Fire and Rescue International Vol 3 No 9

Strap

Integrated fire, rescue, EMS and incident command technology

Volume 3 No 9

Contents 2

Comment

Competition 3 FRI Images

News 4 9/11 ceremonies mark the 14th anniversary of the attack 5 SA Emergency Care hosts 9/11 memorial service 7 DMISA Conference and AGM 2015 8 A week of aeromedicine - by Nicola A McAlpine 10 SAMRO challenge 2015 tests members’ skill 11 New rapid response pumper for NECSA 12 eThekwini’s CFO, Mark te Water, retires - by Mark te Water and Alex Gloster 14 South Africa participates at World Police and Fire Games 2015, Fairfax, USA - by Steve Abrahamse and Arlene Wehr 16 Netcare 911’s Rescue 1 making a difference 18 New turntable ladder for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station - by Rhine Barnes 19 Matjhabeng Municipality inaugurates Mmamahabane Fire Station, Ventersburg 21 OR Tambo International Airport receives state-of the-art Rosenbauer technology 24 South African Working on Fire teams assist Canada fighting wildfires 26 South Africa’s NSRI honours volunteers, long service and remarkable rescues Reciprocating saws 28 Reciprocating saws – as important as hydraulic rescue tools?– by Colin Deiner Incident command: High-rise building fires 34 High-rise building fires: Adopting an incident command system (ICS) - by Ian Schnetler

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Training centre ETS Emergency Training Solutions

Wildfires 55 So, who is responsible for managing wildfires in the urban interface? - by Zane Erasmus Leadership 58 Inner circle of friends - by Wayne Bailey Heritage 60 History of fire extinguishers What’s on?

62 Fire, disaster and rescue related events across the globe Poem 64 Tribute to the Pathfinders - by Sandra Jane Hedges

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Fire service 37 Eden District Municipality Fire and Rescue Service 43 Meet Deon van Wyk, deputy chief fire officer, Eden District Municipality Rescue roundup 44 Rescue training on new vehicles - by Neville van Rensburg and Julius Fleischman Training 47 Standardisation of qualifications - by Theresa Geldenhuys

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Emergency medical service IPSS Medical Rescue

Volume 3 | No 9

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Comment Editor Lee Raath-Brownie lee@fireandrescue.co Cell 082 371 0190

The 33rd edition of Fire and Rescue International (FRI) serves as a testimony of our readers’ diligence, providing thought provoking news, reviews of events and competitions as well as practical and proactive advice. Enjoy the read!

Journalist Claudette van Rensburg edit@fireandrescue.co Cell 071 641 3884

September 11 First responders around the world commemorated those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks and subsequent collapse of the two World Trade Centre towers during September. This year, the 14th anniversary of the tragic event, saw a number of notable tributes including some in South Africa.

Advertising advertising@fireandrescue.co Cell 079 107 3967

News section Our news section features the recently held DMISA conference, aeromedicine course held in Cape Town, the 2015 South African Metro Rescue Organisation (SAMRO) Challenge, Team South Africa’s performance at the 2015 World Fire and Police Games, Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa’s (NECSA) new pumper, Netcare 911’s new rescue unit and a new turntable ladder at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. We also celebrate Mark te Water’s tenure as fire chief and wish him well for his retirement. Other news includes OR Tambo International Airport’s new equipment and its state-of-the-art simulator, Working on Fire’s Canadian experience, and Matjhabeng’s new fire station.

Design and layout Marc Raath marc@fireandrescue.co Digital newsletter Pierre du Plessis Finance Noddie Knibbs accounts@fireandrescue.co Circulation Vicki Jacob subs@fireandrescue.co Secretary Vicki Jacob pa@fireandrescue.co Administration Mirriam Moroane Contributions USA Wayne Bailey Africa Colin Deiner Ian Schnetler Julius Fleischman Neville van Rensburg Mark te Water Alex Gloster Rhine Barnes Theresa Geldenhuys Zane Erasmus Nicole A McAlpine Sandra Jane Hedges Publisher Lee Raath-Brownie FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL Tel 011 452 3135/6 Fax 086 671 6920 Box 8299 Greenstone 1616 www.fireandrescue.co 4 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Lee Raath-Brownie

Reciprocating saws Colin Deiner highlights the usefulness of reciprocating saws and the advantages of these versatile tools in not only vehicle extrication but during structural collapse and forcible entry as well.

Incident command system (ICS) Ian Schnetler, chief fire officer of City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue, details the practical execution of the incident command system (ICS) during a high-rise or multi-storey building fire.

Schnetler provides examples of modular development of the ICS structure and position checklists.

Fire service We visited Eden District Municipality Fire Service in George and met with Gerhard Otto, Deputy chief Deon van Wyk, station officer Wayne Young and the Eden Team. What a team and what an experience! We profile their operations; look at the challenges faced by the service and how they maximise proficiency with limited resources. We also chatted to Deputy chief Deon van Wyk and provide insight into his background, career path and what makes him tick.

Rescue roundup Julius Fleischman and Neville van Rensburg discuss the importance of extrication training on new car technology vehicles. The team provide some practical advice on extrication methods and how to get the most out of training efforts.

Training Theresa Geldenhuys discusses the benefits of standardisation of qualifications in South Africa and provides background and an historical overview to the current status quo.

Wildfire investigations: the cold case Arnold Swart provides practical advice on investigating cold cases highlighting the importance of record keeping, initial evidence and reliable eye witnesses.

Wildfires Zane Erasmus looks at fire protection plans, fire detection systems, pre-season audits, road infrastructure and personnel for urban interface wildfires in part three of this four part series.

Leadership Wayne Bailey provides some wisdom into the importance of choosing your inner circle of friends.

A BIG thank you to all those who make Fire and Rescue International possible. It is your magazine. Read it, use it and share it!

Lee Raath-Brownie Publisher

Subscriptions 12 editions per annum South Africa R325 per annum incl VAT Non-subscribers: R35 incl VAT per issue

Southern Africa (airmail) R520 per annum International (airmail) R695 per annum Copyright All rights reserved

Proudly serving those who serve Volume 3 | No 9

Images Strap

This month’s FRI images winner!

Congratulations to Dr Leon Pelser for his photograph ‘Practice makes perfect’ taken with a Sony A55 with Tamron 18/270mm lens, a shutter speed of 1/100 of a second, ISO 400 and an aperture 6.3 F-stop.

Well done!

Photo description: This photo was taken during a fire fighting exercise

Dr Leon Pelser wins this month’s prize money of R 2 000!

