Fire brigade understaffed and underequipped
Upon enquiry it was found that the fire truck had been at the dealership for 12 months
MBOMBELA – A recent accident has diminished the Mbombela Fire Department’s vehicles to one rescue vehicle and one fire truck.
The accident occurred on the corner of Samora Machel Drive and Valencia Road on May 8. A solid source stated that the vehicle had not been serviced for four years and that the emergency lights and brakes had been faulty. “The firemen had reported the problems many times, but to no avail.”
On the day of the accident Mbombela municipality spokesman Joseph Ngala denied the allegations, and reported that the firemen had been responding to an accident on the KaMagugu Road when it itself got involved in one. “The vehicle was roadworthy and in good mechanical condition, so it cannot be correct that it was in disrepair.”
He added that he wished to warn road users that when rescue vehicles are responding to an accident scene with sirens and emergency lights on, motorists should promptly give way.
Upon investigation, Lowvelder found four other rescue vehicles at a local dealership as well as a fire truck. Upon enquiry it was found that the fire truck had been at the dealership for 12 months awaiting approval from the municipality to have the propshaft repaired. Its registration had expired on August 31, 2017.
The rescue vehicles had been standing for months for pickup. “Those vehicles have been standing here for about four to six months. Once they pick up the vehicle, they have to pay the account,” said the mechanic.
The source further added that the firemen were also frustrated, as there was only one fire truck and a Hazmat truck for the area and their hydraulic equipment had not been serviced for three years. “There are also too few staff members for the area they have to cover.”
“These men work hard and are the first to put their life on the line for others, but their lives are more in danger than ever having faulty equipment. But even if they have all the trucks, for safety reasons a minimum of six men should be on one fire truck. They have half of that.”
According to a community member, who was unhappy about the situation, and had visited the local fire station; “I saw one vehicle without a wheel and it had thick dust on it. There was only one fire truck and the one door was damaged. You can see they cannot put their tools in it.”
Lowvelder attempted to contact Ngala for further comment, but to no avail as his phone had been off for more than a week.
