Councillor Rundle raises alarm at Edenvale Fire Station
"If there is a large fire, the fire station needs to be able to respond and serve the community and prevent loss of life.”
Since it came to light that Edenvale Fire Station has no vehicles to service the community in times of emergencies, more concerns regarding the station have been revealed.
Following a fire in Hurlyvale on August 23, Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS was informed by EMPD that Edenvale Fire Station has no vehicles available and they are all out of service.
According to Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle, besides the station not having working vehicles its server was struck by lightning last July.
“Councillor Heather Hart and I have tried since then to have the server repaired and restore the connectivity of the station. However, it has not been achieved.”
ALSO READ: Letter: Local reader commends Bedfordview Fire Station
According to information Rundle has received from the fire station staff, they have to travel back and forth to Bedfordview so that they can work.
“The safety and security of the residents has been severely compromised as there has been no connectivity since the server was struck by lightning.”
According to Rundle, no phone calls can be made to or out of the station.
He said this has affected the response time of Edenvale’s emergency personnel.
Rundle said when he attended an oversite visit at the station with the MMC of Safety and Security in the first quarter of the year, a whole list of issues was identified.
He said the toilets were filthy and not a single fire truck was working. At the time, one of the vehicles had been in for repairs for eight months.
ALSO READ: Edenvale firefighters free trapped motorist after collision
“None of the grass fire units are working as their pumping units aren’t operational. The Hazmat truck does not work also as it is not roadworthy,” said Rundle.
Rundle said he was also informed by staff that on one occasion DEMS staff managed to push start one of the fire engines to respond to an emergency.
In addition to this, Rundle said staff have to make use of old equipment when responding to scenes.
Rundle said the fire station is meant to have four fire engines, including the Hazmat unit as well as two grass fire units.
When the NEWS visited the station with Rundle on September 6 there were five fire engines, four parked inside the garage and one outside.
It also had three grass unit vehicles. Two of them were parked inside the garage and one under a corrugated roof.
No security personnel manned the open gate at Tenth Avenue.
ALSO READ: Joburg CBD Fire: Death toll of 74 includes 7 children
Rundle said when he made enquiries, last month, whether the server had been repaired or replaced and whether the vehicles were up to standard the answer was categorically no.
As a result of the lack of resources at the fire station, Edenvale has become reliant on other stations for assistance.
“Managers are trying their best and have to do the best with the resources they have because they have no other option,” said Rundle.
This was evident on August 8 when Bedfordview Fire Station responded to a burning vehicle on the corner of Elm Street and Dickie Fritz Avenue and again on August 23 when Bedfordview and Kempton Park fire stations responded to the Hurlyvale fire.
In light of these concerns, Rundle said he has reported the issues to Ekurhuleni’s fleet management as well as EMPD, as DEMS reports to them.
ALSO READ: DA saddened by Joburg fire CBD as number of deaths rises
“With the lack of resources, I am extremely concerned about the readiness of Edenvale Fire Station. If there is a fire, the fire station needs to be able to respond and serve the community and prevent loss of life,” said Rundle.
Despite the problems affecting Edenvale Fire Station, Rundle is certain that and other stations surrounding Edenvale such as Primrose and Bedfordview are facing similar problems.
A request for comment was sent to the city of Ekurhuleni and the DEMS on September 7.
At the time of going to print no comment was received.