Submit your rescue, fire or EMS photo and win R2 000!

Fire and Rescue International’s (FRI) monthly photographic competition is open to all its readers and offers you the opportunity of submitting your digital images of fires, fire fighters, disasters, emergencies and rescues.

The rules are simple: • •

•

•

•

• • •

All photographs submitted must be in jpeg format and not bigger than 4 megabytes.

Photographs must be in high resolution (minimum 1500 pixels on the longest edge @ 300dpi) for publishing purposes Allowed: cropping, curves, levels, colour saturation, contrast, brightness, sharpening but the faithful representation of a natural form, behaviour or phenomenon must be maintained.

Not allowed: cloning, merging/photo stitching, layering of two photos into one final frame, special effects digital filters.

Fire and Rescue International (FRI) reserves the right to publish (printed or digitally) submitted photographs with acknowledgement to the photographer.

Winners will be chosen on the merit of their photograph.

The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into afterwards.

Brief description should accompany photo.

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Entries must include:

Name of photographer Contact details (not for publishing) Email: (not for publishing) Name of photograph Brief description of photograph including type of fire Camera, lens and settings used

All entries must be emailed to: lee@fireandrescue.co

>>ENTER NOW! FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 5

News

9/11 ceremonies mark the 14th anniversary of the attack Officials visit ‘The Cross at Ground Zero’ in remembrance of all lives lost

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very year 11 September is a reminder of a tragic day that cost the lives of many civilians, fire fighters and rescue workers, with various memorial services held annually in honour of those who lost their lives. On 11 September 2015, a flag was placed along the south pool of the World Trade Centre site before the 14th anniversary ceremony commenced.

Hundreds of family members of victims from the 11 September attack joined officials at the commemoration ceremony, held at the National September 11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Centre this year.

In New Jersey, as the one World Trade Centre tower stands in the background, people read the names of the 2001 attack victims, at the 9/11 Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park, Jersey City. The ceremony took place at sunrise. Every year the names of the 2 983 people that lost their lives as a result of the attacks are read as part of the official ceremony.

In New York, a member of the New York Fire Department stood at the Wall of Remembrance, saluting fire fighters killed in the 9/11 incident.

As always, the anniversary of 9/11 in New York City was marked at Ground Zero with four moments of silence to observe the times when each plane hit and each tower fell, starting at 08h46. Houses of worship throughout New York City rang their bells at 08h46 to coincide with the ceremony. Twenty-one more names were added to the memorial wall in New York, honouring New York City fire fighters whose deaths linked back to the attacks of 11 September

Fire fighters participate in the stair-climb memorial in honour of their fallen brothers from New York Fire Department 6 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

2001. It formed part of the New York Fire Department’s commemoration ceremony. Emphasis was placed on the fact that 14 years later fire fighters and rescue workers are still losing their lives due to the 9/11 attacks because of severe, toxic smoke inhalation.

At the White House, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observed a moment of silence at 08h46 on the south lawn of the White House. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defence, Ash Carter, laid a wreath at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial in Washington as national commemorations take place.

The annual gathering for 9/11 first responders was held at Mobile Memorial Gardens in Tillman’s Corner, an area dedicated to the first responders. One first responder was singled out, as a wreath was placed in memory of the late Rassie G Smith

Fire fighter gear used as a memorial for first responders to the 9/11 incident Volume 3 | No 9

News

SA Emergency Care hosts 9/11 memorial service

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September 2015 marked the 14th anniversary of 9/11 and South African Emergency Care (SAEC) held its annual memorial service honouring fallen brothers who served during the September 11 attacks.

On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, owners Jan and Elmarie Liebenberg met Rosemary Cain, mother of George C Cain, one of the first responders to 9/11, during their visit to the States. Cain was a member of Manhattan City Fire Department and was one of the many commissioned during 9/11. Cain was only 35-yearsold when he died. Upon meeting Cain’s mother, they made a solemn promise to her to honour him as a devoted fire fighter. Notwithstanding all 343 fallen fire fighters, the

Junior, a veteran of the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. The overall focus was on first responders who died on and since 11 September 2001. Richard Landolt, a retired rear admiral in the US Navy, was among those who paid tribute to “people who go rushing into buildings when everyone else is trying to get out of it,” Landolt said.

In Kansas City, the KC 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb took place on 13 September 2015 in commemoration of the 343 fire fighters who lost their lives. Fire fighters from around the country flocked to Kansas City to take part in the event. Dave Bova of Kansas City Fire Department said, “We are never forgetting and we are showing that. We do not back down. We are going to hold this event for as long as we can and we are going to climb for the 343 every year.” They attached a picture of one of their brothers from the New York Fire Department to their uniforms or oxygen tanks, and then climbed 110 stories in Volume 3 | No 9

memorial service was a special commemoration of Cain.

SAEC staff, together with about 40 fire fighters including volunteers joined to commemorate the lives of all brave fire fighters lost to 9/11. The parade, in tribute to all fallen fire fighters, started with the lowering of the South African flag to half-mast. Thereafter, ‘The ringing of the bell’ ceremony continued followed by the reciting of a poem, ‘Gone but not forgotten’.

SAEC’s Etienne Putter confirmed that the ceremony will be held on an annual basis commemorating those who gave their all during 9/11.

A flag-folding ceremony followed thereafter, in which the United States of America’s flag was folded in a particular triangle-fold according to American-custom in honour of every courageous fire fighter who partook in 9/11. A customary ‘burnout’ session concluded the memorial service.

full gear in their honour. Many fire departments across the United States took part in a stair-climbing ceremony of their own in remembrance of all the fallen fire fighters from the New York Fire Department.

11 September will always remain an emotive day and the world remembers all the brave men and women who lost their lives, especially the first responders who gave their everything to try and save others.

Kansas City 9/11 Stair Climb Memorial was a huge success FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 7

Strap News

Photo: Simon McDonnell

Parade in honour of fallen fire fighters

Photo: Simon McDonnell

‘Burnout’ event

Photo: Simon McDonnell

‘Ringing of the bell’ ceremony

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Memorial service led

by Etienne Putter

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Photo: Simon McDonnell

Photo: Simon McDonnell

‘Burnout’ event

News

DMISA Conference and AGM 2015

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he Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) held its annual conference from 9 to 10 September 2015 at the ATKV resort in Hartenbos situated on the beautiful Southern Cape Garden Route coastline in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. The conference theme being, The 2030 resilience, sustainability and adaptation mandate: a new action agenda for Alderlady Marie Ferreira disaster risk reduction, was and Dr Johan Minnie notably present not only in the key note address and the conference programme but strongly featured in the discussion as well.

