Fit firefighters race against time
Mogale City's male firefighters and the WoF men's teams won both the categories they participated in.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/55b1d73d-c826-4376-_62159.jpg)
The brainwave of Gerhardt Nieuwoudt, Mogale City’s Emergency Service’s Regional Station Commander led to over 70 firefighters and Emergency Management Services personnel running a 2km and a 4km route to promote emergency service fitness.
The annual event, named Om die dam BA wedloop, took place at Coronation Dam in Krugersdorp on Friday, 14 October.
![During a short briefing before the timed race, the firefighters, WoF personnel and EMS personnel gathered for an explanation of the course of the day. Photo: supplied](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/d10f1db4-fdb6-46fe-_16379-520x390.jpg)
Photo: supplied
Firefighters from the West Rand put on their fire kits and breathing apparatus and ran the routes fully equipped. Not only did the race test their fitness and agility, it also aimed to promote participation and relationships between various emergency service personnel such as the West Rand District emergency services, Netcare, Working on Fire (WoF) and Life Healthcare.
“The group participated in good spirits,” Gerhardt said. “We saw some excellent finishing times as well.”
On the day, firefighters participated in four categories: WoF men, WoF women, professional male firefighters and professional female firefighters.
![Firefighters from different fire stations on the West Rand raced against each other on either the 2km or the 4km route to be named the fittest firefighters in the area. Photo: Supplied](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/10/7239795d-5a58-4f4a-_00505-520x390.jpg)
Photo: Supplied
Mogale City’s male firefighters and the WoF men’s teams won both the categories they participated in. Merafong’s crew won the professional female firefighting category, while Maropeng’s WoF women’s team walked away as winners of the WoF women’s category.
Gerhardt thanked the Netcare and Life Health professionals for assisting, by giving the participants something to eat.
“Next year will even be bigger, as we plan to make this a provincial event,” Gerhardt said.
Also read:
Firefighter attacked and assaulted at station
Krugersdorp’s brave fire workers