Fire Engines to Boost Firefighting Capacity
The City of Cape Town has taken delivery of the first of two hi-tech fire engines that will further boost the Fire and Rescue Service’s response to the increase in both structural and vegetation fires during this time of year. The vehicle has been acquired at a cost of R3 million.
These fire engines are the first of their kind in South Africa and their design allows them to comfortably traverse both urban and rural terrain. The vehicles have GPS functionality, tiptronic gearboxes, provide more space for equipment and personnel, and are fitted with telescopic lights that illuminate the scene of a fire when it is dark or there is no street lighting, which is particularly useful in informal settlements.
The pumps can produce water or foam with a single control and can be operated independently, which frees up the pump operator. Other features include an automatic shut-off when the tank is full as well as a peripheral tank level indicator.
‘These vehicles offer us so much more in terms of accessibility and features, which means that one vehicle can now do what previously required the use of two vehicles because of design limitations. So, already we can look forward to saving on both resources and manpower. When you consider that we spent a little over R2 million on a fire engine four years ago, we really are getting value for money with the new acquisitions. There is a huge expectation of our firefighters during this time of year and we are doing everything possible to equip them as best we can so that they can save lives and properties,’ says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The City’s Fire and Rescue Service has already responded to thousands of incidents since the fire season started in November, with more than 1 000 vegetation fires reported by mid-November. Since the beginning of December, staff have responded to 47 fires in informal settlements that have resulted in six fatalities and 218 structures affected. The statistics are slightly lower than the corresponding period in 2013 (56 fires, 358 structures affected, eight fatalities), but are still cause for concern.
The City would like to urge residents to be extra vigilant about fire safety at this time and not to leave open flames unsupervised. Residents are also urged to ensure that all non-essential appliances are switched off and unplugged during load shedding.
‘We recently responded to a house fire where the occupants indicated that the cause might have been a hair straightener that had been left switched on when the electricity went off. When the power supply was restored, it i believed the device overheated and resulted in the fire. So I really would like to use this as a cautionary tale and remind residents to make sure that all of their non-essential appliances are switched off an unplugged, not just when there is an electricity disruption, but in general. Not only does it reduce the risk of fire, but also saves on electricity usage,’ says Smith.
For an extensive list of fire safety tips, follow the link: http://tinyurl.com/pjavsgp.