After the warm welcome by DMISA’s deputy president, Bafana Mazibuko, the traditional candle lighting ceremony and a minute of silent reflection for those who lost their lives in disasters was performed by immediate past president, Dr Mal Reddy. DMISA president, Dr Johan Minnie, provided an introduction and overview of the proceedings, setting a tone of preparedness.

Alderlady Marie Ferreira, executive mayor of Mossel Bay Municipality, reviewed recent floods and droughts in the region and highlighted the fact that the biggest desalination plant in South Africa is situated in Mossel Bay. Councillor Lionel Essau, acting executive mayor for Eden District Municipality gave an overview of disaster management in Eden, briefly outlining its inherent natural disasters and highlighting the impact disasters have on the poorest of the poor, adding that it takes up to 10 years for some families to recover from a disaster and that some never recover.

Western Cape’s Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, provided insight into the provincial perspectives of disaster management overview, highlighting the importance of a singular command structure for health, police and fire.

He added that it is very difficult to prove that prevention works and mentioned the biggest challenge being informal settlement fires. He also pledged Western Cape Province’s support should other provinces need assistance.

The keynote speaker, the national Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, was unable to attend but the Deputy Minister, Andries Nel, was Volume 3 | No 9

Prof Dr Jakob Rhyner, Cllr Lionel Essau, Minister Anton Bredell, Dr Johan Minnie and Ken Terry Skyped in. Minister Nel briefly outlined the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 to 2030 and the role of National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) in the implementation of the Sendai Framework. He updated attendees on the Disaster Management Amendment Bill 2015 confirming that the Amendment Bill has been passed by the National Assembly and is now before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). He discussed the interface between Sendai Framework and Government’s Back to Basics approach and mentioned the impact of ageing infrastructure on disaster risk. Minister Nel added that South Africa was facing drought conditions as a result of prolonged lower-than required rainfall and highlighted the importance of all relevant stakeholders putting measures in place to prevent and mitigate the situation before it escalates to a disaster event.

Global resilience through smart science, planning and implementation was the topic of discussion by Prof Dr Jakob Rhyner, vice rector of the United Nations University, summarising projects in Bangladesh and in the Caribbean. Rhyner highlighted the importance of educating the next generation.

Ken Terry, Head of the NDMC, summarised the achievements of the NDMC during the past year, providing insight into disaster/ rescue response to complex incidents such as the Nigerian church collapse and the floods in Malawi. “It is important to find a balance between risk reduction and response,” said Terry.

‘There is no one-size-fits-all scenario. We need a paradigm shift in response to disasters. Risk reduction is getting back to basics.

We have beautifully written documents in our offices. Do you know what is written in it?” reminded Terry.

Dr Mal Reddy, DMISA’s past president, provided background to the professionalisation of the disaster management discipline, explaining the reasoning behind the professionalisation, the process, current status and the way forward.

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Strap News

A week of aeromedicine

By Nicola A McAlpine, Registrar in Emergency Medicine, University of Cape Town (UCT)

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Dr Wayne Smith and the team of doctors and ALS practitioners on the aeromedical course

very year, Dr Wayne Smith, Head of Disaster Medicine and Special Events, Western Cape Province in South Africa, convenes an aeromedical course for doctors and advance life support (ALS) practitioners. This year, the group was particularly diverse with representatives from several countries, representing a strong African presence. Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa were represented, with locals coming from Gauteng, the Free State and the Western Cape. Not only were their countries of origin different but their professional background varied too. Attendees ranged from community service doctors, general practitioners, paramedics, masters students and emergency medicine registrars.

The course was based at The Provincial Disaster Management Centre on the grounds of Tygerberg Hospital. This, however, was by no means the only location.

Day two saw a trip to the South African Military Airforce Base in order to inspect and learn about the Lynx and Oryx, two of South Africa’s Military rotor wing (helicopters) aircraft used in aeromedicine.

DMISA councillors at the annual general meeting

Day three was spent at the Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) base, home to the Augusta AW 119 rotator wing (helicopter) and the Pilatus PC12 fixed wing aircraft. AMS is a non-profit organisation, which works closely with the Department of Health to provide medical, mountain and sea rescue as well as facilitate interhospital aeromedical transfers. Both practical and theoretical sessions were held at AMS; pilots, paramedics and rescue crew imparted knowledge on basic mechanics of flight, safely approaching aircraft, practicalities of preparing a landing site, using medical and rescue equipment on board and working with the hoist, to name a few. The AMS

This year’s conference boasted a number of international speakers including Prof Alexandru Ozunu, Dean of the Faculty Environmental Engineering at the University of Babois Baloi in Romania, Dr Matej Cerk of the University of Llubjana in Slovenia, Dr Joerg Szarsynski, academic director at the United Nations University and Prof Dr Primoz Banovec, professor at the faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the University of Llubjana in Slovenia. The team was guests of the University of the Free State DiMTEC.

DMISA councillors at the annual general meeting 10 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

The event also featured a gala dinner in Mossel Bay’s town hall, a panel discussion on building resilient and sustainable African cities and communities and DMISA’s annual general meeting (AGM). A complete review of the conference is published in DMISA’s Journal, Disaster Management, published by Fire and Rescue International.

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Strap News

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) half day helicopter underwater escape training course

Dr Stembi Mtombeni, Dr Andri Engelbrecht and Dr Bonny Bulajic

from Red Cross Children’s Hospital, spoke on aeromedical considerations in paediatric congenital abnormalities.

Amongst the lectures were dynamic case studies, videos and a moving testimonial from an aeromedical pilot who previously was an aeromedical patient.

If planes, helicopters, water simulations, guest lectures, Dr Smith’s expertise and Cape Town’s beauty aren’t enough to get you excited about aeromedicine, then perhaps an urgent pulse check is needed!

Correct emergency exit procedures practiced whilst underwater base is where emergency medicine registrars like me will do some duties, while undertaking our EMS rotation as part of our training. Therefore this visit provided an opportunity to orientate and prepare for the exciting work with AMS. What goes up must come down. So after learning about how planes and helicopters fly, we needed to learn what to do when they fall. The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) offer a half day helicopter underwater escape training (HUET) course with a theory and practical component. This is a pass/fail point; controlled and uncontrolled engine failure helicopter landings are simulated in a terrifying helicopter-pool dunking session where each participant needs to perform correct emergency exit procedures whilst underwater in order to pass. To Dr Smith’s surprise, we all passed on the first attempt.

