Running towards the flames is part of the job for this junior firefighter

It takes courage and skill to put out fires fast, protecting lives and property in situations where your own life may be threatened on a daily basis.

Junior firefighter George Mpiti is one of 26 such men and women employed at Ballito Fire Station.

Born and schooled in Groutville, the 24-year-old junior firefighter at Ballito Fire Station recalls seeing fire trucks connecting to the fire hydrant near his house and being in awe of them.

“I saw these firefighters come into my community like heroes to put out a fire and protect us. I decided then that I wanted to be a firefighter,” he said.

The lifelong calling stayed with him and after matriculation, he spent 6 months at the Rural Metro Training Academy in Pietermaritzburg learning the trade.

After graduating in 2016, while Mpiti felt that the career of a fire safety officer may suit him, he could not shake the desire to be a hands-on firefighter.

“I realised then that firefighting is a calling and not a career and I am so happy with the decision.”

He started at the Ballito Fire Station in 2019 and has been involved in a number of firefighting efforts around the North Coast.

The area of the Ballito station extends south to Umdloti, Upper Tongaat and even Ndwedwe as needed, so the team have to be prepared for everything from bush fires to major traffic accidents.

It was an accident in Umhlali in 2020 when a taxi rolled off the road where Mpiti first saw the horrors that emergency service members have to deal with.

“It was an eye-opening experience for me. Sometimes you just want to give up and go home, but then you have to tell yourself to keep going and with the support of the team we get through it.”

The Ballito Fire Station has 7 firefighters on shift at any one time and they work 4 day and 2 night shifts a week.

A day shift lasts from 9am – 6pm while a night shift covers the rest, from 6pm – 9am.

“It is sometimes difficult, but you have to stay fit and focused so that you are ready if anything comes up. Mental strength and physical strength are equally important for us.”

If there are no ongoing emergencies, the firefighters do training and practice drills at the station, while keeping everything clean and tidy.

All personal protective equipment and firefighting equipment needs to be checked daily to ensure there are no issues when out at a scene.

“Our firetruck carries 5 000 litres of water at all times and often has to go offroad, so we always check it to make sure everything is running perfectly.”

The current firetruck was out of commission following an accident on the N2 in July 2020, but is now fully functional again after being repaired in Johannesburg.

It is not all raging fires and major accidents for the firefighting team however and the equipment also needs to function when a cat is stuck up a tree.

“Just last week we got called out to rescue a cat from a drain and there was one stuck in a tree last year. The stereotypes are sometimes true,” laughed Mpiti.

With a career path laid out in front of him, Mpiti hopes to one day work his way up to Fire Chief for KwaDukuza, but there is still a long way to go.

“If there is one thing I have learnt is that there is still so much learning I have left to do as a firefighter.”