Three brand-new fire engines have been added to the ageing City of Johannesburg fleet of 29.
On 20 February, Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said that two more fire engines will be added before the end of this financial year, or, before July.
Over the years, residents of Johannesburg have raised concerns about the City’s ability to ensure their safety in the event of a number of simultaneous fire outbreaks, the mayor said.
“It is my pleasure to assure residents that the procurement and possession of the first batch of fire engines will ensure that the City is able to alleviate much of the pressure that has been placed on our Emergency Management Services,” Mashaba added.
The arrival of the first set of fire engines is part of a bigger plan to replace the ageing fleet in a number of fire stations. More fire engines will likely also mean the City can respond to emergencies faster, which has been a major concern over the years.
The mayor said that the alarming growth in the population each year is putting a strain on already over-stretched resources.
“On average, the City’s emergency command centre receives over 25 000 emergency calls a month,” Mashaba said.
The first of the fleet will be placed at Fairview Fire Station to cover areas around Malvern, the inner city and Berea; the second will be placed at Jabulani Fire Station to cover areas in Soweto; the third fire engine will be sent to the newly built Cosmo City Fire Station and will cover Diepsloot and Lonehill.
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