Lectures ranged in topic, speciality and speaker. Dr John Roos gave the acronym CRM a new meaning; instead of clinical research methods, CRM became crew/cockpit resource management. Aviation medicine is not complete without gas laws, altitude physiology and survival tactics.

Guest lecturer Dr Rik de Decker, a paediatric cardiologist Volume 3 | No 9

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News

SAMRO challenge 2015 tests members’ skill The goal is to mitigate the hazards, stabilise the vehicle(s), stabilise the patient and safely extricate the patient from the vehicle, all in the proper time.

The extrication event was more than just competition. “We learned that speed is not always better and that teamwork needs to be 100 percent.”

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outh Africa Metro Rescue Organisation (SAMRO), a nonprofit organisation comprising emergency service personnel, recently held its annual education extrication challenge in George, Western Cape. This year, the Western Cape Emergency Service Metro joint forces with SAMRO in presenting the event that took place from 1 to 3 September 2015 at George EMS rescue base. Fire fighters and rescue teams from six regions competed and shared knowledge and ideas about vehicle extrication techniques and procedures.

The three-day event included a full day seminar followed by a full day trauma challenge and lastly, an extrication challenge. The challenges used World Rescue Organisation (WRO) guidelines, measuring the skill and proficiency of the participating teams in various scenarios and competencies. These included incident command, the effectiveness of the extrication

plan, expediency of the extrication, stabilisation of the patient during extrication and team work.

Two six- member teams each participated from Cape Town Metro Rescue Service, Eden District Municipality, Cape Winelands District Municipality, West Coast District Municipality, Overberg District Municipality and Central Karoo District Municipality competed in simulated road accidents that tested their skills, experience and knowledge.

Scenarios Each scenario was set up with real vehicles being crushed together along with other props such as fire hydrants, telephone poles, concrete barriers and any other object that could be involved in a real accident. A live ‘patient’ then climbed into the wreckage and awaited rescue. The team was then summoned to the area and the 10, 20 and 30-minute timer started.

In crashes where minutes can spell the difference between life and death, first responders to the crash scene need proper training so they can act quickly. The best way rescue technicians can increase extrication proficiency is by competing in vehicle extrication challenges.

SAMRO have international support and oversees extrication challenges in South Africa, including guidelines, policies and operations in line of the WRO. Its mission statement is to serve as a competent source of guidance and information on transportation emergencies for those involved in providing emergency service. SAMRO has subcommittees within the organisation that deal with each aspect of the challenge, including judging, education, policies and bylaws, pit liaison, tools and equipment, auto manufacturers and executive committees.

2015 results The winners were Cape Town Metro Rescue Service Team 1. Second was Team 1 of Eden and Team 1 of Overberg came third.

Congratulations to all the teams for a great effort!

The three-day event included a full day trauma challenge 12 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 9

News

New rapid response pumper for NECSA

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he Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) at Pelindaba in South Africa’s Gauteng Province, recently acquired a Warrior rescue pumper from Fire Raiders, bolstering NECSA’s fire and rescue capabilities.

Following a comprehensive assessment of the unique risk that is faced by the NECSA in Pelindaba chief fire officer (CFO) Anton Gerber, determined the need for a rapid response pumper capable of advanced fire fighting with the ability to apply a sustained foam attack. Further to this, there was also the need for limited hazardous material (hazmat) intervention bolstering their existing hazmat capabilities as well as the wildfire threat that they have on site.

NECSA also responds to fire and rescue incidents in the surrounding communities in accordance with the company’s social responsibility. Late 2014 saw the final preparation of the specifications for a rescue pumper that would meet all their needs and went out to bid. Fire Raiders was successful in securing the build contract and the NECSA specification fitted their Warrior rescue pumper with certain modifications to ensure exact compliance.

The final product was built on a Scania P310CB 4x4 HHZ with a Scania CP28 crew cab. The P310 4x4 unit was selected because of the challenging terrain surrounding NECSA as well as on site. The off road capability of the Scania P310 proved more than sufficient to ensure access to all areas that are threatened by wildfires. “Crew safety is of paramount importance to us, which is why we selected the CP28 Scania crew cab,” said CFO Gerber. Tested as a single entity with the main cab, it complies with the most stringent safety requirements and standards in the world.

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NECSA’s new rapid response pumper built by Fire Raiders “The all-aluminium rescue style body allowed us to equip the apparatus with all the equipment required for limited hazmat intervention, sustained fire fighting operations as well as a complete array of Holmatro hydraulic rescue equipment and Holmatro highpressure bags for advanced motor vehicle extrication,” said Trevor Fiford of Fire Raiders. All compartments are fitted with the Fire Raiders manufactured roller shutter doors.

“The 3 000 litre polypropylene water tank and 150 litre Class B foam tank ensure sufficient fire fighting intervention whilst water supply lines are put in place using the facilities well laid out hydrant system,” added Fiford.

The Warrior is fitted with a Godiva Prima P2A 3010 pump and Godiva RTP foam system. The Prima 3010 met all NECSA’s requirements concerning flows and pressures and, in most instances, exceeded these.

The Godiva Prima pump offers flow rates of up to 4 000 litres per minute at pressures of up to 54 bar.

The Elkhart Stinger radio controlled deck gun is capable of flowing up to 3 800 litres per minute and allows for full operation from ground level.

This gives the pump operator the option of controlling the deck

gun during sustained fire fighting operations or during cooling operations, without the need for an additional crew member to be tied up with deck gun operations.

The under truck nozzles and spray bar ensures the integrity of the underside of the apparatus as well as the tyres when traversing areas that have been previously burnt but where there is still smouldering debris or hot spots.

The Fire Raiders manufactured hydraulic ladder gantry ensures the safe removal of the ladders without having to access the deck area thus considerably reducing the potential for personal injury. The front and rear compartments are fitted with pull out steps to provide access to the upper reaches of the compartments.

Further to this, the Warrior is fitted with the following: • All chromed front brush guard • Warn electric winch • Teklite lightmast and Halogen flood lights • Full set of suction hoses • All round scene lights • Stainless steel rear mounted access ladder • Emeduvac emergency lighting system • Fire Raiders dual electric rewind hose reels with Elkhart Phantom nozzles FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 13

News

eThekwini’s CFO, Mark te Water, retires

By Mark te Water, retired and Alex Gloster, training manager, eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services appointment. As it happened, one member did lodge a grievance to which I was called to Durban to be present at the hearing.

The non-appointment grievance was unsuccessful and I was duly appointed.

