Ugu firefighters attract attention
If the team is not attending to an emergency situation, they are working on fire and safety awareness campaigns within the local communities.
Shirts off and muscles flexed, the firemen at Ugu Disaster Management, have caught the attention of many women – and envy of the men – on the coast.
“Somebody please call disaster management, I am on fire,” read one of the comments under a recent post on the Ugu District Municipality‘s Facebook page, which showed the firefighters posing shirtless, showing off their work equipment, or doing push-ups.
“These guys should bring out their own calendar,” someone commented.
“These are not the firefighters we see everyday, with big bellies,” wrote another Facebook user.
While some saw the lighter side of the post, others took to Facebook to slam the Ugu firefighters for not being professional by wearing their full protective gear.
“You are busy playing instead of delivering,” said one of the posts.
The Herald spoke to Makhosi Gobhozi, manager of the Ugu Disaster Management team, who said the team comprised 11 firefighters – three permanent, five employed through the Expanded Public Works Programme, and three interns – all of whom have qualified through a fire and rescue training course.
The team is under the leadership of Head of Department, Vela Mazibuko.
These brave men and women have a pivotal role to play when disaster unfolds in the Ugu District, which consists of 81 municipal wards in its local municipalities, namely Ray Nkonyeni, Umzumbe, Umdoni and Umuziwabantu.
The firefighters will have to attend to any disaster within the vast district, for example fires, floods, spillages or motor vehicle accidents.
They also assist disaster victims with blankets, food and shelter.
Most recently the team sprang into action to help the informal settlement of Masinenge in Margate which saw more than 40 people lose their homes.
If the team is not attending to an emergency situation, they are working on fire and safety awareness campaigns within the local communities.
“With the winter season approaching, educating communities on how to handle gas, oil and fire with care is important as this can prevent an accident from taking place,” said Ms Gobhozi.
They also assist with installing lightning conductors within the district, mostly in Umzumbe and Umuziwabantu, where lightning is a concern.
Ms Gobhozi said when an incident occurs a team of firefighter practitioners will also submit an impact statement to the department so relief funding can be obtained.
For the firefighters, fitness is important.
Ms Gobhozi said they have a strict fitness programme where the men and women undergo fitness tests once a week.
Under the watchful eye of Ugu Disaster Management Officer, Senzo Madiba they have to gym and do roadwork to keep in shape.
“These men have to be physically fit and strong to be able to rescue people from a disaster situation like a structural fire,” explained Ms Gobhozi.
One also forgets that a great deal of strength is required to handle and carry the heavy equipment used to save lives, such as the hydraulic rescue tools.
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