Fireman blazes a trail for 25 years

Frank Mkhungo (53) celebrated 25 years of service at Toti Fire on Friday, 23 October.

The Umkomaas fireman was born in Margate and matriculated at Phathwa High School.

He did three months internal training at Toti Fire Station and three months in Durban before becoming part of the first African auxillary firemen accepted at Toti Fire.

He has risen through the ranks over the years to now be a leading fireman.

“I enjoy saving lives, saving property and saving my community,” said Frank. “What I don’t enjoy about the job is attending to house fires with bodies inside or motor vehicle accidents where people have died. I enjoy my work, I respect others and I like helping people out, that is what has made me last so long in this field. There is a nice group of people I work with at Toti Fire and we work well together as a team. It is also close to home.”

Frank will be a temporary driver based a satellite fire station in Folweni that opened on Tuesday, 27 October until a new station opens at Umkomaas next September.

“Then I will only be three to four kilometres from home. I’m getting my extra heavy license to drive the engine at Umkomaas.”

“I enjoy saving lives, saving property and saving my community,” said Frank.

Working shifts is something Frank has become used to over the years and he said there are pros and cons to it. “It is difficult, especially with family and if you have children.”

He has been “very happily” married to June Rose for 17 years, a qualified nurse who works as a caregiver in Durban. “I met June Rose when she used to come to Umkomaas during the holidays.”

He has two sons, Wandile (15), who is in grade 10, and Basanda (8) in grade 3.

To relax he loves riding motorbikes – either a dirtbike offroad or his superbike. Frank is also an avid rugby and soccer fan.

“All I have today is what I have earned with my two hands at Toti Fire. Being a fireman is a good job. You will never find a job where you work two days and then have two days off.”

I thank the Lord for all my years of service at Toti Fire.”

His advice to youngsters thinking of going into the service is to do well in science and maths, matriculate and make sure you excel in physical training (PT). “Getting in will then be a lot easier,” he said.

Over the years he has learnt to deal with the stress that comes with the job. “You need to leave the stress at the gate before you start your shift. Once you bring your stress into an environment like this, it gets dangerous. I’m always laughing – I don’t have stress.

I thank the Lord for all my years of service at Toti Fire.”