Disaster and Emergency Management Services respond to house fire allegation

Some allegations about wrong equipment were made against the Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) during a house fire in Ewing Avenue, Selection Park on March 8.

A media enquiry was made and their response goes as follows:

“Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS), as a local municipal emergency services provider, would like to sympathise with the family for the loss of their property because of fire.

“We would like to confirm that firefighters from Selection Park fire station serviced the call diligently so with the aim of preserving and salvaging the property as it is our prerequisite.

“We can confirm that the call was received exactly 2.21pm and arrived on scene at 2.30pm which is relatively good and according to operational standards.

“Immediately upon arrival, direct firefighting was initiated and the well alight fire was contained and extinguished without further damage to the structure.

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“The first arriving pumper carries 3 500 litres of water augmented by the second pumper and its full crews from KwaThema fire station which is a backup fire engine that carries 2 800 litres of water in its tank.

“DEMS emergency service is divided into operational districts to enhance smooth operations.

“Each district has either two, three or a maximum of four stations and is in accordance with the geographical layout.

“In this case, as per operational norms and standards, KwaThema Fire station had to be activated with immediate effect to the same scene even before arrival of the initial pump on scene.

“A fire engine with 3 500-litre water capacity can be emptied in less than five minutes if one discharge orifice is used and in case of two discharges, less time will be spent to get the whole tank empty depending on the pressure, size of hoses and types of hose branches that are in use.

“In a structure of that size and the magnitude of the incident, water from both fire engines is never enough hence the connection from the hydrant is imperative to sustain the supply.

“Because of the establishment of water supply from the hydrant, the water tanker which was assigned for augmentation had to return to bay prior arrival.”