Toti firefighters hone their skills
Teams spent three months training for the conference, even on their days off.
Toti firefighters pitted their skills at Africa’s biggest emergency services event, the Southern African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) Conference 2015, which took place at the Klipriviersberg Recreation Centre in Johannesburg from 1 to 6 November.
Teams from various emergency rescue services from around the country competed in events such as vehicle extrication, high angle, rope access and hoisting systems rescues, emergency medical services challenges and firefighter rescue challenges.
Toti station commander, S S Mbatha, leading firefighter, Stu Jeacocks and senior firefighter, RS Shinga were part of the eThekweni Fire and Rescue Service team which competed in the vehicle extrication, while leading firefighters, IS Makhanya and BS Nxumalo and senior firefighters, MS Jili and ZG Cele participated in the high angle rope rescue.
The teams are still awaiting results, but according to Stu, the biennial games mean more to participants than standings.
It’s more about the development of safety, which we are all passionate about, and the knowledge we gained.”
“We hope to bring back home the knowledge of safety we have learnt over the week,” he said. “The conference also features talks by worldwide experts in safety and displays, so it’s not just about winning the events. To go there and perform was already a win for us. It’s more about the development of safety, which we are all passionate about, and the knowledge we gained.”
The competing teams were selected after an in-house competition at the SAP compound in Isipingo earlier in the year and comprised of firefighters from different divisions of the city’s fire department. “Those who performed best at the in-house challenge were then selected to represent the city,” said Stu. “Competition was rife, as everyone wants to represent their house. It was an honour and a privilege to represent the city and it shows we are doing something right in the service.”
Teams spent three months training for the conference, even on their days off. “It was a lot of hard work and sacrifice,” said Stu, who has competed at the conference twice.
“We didn’t know what the different scenarios were that we had to perform, but it was invaluable experience for us as we picked up techniques from watching the other teams.
Being surrounded by like-minded people whose passion is safety gave us a lot more insights into the challenges we face every day.”
Click here to read more about Toti Fire:
Do’s and don’ts of fire safety
Fire fighters help cleanse subway
Toti Fire on red alert to respond
Two new fire stations for southern region
