Two new fire stations for southern region

Toti Fire Station, which is the headquarters of the southern region, is to be boosted with the addition of two fire stations.

A satellite station in Folweni will be in operation from November, while a full station in Umkomaas is currently under construction and will be opened next September.

“The objective is to extend our services,” said regional commander, Sbu Mkhulisi.

Toti Fire Station opened in 1956 at the municipal offices, which were situated between the circus site and Hutchison Road bridge.

In 1973 the current station was opened in Blaze Way, built with accommodation for the permanent staff employed under chief fire officer, Honeysett. Firefighters worked two shifts – 24 hours on, 24 hours off, and 48 hours on, 48 hours off.

In 1983 construction of the Prospecton Fire Station got underway, with the station fully operational in 1984.

The following year Honeysett retired and Jack van Stan took over as chief fire officer.

In 1990 Toti Fire welcomed its first African auxillary firemen, A Mvuna and C Mbambo.

The next year Alan Crosby took over the reins when Van Stan died.

In 1992 the South Local Council was formed and Toti Fire took over the Kingsburgh Fire Station and the area it covered was up to the Umkomaas River, inland to Folweni and north to Isipingo and Reunion.

“The Kingsburgh Fire Station was just one fire truck parked at Winklespruit and traffic officers would respond to call-outs,” said Sbu.

In 1997 a four shift system was introduced – two day shifts from 9am to 6pm, and two night shifts from 6pm to 9am.

In 2004 the South Local Council was amalgamated into the current metro area, which was divided into four operational regions – south, central, north and west – with a regional commander in charge of each region.

Crosby was the regional commander of the southern region, which included four stations, Toti, Prospecton, Mobeni and Umlazi.

“Our response area also grew to include Sappi Saiccor, Craigieburn, the rural areas past Umnini, almost up to Eston, Yellowwood Park, Woodlands and high risk areas like the Engen Refinery, Prospecton industrial area, Acacia (old Heartlands) Southgate Industrial Park, Toyota and storage areas for Hyundai and Kia in Prospecton,” said Sbu, who took over as regional commander when Crosby retired in 2009.

Under him are four division commanders, one per shift. They are Kevin Lindsay, Anton Swardling, Mike Ponyecz and Naren Barjalall. There is a station commander at each fire station and under him are the leading firemen and firemen.

In 2006 Toti Fire welcomed its first woman fire fighter. All the metro’s fire stations were male-oriented, so each had to adapt its facilities to accommodate females.

Fire fighters are on a certain grade when they join a fire station and they attend courses to rise through the ranks from fireman to senior fireman to leading fireman. It takes a minimum of three years to become a leading fireman.

“Toti Fire has ongoing training and development of all levels for firemen at its recently opened training centre in Lower Illovo. This includes those firemen who want to become station commanders or enter management,” said Sbu.

The emergency number to call is 031-361-0000.

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