‘Buurtwag Brandweer’ saves the day

WITH the chilly winter weather recently making way for warmer Spring afternoons, residents will most likely be spending more time enjoying the typical South African tradition of braai fires in the early evenings.

August 30 was one such evening for local resident, Jan Steyl, who was in the process of making a fire in his braai area, when disaster struck. According to Mr Steyl, he was busy making fire when the accelerant caught alight in his hand. When he tried to throw the burning container out of the enclosed area, it struck the door and set it alight, the flames spreading up into the thatched roof of the enclosed braai area.

Despite injury to his hand from the burning container, Mr Steyl was able to put out the initial flames, minimising the damage with fire extinguishers, while a family member contacted Pro5. Although the initial flames had been extinguished, the thatched braai area continued to smoulder and Neighbourhood Watch members were deployed to attend to the scene of the fire in Uitlander Street.

According to Neighbourhood Watch Chairman, Andrè Rheder, who assisted in containing the blaze from the smouldering thatch, the Fire Department was contacted, but was initially unable to respond.

“The fire truck eventually pitched up with staff that we had to help to get the truck operating,” stated Rheder. “…50 minutes after they were called.”

“The staff on the fire truck battled to get the PTO engaged and to pump water. If they did not receive help from bystanders, it would never have worked,” he commented on social media. “After the people dispersed, I drove behind the firetruck and could observe that the driver is not competent to drive the firetruck. A scratching of gears up South Street towards the fire station was very painful on my ears,” he continued.

There has been much controversy surrounding the fire department in recent times, with speculation rife as to what the current situation at AbaQulusi actually is regarding the course of action in the event of a fire.

AbaQulusi Municipality’s Media Liaison, Arnold Ramodibe, confirmed that the municipality were facing some “challenges” at the moment, with regard to the situation at the fire department, with several factors contributing to the current, somewhat chaotic, state of affairs, alleging that the staff issue was due to a “protest of some sort” by staff members.

“We are facing challenges when it comes to staff,” he eluded.

Ramodibe assured us that he would conduct further investigation into the matter and inform us of the outcome thereof.

“I wish the New Mayor could grant us an appointment to discuss some of the problems that we as citizens of Abaqulusi have,” declared Andrè Rheder on social media, referring to Neighbourhood Watch’s role when assisting emergency services in times of crisis. “We realise that the IFP inherited a lot of problems from the ANC that were ousted, A bit of brainstorming could help. The Neighbourhood Watch is eager to help where possible, but we have to start off on the right foot.”

Adriaan Botha, Patrol Commander and Operations Manager at Vryheid Neighbourhood Watch, warns the community to be extra careful when dealing with fires, specifically those who have thatched roofs, as the current combination of dry and windy weather conditions and severe water shortages could lead to certain disaster.

Jan Steyl would like to thank Neighbourhood Watch and the community for their assistance.

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