Fighting fire with fire is all in a day’s work for Ballito firefighter Ash Mohanlal [Watch]
He says he chose a line of work where one truly needs to have God on your side.
From rushing into burning buildings to save the lives of trapped people, to rescuing a cat from a tree, Ballito fireman at station officer, Ash Mohanlal, has seen and done it all.
Having served as a fireman since 1996, Mohanlal’s career began in Benoni and has since taken him around the country before his posting in Ballito 14 years ago.
With a passion to serve as a fireman, Mohanlal says fighting fires is all he’s ever known.
He says it takes a certain level of mental strength to do the job.
“We are the ones rushing into burning buildings when everybody runs out. Some of the thing my team and I have seen have really been crazy and traumatic.
“Your mindset has got to be different, but saving lives drives my passion for the job.”
From rescuing people to cutting free victims trapped in car wrecks, Mohanlal says he is now more tasked with operational duties coordinating firefighters, providing training and making sure his team follow safety protocols. He even conducts counselling when needed.
Rewinding to the floods earlier this year, Mohanlal said it was a crisis which nobody expected.
“We were inundated with calls. We were all taken by surprise,” he said, but emphasising that their training as firemen ensures they are in a state of readiness whatever happens.
“It was a disaster. Buildings were flooded and people were drowning. Working with other rescue teams, we managed to pull through. Some of our guys pulled 72-hour shifts,” the father of three said.
Mohanlal said his wife and children were very supportive of what he does for a living, and that he puts God first in everything he does.
“In this line of work you really need God on your side.”
In his career as a fireman, Mohanlal said the importance of a life cannot be overstated and that each life matters. Even saving a cat from a tree holds some satisfaction.
Watch the full interview on our website or by scanning the QR code accompanying this article.
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