New Central Fire Station sets bar higher for future stations

The Central Fire Station is moving swiftly toward completion and will soon be ready to serve and rescue residents and workers in the inner city’s high-rise buildings.

The Johannesburg Development Agency and the Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) embarked on developing the Central Fire Station in 2021. The project stands at 80% completion, with only the finishing touches left to complete.

The EMS acting chief, Andries Mucavele, said the Department of Labour condemned the old fire station building for non-compliance. That created a need for a new, compliant fire station that could serve the Johannesburg central business district and surrounds.

Mucavele said the new station raises the bar for current and planned stations. He added that the project cost R71 148 100 and is on schedule.

“The fire station will have multi-disciplinary functions as an integrated facility with firefighters, a specialised urban search and rescue team, a public information, education and relations officer to manage the BeSafe Centre, fire inspectors and JMPD,” he said.

Site manager Kagiso Kepi said the building phase has been finalised, with only a few tasks to complete before the station is operational in about three months.

He said the station would boast many firsts. The structure was built using a contemporary design, incorporating soft and hard roofs with durable clay face brick and minimal plastered feature walls. Water-proofing material was used and designed with specific requirements to prime, seal and protect the structure from leakage between the slabs.

Kepi said the large aluminium doors and windows were built with 6mm safety glass for protection from the sunlight.

“The windows all face west, and as a result, the protective glass prevents the sunset light from disturbing work and activities on the inside,” he said.

Other features of the Central Fire Station include accommodating about five fire engines, an admin block with two boardrooms, male and female toilets, a lecture room, and about six offices.

Kepi said a swimming pool and entertainment area would become available at a later date.

Mucavele added that the BeSafe Centre, also an exhibition centre, would be used for training and other purposes.

This structure holds about five more offices, a boardroom and another lecture room with toilets.

“We have ensured that the facility will be well equipped to function as needed with a training tower, washing bay, designated storage area for all equipment, a gym and change rooms,” he said.

Once the Central Fire Station, on the corner of Joubert and Albert streets, Marshalltown, is operational, about 40 staff members will be stationed there.