Mpumalanga Working on Fire teams ready for Winter Fire Season
The assessments ensure that firefighters are fit and prepared for the upcoming Winter Fire Season, which is between the months of May and October.
A total of 24 teams made up of 480 firefighters from Working on Fire (WOF) in Mpumalanga concluded their Yellow Card Assessment Training recently for the upcoming Winter Fire Season.
The training consisted of a fitness training which included the 2.4 kilometre run where the male firefighters are expected to complete under 12 minutes, while their female counterparts are expected to finish under 14 minutes. The fitness also included sit-ups, push-ups and pull-ups.
Firefighters were also theoretically assessed with tests and practically assessed on various firefighting techniques which included the line construction, which helps prevent a runaway fire from spreading.
A firewall, an activity in which firefighters run through flames with their protective gear to get used to the heat if and when they were to get trapped during a fire.
The assessment ended with a route march which included all teams participating in a 10 kilometre march, to test their endurance and strength as they can be expected to go for long hours fighting fire on the fire line. All these assessments are aimed at strengthening their firefighting skills.
PICTURES: During the training
“Our firefighters are ready and we urge landowners in particular to get into contact with us so that we can assist with the development of clear integrated fire management services which includes amongst others, prescribed burning, fuel load reduction, community fire awareness, early detection and fire suppression plans,” WOF Provincial Communications Officer, Amanda Mthembu, said.
Mthembu also added that preparations for the fire season are underway as the firefighters are currently visiting schools and communities throughout the province, conducting Fire Awareness talks and fuel load reduction, all over the province.
