Tactically ready for fire season
The province has recruited firemen from uMzimkhulu, Normandien, Ingogo, Underberg and Melmoth.
WORKING on Fire (WoF) KwaZulu-Natal, a Department of Environmental Affairs’ funded programme aimed at creating job opportunities and also focusing on integrated fire management, recently conducted a yellow card training camp at Albert Falls Dam.
WoF Grounds Operations Manager, Mortas Khambule said, ‘The yellow card training camp assess the readiness of firefighters, if they are mentally and physically fit to be call-out to a fire.’
Teams went through a three-day intensive training camp, including a tough fitness test.
The 31 KZN teams forming part of the tactical veld and forest squads, have been deemed fit for the winter fire season that starts in May.
Firefighters must be able to endure long hours in the fire line, making this intensive training very important.
The province has recruited members from uMzimkhulu, Normandien, Ingogo, Underberg and Melmoth.
More members will be recruited in other regions before the start of the 2015 fire season.
Candidates must be between the ages of 18 to 35 years old, have a matric certificate and pass various fitness tests to meet the WoF standards.
‘After the recruitment, they will attend an intensive 21-day firefighting training programme at the Working on Fire Academy in Nelspruit.
‘Training is based on national and international standards, which equips them to work as wild land firefighters,’ says Khambule.
