Stop using fire hydrants illegally, metro emergency services plead
Residents, businesses and car wash operators are being urged to refrain from using fire hydrants. The metro emergency services warn that such practices could hamper firefighting efforts and place lives at risk during emergencies.
Tshwane Emergency Services has urged residents, businesses and informal car-wash operators to stop using fire hydrants illegally.
The department warned that misuse of hydrants can compromise emergency response: firefighters depend on adequate water pressure to suppress fires and protect surrounding property.
Emergency Services spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba said hydrants are a critical part of the city’s firefighting network because they provide a reliable water supply during emergencies.
“However, incidents of hydrants being tampered with, damaged, obstructed or used without authorisation continue to be reported across the city,” she said.
She added that unauthorised use of hydrants, particularly for activities such as car washing, significantly reduces water availability and pressure when firefighters need it most.
“Fire hydrants are life-saving infrastructure. When they are used illegally, damaged or obstructed, it can delay firefighting operations and reduce the effectiveness of the emergency response.
This places lives, property and the environment at greater risk,” Radebe-Kgiba said.
The department has also recorded cases where hydrants were damaged during construction or blocked by parked vehicles, refuse and building materials, making them difficult to access during incidents.
The public is urged to ensure hydrants remain visible and accessible at all times.
“Only authorised municipal personnel may operate fire hydrants,” Radebe-Kgiba reminded the public.
She warned that any reduction in water flow or delay in access could have serious consequences, especially during large structural, industrial or informal settlement fires that require significant volumes of water.
The Emergency Services Department appeals to all residents to regard fire hydrants as life-saving infrastructure and to help protect them.
Community co-operation is vital to ensure firefighters can respond swiftly and effectively.
Members of the public should report damaged or obstructed hydrants via the city’s customer-care channels or contact the Emergency Services Department for assistance.
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