Not soon after this the ‘grievant’ and I became good friends and developed an excellent working relationship with each other. Looking back I can understand that there must have been some initial resentment about my appointment as at that time it was almost unheard of for someone outside of the organisation who had not come through its ranks to be appointed to a senior position in the department.”

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ark te Water retired as the chief fire officer of the eThekwini Municipality Fire and Emergency Services at the end of September 2015. Apart from his formal retirement function hosted by Council, the eThekwini Municipality Fire and Emergency Services held an event sponsored by the staff for their chief at its brigade headquarters at Durban Central Fire Station.

CFO Te Water joined the then Durban Fire Department in 1987 as assistant chief fire officer with responsibility for training and fire safety. In 1992, he was promoted to chief fire officer and assumed command of the department.

CFO Te Water is a member and past president of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and a Fellow of the Southern African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI).

“My introduction to the then Durban Fire Department was rather unusual.

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I arrived at the end of September 1987 the day after one of the worst floods in Durban’s history had ravaged the city. I spent my first day accompanying the then Chief Fire Officer Steve Smith and the deputy, Les Gerritz, driving across the city assessing the damage and deciding on where our resources should be deployed to maximum effect,” recalled Te Water.

“I soon got to know the city and members of the brigade to which I had been appointed as assistant chief fire officer responsible for fire prevention and training. What was somewhat unusual to me at the time was that when advised that following my interview, I had been recommended for appointment, I was told that I would have to wait for a period of time before my appointment could be ratified due to the Durban Conditions of Service providing for aggrieved applicants who were unsuccessful to lodge grievances against my

“The brigade had its own culture and it didn’t take me too long to understand for example that an ‘HCB’ was the local term for a collecting head.”

His involvement in fire services began in 1971 during his period of military service. He has served in the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Service, the Milnerton and Bellville Fire Brigades in the Cape and at Sasol Three Secunda where he held the post of head - safety and fire control before moving to Durban. eThekwini Metro Fire and Emergency Services has since grown exponentially from only six fire stations to its current 19 fire stations and now provides emergency service coverage to a jurisdictional area extending from Scottburgh in the South to Tongaat in the North and Cato Ridge in the West, an area of 2 300 square kilometres. The current population of the area is estimated to be about 3,5 million.

Te Water steered the service through the expected (and Volume 3 | No 9

News some unexpected) demands and changes associated with the development of the service from a city fire brigade to a metropolitan service, which saw the amalgamation of a number of surrounding services into a single entity service.

Similarly, the changes in the labour legislation had significant impacts on the operations of the service and necessitated a change from a three-shift system to a four-shift system and the need to continue with a high standard of service provision regardless of the impacts of these changes. eThekwini Metro Fire and Emergency services, under Mark te Water, has developed and continuously improved on standards of physical fitness, with an emphasis on staff health and associated safety and

improved recuperation times.

All operational staff undergoes regular physical fitness training and assessment, with the inclusion of individually specific rehabilitation and recuperation programmes as and when needed.

The emergency response fleet has grown along with the service under the command of Te Water and currently enjoys an impressive response and support fleet intended to ensure the greatest possible appropriate speed and weight of response to reported emergencies and citizens in need with the best possible return on investment in order to protect the investment of funds from the ratepayers and ensuring best possible protection of the metro’s infrastructural investments and the properties of the residents, commercial investments and industrial complexes.

Te Water’s retirement from the municipal fire service is well deserved and honourably earned and is wished well by the eThekwini Metro Council and the eThekwini Metro Fire and Emergency Services.

He has received numerous acknowledgements from around the country and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region from friends and colleagues from services and related industries. He is wished well and good health in the coming years by all.

“I was privileged to work with a great and dedicated team of senior officers in Steve Smith and Les Gerritz who individually provided very different but essential skills and personal attributes which contributed to my growth and made my transition to chief fire officer that much easier.

Les was appointed chief fire officer

CFO Te Water joined the fire service in 1971

CFO Te Water’s retirement

CFO Te Water’s retirement cake from his staff

His staff escorted Te Water home

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Strap News

South Africa participates at World Police and Fire Games 2015, Fairfax, USA

By Steve Abrahamse, chairperson and Arlene Wehr, secretary, Western Cape Fire Fighters Association Through their participation in the games, the team not only improved their fitness level but also their skill.

Despite the unfavourable exchange rate between the South African Rand and the US Dollar, which placed severe limitations on the budget the team enjoyed the experience of visiting a world-class City like Fairfax.

The World Police and Fire Games 2015

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he Biennial World Police and Fire Games 2015 were held from 26 June 2015 to 5 July 2015 in Fairfax, situated in Virginia, Washington, USA. A South African team comprising of 23 competitors from Cape Town, two from Pietermaritzburg, one from Tshwane, one from Correctional Services in Pretoria, one from Port Elizabeth and one from Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, totalling 29 participants. The team won 12 medals overall, four gold medals, four silver medals and four bronze medals.

The games were established as an inclusive event celebrating the camaraderie, heroism, health, fitness and spirit of the men and women who work and volunteer in one of the world’s most respected professions. With the traditional

on Steve Smith’s retirement but not long thereafter he was medically boarded for health reasons, which led to my appointment as chief fire officer in 1993.

During my time as chief fire officer, the city has been through four restructures including the amalgamation of 17 local authorities into was became the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality as a result of the national restructuring 16 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

values of sport as its cornerstone, the games celebrate the police, fire fighters, law enforcement and other agencies while allowing participants to experience new places, cultures and the people whose communities they strive to help protect.

The biennial Police and Fire Games usually attract competitors from over 70 countries. This year, approximately 10 000 participants competed in over 61 different sporting codes, making the games one of the largest participation sporting event.

Results

Tug of War Catch Weight: Silver Medal Yoogen Naicker, Mark Smith, Francis van der Byl, Mzuzile Makeleni, Nathan Michaels, Riaan Senekal, Cedric Daniels and Morne Haskell.

Heavy Weight: Silver Medal Yoogen Naicker, Mark Smith, Francis van der Byl, Leon Agulhas, Richard Erasmus, Nathan Michaels, Jonathan Pillay and Riaan Senekal.

Track and field 800m: R Booysen - Bronze 3 000m steeplechase: R Booysen - Gold Hammer throw: R Senekal - Bronze High jump: F Forbay - Gold Triple jump: K Breedt - Gold Long jump: K Breedt - Bronze 110m long hurdles: K Breedt - Bronze

The opening ceremony was held in Stadium Armory (RFK Stadium), with all the countries taking part in the march. The scenery and overall experience was spectacular and ended with live entertainment.

