Lack of fire engines a major worry

A shortage, or lack, of vehicles, is believed to be hindering firefighters of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM).

This became evident when numerous fires broke out on the South Coast on Monday afternoon and evening last week.

Calls for help from the communities in these areas surfaced on Facebook, with pleas for help to control the various blazes.

While this was happening, senior community leaders expressed their concerns over what they believed is a lack of adequate firefighting vehicles and equipment.

Selvan Chetty was one such leader to lend his voice to this concern.

Chetty, a member of the Ugu District Community Police Forum, said he felt the vehicles at RNM were old and barely able to perform.

“I have also found that these vehicles, which are vital to the community, are inadequate to meet the demands of the municipality,” he said.

Meanwhile, delayed firefighters were prevented from going into Masinenge and Mkholombe informal settlements to put out fires by angry residents, who were allegedly waiting with pangas and knives to fight with the firefighters.

The reason given is that some houses had burnt down, and they blamed the firefighters for not getting there in time.

However, a senior community member said one could not put the blame on the firefighters.

“The leadership of the municipality has a duty and responsibility to provide them with adequate equipment and tools of the trade. “

It has been disclosed to the Herald that there is no fire engine (heavy-duty pumper) available on the South Coast.

It is alleged that the 8 000-l fire tanker was auctioned last year, and the previous one was involved in an accident.

There are apparently only four skid units (Land Cruisers), each carrying about 500 litres of water.

Two of these skid units are based in Port Shepstone, one for Margate and one for Izingolweni.

Simon April, the spokesman for RNM, responded.

“To say the municipality has inadequate (or lacks) firefighting equipment depends on individual analysis of the situation at that specific time or incident.”

He said that, currently, the municipality has four new skid units and a small water tanker, which has just gone for repairs.

“However, a new water tanker has been ordered, and we are waiting for delivery. The municipality has plans to purchase two heavy-duty fire engines by the 2025/2026 financial year. In terms of the staff complement, there are currently 26 firefighters who are divided into four shifts.”

April added that RNM firefighters were assisted by Ugu with the fires reported on Monday.

He said the firefighters needed to be acknowledged and commended for the dedication and commitment shown and for their rapid and efficient work, which often involve putting their own lives in danger.

“We also commend the assistance that always comes from some members of the community when there are incidents,” he said.

However, he stressed that, unfortunately, certain people and landowners contributed to the escalation of fire incidents, especially during winter or fire season, by not adhering to fire safety tips and by not making firebreaks around their properties.

Meanwhile, spokesperson for Ugu, France Zama, said Ugu had six rescue vehicles.

He said this included two skid units, carrying 600 litres of water each, plus one bakkie ‘sakkie’ (600 litres), one medium pump (3000 litres), one multipurpose truck (9 000 litres) and one water tanker, which can carry 10 000 litres of water.

“The municipality is in the process of acquiring a fire engine,” he said.

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