LIMPOPO – Tzaneen’s Fire and Emergency Support Service’s beloved mascot, Asterix the Long Firefighting Dog NPC, is setting the town “ablaze” with excitement after launching a mystery-identity competition that has locals talking across social media.

This competition aims to strengthen community awareness and help residents understand what the service does and how it assists during emergencies.

How the Fire & Emergency Support Service operates

Fire & Emergency Support Service operates across the Greater Tzaneen area, supporting communities during veld, forest, structural, and motor vehicle-related incidents.

“We are not a private fire brigade; instead, we function as a support and assistance service, filling gaps when official resources are limited or when additional manpower is needed,” said Jaco Rautenbach, managing director and founder.

He said that the idea behind the “mysterious firefighter” competition is a fun, interactive way to increase public awareness in a non-emergency setting.

“We want people to explore our Facebook page, get to know our organisation, recognise the faces and names behind our team, and become familiar with the services we provide,” he said.

So while the competition is fun, light-hearted, and meant to bring smiles, the underlying purpose is to build a stronger connection with the community we serve.

We want residents to know that when a fire, accident, or emergency happens, there is a local NPC ready to assist with professionalism, equipment, and genuine care.

Rules of engagement

Now, residents are being challenged to guess who the hidden firefighter is, and with a R700 Cape Union Mart gift voucher on the line, participation has been enthusiastic and widespread.

The rules are simple:

• Guess the firefighter’s identity in the comments section
• Like and share the original post
• Like and share the Asterix NPC page
• Invite friends to follow the page
• Tag at least five friends

All correct answers will enter a lucky draw to determine the winner.

The team added a clever clue for participants: the firefighter’s name is somewhere on their Facebook page, but people will need to do a little digging.

With the competition closing on December 20, the countdown has begun, and community members are already joining in the fun, tagging friends, sharing leads, and keeping a watchful eye on every update.

Stay tuned for updates on the competition, safety tips, and the big reveal only on their Asterix The Long Firefighting Dog NPC – Fire & Emergency Support Service.