Wrist wrestling M Haskell - Silver

of local governments in the mid to late 1990s. “

I have made many unforgettable friends over this time and am confident that their service has within its ranks the staff with the knowledge, abilities, determination and love for the service to take it forward. I have had a wonderful experience – it remains the best job in the world!”

“As an organisation, we have been through some challenging times each of which in retrospect provided a wonderful learning opportunity.”

“I am proud and privileged to have served in eThekwini and the other fire services that have been my home away from home for the past 44 years.

Tennis Singles 50+: Christa - Silver Doubles 50: Christa – Gold

Fire and Rescue congratulates you retirement, Chief!

International on your

Volume 3 | No 9

Strap News

Volume 3 | No 9

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News

Netcare 911’s Rescue 1 making a difference 911 carries part of the running costs of Rescue 1, which is also sponsored by Fury Motor Group and CarTrack.

According to Ramduth, the service is having a tremendously positive impact.

“The crew of Rescue 1 has assisted at numerous emergency scenes and has helped save many lives, showing what can be achieved by a small team of dedicated, highly motivated and welltrained paramedics who are working for the good of the community.”

Netcare 911’s Rescue 1

“I

thought the end had come,” recalls 19-year-old Diego Viljoen, survivor of a horrific road accident, which saw the bakkie he was travelling in struck by a container truck in Modderfontein, Johannesburg earlier this year. “My bakkie was crushed under the weight of the truck, leaving me trapped in a tiny area of the cabin, which was miraculously left intact.”

Viljoen, in shock, phoned his uncle to ask him to say goodbye to his mother, father and other family members as he did not believe he would ever get out of the wreck alive.

Soon after this, however, Viljoen heard a calm voice asking if he was okay and then advising him to try to stay calm while assuring him that a rescue team would extricate him from his vehicle as soon as possible. “It was a paramedic and he brought hope that I might actually get out alive of what seemed a desperate situation.”

Nick Dollman, a paramedic and crew member of Rescue 1, a special rescue vehicle operated as a community service by medical emergency services provider Netcare 911, arrived to find paramedics on scene but was the first rescue unit to arrive at the accident. He says that what he saw took his breath away. A container truck had smashed into the bakkie, turning it

18 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

over in the process. Thereafter, it drove right over the smaller vehicle.

“We were relieved to hear that the driver of the vehicle was conscious, secured the accident site and called the fire department to assist at the scene.

Fortunately, a crew from Northview Fire Station, as well as a number of other emergency services, soon joined us,” notes Dollman. “Together we worked for an hour and three quarters to free Viljoen. A crane had to be brought in to lift the truck off the bakkie before the recue teams were able to free him, using hydraulic and cutting rescue tools.”

Viljoen was taken by ambulance to Netcare Sunninghill Hospital and was discharged from hospital after just two days.

The Rescue 1 crew members are Netcare 911 paramedics who have special training in rescue. Their rescue vehicle is a custom-made, Ford Ranger 3,2 litre Hi-Rider bakkie with excellent all-round terrain capabilities which carries a range of rescue gear that equips the crew for many different situations. Rescue 1 can reach emergencies in areas where road ambulances and other emergency response vehicles are unable to go.

Equipment includes the latest range of hydraulic rescue tools, pneumatic lifting bags, breathing apparatus, reciprocating saw, fire extinguishers, traffic cones and other safety equipment, a ladder, ropes, climbing harnesses and a rescue basket, medical equipment, a range of small tools and stabilisation equipment. An electric generator powers the roof-mounted floodlights and smaller portable lights.

Dollman says that it was a tricky rescue operation made possible through the excellent teamwork of all of the rescue services and medical emergency services involved. “Everyone played a critical role but the fire crew from Northview Fire Station deserve a special mention for their immense efforts.”

“The Rescue 1 unit was relaunched in April 2014, following an upgrade of its rescue capabilities,” says Ramduth. “The rescue service concept itself has been in existence for more than a decade at Netcare 911 and has evolved from a safety and incident management unit with basic rescue capability into its current, more specialised form.”

Shalen Ramduth, Netcare 911’s head of road operations, explains that Rescue 1 is a Netcare 911 social responsibility project, which is operated as a free service to the community to assist at major emergencies over a large geographical area. Netcare

Netcare 911 operates a similar rescue service, Rescue 2 that has the same capabilities as Rescue 1, in KwaZuluNatal. Ramduth explains that Netcare 911 is an emergency medical services provider and rescue services are not traditionally part of its work. However, Volume 3 | No 9

News these units were established when Netcare 911 realised the critical role they can play in the emergency services environment.

As illustrated in the above case, the Rescue 1 team works closely with all the other emergency services, operating to ensure the best possible outcomes for members of the community who are involved in such incidents.

Ramduth explains that, in addition to performing rescue work, the Rescue 1 team protect emergency care personnel working at traffic-related or emergency incidents by securing the scene to safeguard them from secondary collisions and other potential hazards. In addition, Rescue 1 carries portable equipment enabling the crew to set up landing zones at emergency scenes for the Netcare 1 helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) to land safely and attend to critically injured patients.

“The Rescue 1 team also makes its services available to the public on the N3 highway to Durban during busy holiday periods such as Christmas

Diego Viljoen’s bakkie was crushed under the weight of the truck and Easter, school holidays and long weekends,” relates Ramduth. “We put the team on standby when events such as the Comrades Marathon and the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge are being held and we know the roads will be busy. Our Rescue 1 team, including volunteers, spent more than 100 days along the N3 last year providing emergency assistance to the public.”

“During these periods our rescue base is situated at Reitz in the Free State

between Villiers and Warden and our service is fully endorsed by the N3 Toll Concession. Our Netcare 911 colleagues from the Free State support us with ambulances and an advanced life support response vehicle.”

“We would like to thank our The Fury Motor Group and CarTrack, without whose sponsorship we would not have been able to bring this important free service to the community,” concludes Ramduth.

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lalierainsford@gmail.com FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 19

News

New turntable ladder for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station

By Rhine Barnes, Chief Fire Officer, Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd

equipment and in many cases, build purpose built emergency response facilities that would serve a number of nuclear plants simultaneously. These fortified building were designed to withstand earthquakes, tornados and tsunamis and house a large arsenal of equipment that could be deployed to assist and support a nuclear facility that needed it.

The representatives of Rosenbauer handing over the turntable ladder to Rhine Barnes and his team

T

he Japan tsunami in 2011 and subsequent damage caused to the Daicii Nuclear Power Plant forced every nuclear power operator to re-examine their emergency response capability, training and equipment. In addition to this, design features were examined and all over the world, emergency plans were reviewed and where necessary, upgraded.

