The 20 courageous fire fighters who heeded the call to assist in the blaze that engulfed the Bank of Lisbon building in Johannesburg last week were recently honoured for their bravery by the Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina,
Among the 20 were fire-fighters from the Leon Ferreira station in Boksburg.
Speaking to the brave men and woman who risk their lives to save others, the mayor acclaimed the courageousness displayed by the firefighters in responding without hesitation to assist firefighters in the City of Johannesburg.
“Last week we called on you fire-fighters to assist us as government in a situation that was almost getting out of hand and you responded positively to the call to serve the country and in addition to serving the City Ekurhuleni, were you are employed,” Masina said.
The mayor said the metro has shown capabilities through a dedicated staff and equipment that was used to during the blaze and that through its equipment the city is geared to avert human tragedies in the future.
The team of firefighters responded to the request by the City of Johannesburg with a water tanker that was dispatched from Alberton fire station with two crew members and was deployed there for the entire night.
More resources were later requested on September 6 and the City responded to the call with 20 qualified personnel members which consisted of crew commanders and managers and 11 firefighters.
Of the firefighting units deployed, the hydraulic platform vehicle became the most important fire fighting vehicles which managed to extend to heights where other equipment could not reach.
The vehicle was used to pump water into the building through the 7th floor for the entire operation after its arrival. It was the main water supplier into the structure until the fire was declared extinguished.
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