This week’s question was:
Does the fire department charge me when I call them to a fire? If they do, why and how much? And to what exceptions?
David Brand, Ward 126 councillor, answered:
The official answer is yes.
In terms of section 97(1) of the Emergency Services bylaw passed some four years ago, residents are required to pay for services rendered to them by the Emergency Management Services.
Residents are required to pay for fire department services in the same way they would pay for water and electricity.
Often residents are under the misconception that these services are rendered for free.
The charges will depend on items such as the amount of water used to put out the fire.
If residents are unable to pay for these services they can visit their nearest municipal service centre to present their case.
Many residents are not aware that they can be insured against these costs through either household content or homeowners insurance. Insurers have warned that this cover normally is capped at a certain amount and homeowners should be aware of this at the time of entering into an insurance contract.
Do you have a question for a ward councillor?
Councillor’s Corner is a platform for you, our readers, to voice your concerns or questions for ward councillors to respond to. Different, willing, ward councillors will respond to a question each week. E-mail your burning question to aimeed@caxton.co.za and let’s get the ball rolling.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