At Koeberg, we identified the need for some additional equipment, which included a number of items of small equipment for communications, lighting and emergency power.

Items such as pumps, generators and specialised vehicles were also identified. One such vehicle was a turntable ladder.

Daicii Nuclear Power Plant On 11 March 2011, the Fukushima Prefecture was struck by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake; this was followed shortly after by a 13m tsunami. In the path of the tsunami was the Daicii Nuclear Power Plant. At the plant, Unit 1, 2 and 3 were in operation while Unit 4, 5 and 6 were in shut down for refuelling.

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Soon after the earthquake and tsunami, all off-site power was lost, while cooling water systems showed signs of damage, which resulted in difficulty in cooling all the units and the spent fuel pools. Unit 1, 2 and 3 suppression pools could not be cooled and the temperature soon increased to serious levels. The spent fuel pool cooling was lost for all the units.

The lack of cooling exposed the zirconium cladding of the fuel rods, which in turn reacted with the water, creating hydrogen. The hydrogen exploded in Unit 1 and 3 during venting of the primary containment.

Damage caused by the tsunami hampered efforts to restore power and as a result, operators were forced to use the diesel-driven fire pumps to pump sea water laced with boron into the reactor cores to cool the fuel.

Recovery action at the Daicii Plant in the days following the event were closely examined and compared to own design and equipment. Plants were put into place to carry out modifications to existing plants, procure additional

It was noted that at the Daicii Plant, debris from the tsunami blocked doors and openings in the plant making access and egress difficult for rescuers and damage control personnel. In addition to this, aerial apparatus had to be brought in to help with the cooling of the exposed spent fuel rods. The water tower pumped water through the open roof of the spent fuel building.

Rosenbauer L32 FA turntable ladder Koeberg decided to procure a turntable ladder, however, we also wanted a vehicle with the ability to pump water and fight fires much like a normal pumper. In other words, the turntable ladder had to be able to work independently and not rely on a pumper to supply water.

After searching the market and following a lengthy tender process, Rosenbauer was contracted to build and supply the vehicle.

The Rosenbauer L32 FA turntable ladder was built on a MAN TGS 33.440 truck chassis. The ladder, a Rosenbauer (METZ) 32m ladder, is fully integrated with a carrying capacity of 450kg in the aerial platform. The Rosenbauer NH40 pump has both a normal volume and a three-stage high pressure pump with a Rosenbauer NP-FIX MIX foam proportioning system. The vehicle has a 3 000 litre water tank and a 700 litre foam concentrate tank on board.

The ladder has an Akron 3578 Streammaster monitor fitted below Volume 3 | No 9

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Matjhabeng Municipality inaugurates Mmamahabane Fire Station, Ventersburg

M

atjhabeng Municipality inaugurated its new Mmamahabane Fire Station situated in Ventersburg in South Africa’s Free State Province on 18 September 2015.

The Mmamahabane Fire Station is the first of six additional satellite stations to serve the Matjhabeng area.

Matjhabeng consists of six towns namely Welkom, Virginia, Hennenman, Odendaalsrus, Ventersburg and Allanridge. Until recently, Matjhabeng only had four fire stations covering all six towns resulting in the fire and rescue service being unable to meet the response time requirements set out in SANS 10090.

“This led to us to putting six satellite fire stations on the Integrated Development

the platform, which is fully remote controlled. In addition to this, the platform also has a manual operated straight steam monitor and is equipped to carry a stokes basket type stretcher without encroaching on the operators space in the platform.

A Rosenbauer RS 14 “super silent” generator provides emergency power to the ladder hydraulics in the event of main engine failure. In addition to this, it also provides both

Matjhabeng Municipality inaugurated its new Mmamahabane Fire Station

Plan (IDP) and Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP).

The council applied for Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding in

order to build these satellite fire stations and fortunately for us, was approved,” said Francois Klaassen, acting chief fire officer, Matjhabeng Fire Department.

220V and 400V power at the platform for the use of emergency equipment such as lighting, positive pressure ventilation (PPV), etc.

a weight on the ladder or in the platform as well as wind speed, angle of extension and reach and the forces acting on the stabiliser jacks, etc so as to provide the operator with the information needed to keep the ladder operating within the safety margins.

The vehicle crew compartment is fitted for a crew of six fire fighters with their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAs) integrated into the backrest of the crew seats.

The on-board computer calculates the forces acting on the ladder such

The Rosenbauer L32 FA Turntable Ladder was built on a MAN TGS 33.440 truck chassis Volume 3 | No 9

The Koeberg Fire Department is currently developing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for turntable ladder operations and training with the fire fighters in still ongoing.

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News

Chief Klaassen and Teboho Mokhuoa, Head of Department Public Safety and Transport

The Mmamahabane Fire Station is a three-bay station with three utility bays

Matjhabeng’s incident command vehicle

The Matjhabeng Fire Department dedicated a vehicle to the station

Hennenman Fire Station is situated nearest to the N1 with a distance of approximately 20km. It took the fire department about 15 to 20 minutes to reach it, without the time taken into consideration travelling north (covering the N1 halfway to Kroonstad, approximately 25 to 30km) and South up to Aldam (approximately 50km) and East to Senekal (approximately 50km). “Because the N1 is our highest priority, it was decided to build the first satellite station in Ventersburg,” added Chief Klaassen. The other five satellite fire stations will be situated in strategically identified sites ie Thabong, Meloding, Phomolong, Kutwlanong and Allanridge.

A consultant was appointed and a business plan as well as the layout of the fire station was presented to the 22 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Matjhabeng Fire Department, Local Economic Development (LED), Project Management Unit (PMU) and Council.

In conjunction with LED, a site in Mmamahabane was identified that was big enough for the fire station. The first site meeting was held on 1 November 2013, to mark the beginning of this new exciting project. In February 2015 the fire station was completed and after all the snagging, practical completion and final inspections were completed, the station was handed over to the Matjhabeng City Council and the Matjhabeng Fire Department.

The Mmamahabane Fire Station is a three-bay station with three utility bays. Resources will include a medium pumper and a rescue vehicle, with 20 staff; five fire fighters

on a four-shift basis with four station officers totalling 24 staff.

“The fire fighters in the Matjhabeng area, as you can imagine, have eagerly started to compete in order to work at the new fire station; all wanted to be first in line,” said Chief Klaassen. “Senior personnel were having a ball at deciding (naturally with costs saving and budget in mind) on new equipment and furniture.”

