THE Letaba Fire Protection Association (LFPA) first organised the (International Fire Fighters Day) IFFD in 2016.

The focus this year is on the volunteer fire fighters who do not get acknowledged.

This year commemorates the tenth anniversary of the five fire fighters who died during a veldfire in Australia in 1998.

That incident brought about the International Fire Fighters Day which is celebrated internationally on 4 May.

Everyone in the emergency services get recognized, from the farm worker, manager, fire services, fire fighters to pilots and the Fire Protection .

One of the most significant symbols of the IFFD is the red and blue ribbon.

This was chosen because the red stood for the element of fire whereas the blue would represent the element of water.

These colours are also recognized worldwide to signify emergency services.

They are the on-the-ground-personnel that baby-sit fires in the wee hours of the night without company, without given coffee or something to eat, without recognition, without being paid, without the community even knowing they are out there.

And they do not mind doing it.

We salute you!

‘We give honour to fire fighters who must endeavour smoke, sirens, heat, ash and often enough, thankless landowner smoke, sirens, heat, ash, and often enough, thankless landowners.’

The Letaba Fire Protection Association invite Working on Fire, the Mopani Fire Service, EMS, ER24, the local municipality and all our members to join us for a parade through Tzaneen on May 4 to celebrate this day