Council gives go-ahead to rebuild Jacobs fire station
The Jacobs fire station has been non-operational since the heavy rains of 2022, which caused the canal to overflow and flood the facility.
EFFORTS are being made to restore the Jacobs fire station to full functionality with the eThekwini Municipality confirming that plans are afoot to rebuild the facility. The fire station was severely damaged during the 2022 flood.
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According to the municipality’s recent report on council decisions, the facility is expected to resume operations once it is fully operational.
Despite the ongoing closure, a contractor has been appointed to begin the reconstruction process. Following thorough assessments of the site, experts recommended that the station be demolished and completely rebuilt, as repairing the existing structure is not a viable option. The rebuilding process is expected to take over a year to complete.
According to the council minutes, the appointed contractor has already moved on site to begin preliminary work, including conducting geotechnical assessments.
Since the rebuilding requires a different approach, including the demolition of the current building, these initial steps are crucial to the project’s success.
Clairwood has relied on the Jacobs fire station for service and continues to be covered by nearby fire stations, including Mobeni fire station. Ward 32 councillor Protas Mngonyama said eThekwini Municipality is committed to restoring the fire station as quickly as possible.
“The fire station was damaged when the canal burst its banks, resulting in water flooding the fire station. The municipality has set aside R1.6m for the first phase of the project,” said Mngonyama.
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While the exact timeline for the completion of the project remains unclear, Mngonyama assured the public that the municipality is diligently working to get the station up and running once again.
Mngonyama said the rebuilding of the Jacobs fire station is seen as a crucial step in ensuring that the community receives the fire and emergency services it needs, and the municipality is focused on completing the project as efficiently as possible.
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