The Matjhabeng Fire Department dedicated a vehicle to the station, however, fire fighters still need to be appointed. These vacancies will soon be advertised externally through the media as internal advertisement did not deliver suitable candidates.

“Being an emergency service you all know that the requirements are strict, as it well should be because lives are at stake,” concluded Chief Klaassen.

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News

OR Tambo International Airport receives state-of-the-art Rosenbauer technology

A

irports Company of South Africa’s (ACSA’s) OR Tambo International Airport situated in Johannesburg, Gauteng, recently received a number of state-of-the-art equipment in line with its objective to not only achieve its state-of-readiness as required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) but rather exceed it.

Yet another 8x8 Panther for OR Tambo

The new apparatus and equipment included another 8x8 Panther airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) tender, E8000/E3000 Escape Stairs built on a MAN 33.480 6x6 chassis, the RIV UHPS 500, which is a rapid intervention vehicle built on a Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 chassis and the impressive Panther Tactical Simulator, one of only three worldwide. All equipment was supplied by Rosenbauer.

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News

The Escape Stairs deploy in 50 seconds

At the handover ceremony held on 27 October 2015, Rishi Thakurdin, group manager: safety and compliance and Clive Naidoo, manager fire and rescue, OR Tambo International Airport, reiterated ACSA’s commitment to exceed preparedness. Naidoo added that October is the Month of Transport and that the theme for this year by the Minister of Transport is, ‘Together we move South Africa forward’ with the key focus area being the safety of all in any mode of transport.

The front rescue lift on the Escape Stairs

testing response to different types of scenarios, sharing the experience within ACSA and with airport managers across Africa. He added that the addition of the new simulator enable ACSA to provide world-class training to other ARFF services.

“ACSA strives to mirror this focus area, not for one month in a year but every day, week, month and year on year, as long we are able to provide a service to our customers,” said Naidoo.

Michael von der Heyde, Rosenbauer South Africa, said that with the addition of the new equipment to its arsenal, OR Tambo International Airport is in line with Dubai International Airport, Frankfurt International Airport, Paris’ Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Jeddah International Airport in Saudi Arabia, however, none of these have the Panther Tactical Simulator, placing OR Tambo at the top in the world.

Thakurdin said that every two years ACSA has a full scale emergency exercise,

Lefty Ngoete, City of Ekurhuleni’s regional manager, North, said that the

Rosenbauer RIV UHPS 500 rapid intervention vehicle for access to the parkade and basement areas 24 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

City of Ekurhuleni has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with OR Tambo so the resources procured also enhances safety in Ekurhuleni.

Ngoete further detailed Ekurhuleni’s resources and its plans on increasing its own resources and the addition of the new Albertina Sisulu Fire Station in in the near future.

Escape stairs The Rosenbauer Escape Stairs are built on a MAN 33.480 6x6 chassis and the E8000 rescue platform enables it to reach the upper deck doors of the Airbus A380 and Boeing B747. In addition to the rescue platform, the unit is fitted with the E3000 rescue lift, which is fix mounted at the snow plug connector plate at the front of the vehicle. The lift offers rescue heights between one and three metres in order to serve smaller aircraft. The escape stairs will ensure the safe and timeous evacuation of passengers and crew while providing improved access for emergency personnel on board an aircraft in the absence of a contact stand or air bridge.

With a width of 3 050mm and a loadbearing capacity of 320kg/m², the upper rescue platform furnishes the ideal prerequisites for rapid plane entry and exit. The high-performance hydraulics of the vehicle ensure that the main staircase can be run out from the storage position to its maximum height in roughly 50 seconds, operated by one person. A height level control system (HLCS) can be employed for the preprogramming of the door heights Volume 3 | No 9

News of various aircraft types, which also allows an automatic approach during operations.

The main consideration during the development of the new rescue staircase was safety during a plane evacuation. The width and depth of the steps ie 1 500mm/390mm, allow three people to descend abreast and in comfort. In addition, whatever the angle, the stairs remain in a horizontal position and are also brightly lit for a danger-free descent.

The unit doubles as a rapid response unit as it is fitted with a telescopic pipe providing water and foam to the platform as well as an extra hose reel and coupling to fight fires either from the platform or by entering the aircraft.

Panther Tactical Simulator The state-of-the-art Panther Tactical Simulator, one of only three in the world, provides airport fire fighting crew commanders and drivers an opportunity to gain experience in

the tactical use of ARFF vehicle by turret controls and the application of fire fighting agent, command and control, vehicle operation and basic driving and positioning skills. This system allows for realistic risk-free training scenarios, which can’t be taught in real life and consists of a mock-cab, a centre console with appropriate turret controls and gauges, a steering wheel and pedal controls.

operators to build the experience and gain the confidence necessary to perform under extreme conditions in a variety of situations and ultimately be better prepared for real-life incidents and live-exercises.

The simulator can be programmed to integrate all runway traffic. An entire fleet of vehicles can join in the virtual operation while the exercise is controlled and monitored by trainers.

With the ability to record the training session and then observe the situation with a bird’s-eye view, providing a new and unique way to evaluate and discuss the training session, reducing the environmental impact and cost of the training session since no actual water, foam, fuel and gas are used.

Rosenbauer RIV The ability to attend to basements and parkade incidents with height being a limiting factor has been mitigated by the addition of the RIV UHPS 500, a rapid intervention vehicle built on a Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 chassis. The unit is fitted with the necessary rescue gear to attend to vehicle accidents and fires and other incidents in the airport’s parkade and basement areas.

The full cabin simulator offers a geo-specific environment allowing the airport fire and rescue vehicle

The other Panther Tactical Simulators are in Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Schiphol in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The management of ACSA and OR Tambo commended Rosenbauer on the quality of equipment and professional service.

Michael von der Heyde, Clive Naidoo and Rishi Thakurdin launching the Panther Tactical Simulator

The Panther Tactical Simulator provides realistic risk-free training scenarios Volume 3 | No 9

ACSA staff celebrating the arrival

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South African Working on Fire teams assist Canada fighting wildfires The team after their final debrief session with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

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wo crews from Working on Fire (WoF) received high praise from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) for their excellent work ethic and team work whilst they were part of international wildland fire fighting teams, fighting multiple fires in Canada during July and August 2015.

The Alpha crew were part of the 48 crew members drawn from the South

African Working on Fire programme and have been in Canada since the 21 July 2015 as part of a cooperative resource sharing arrangement between Canadian and South African forest fire fighting agencies.

they were part of the international wildland fire fighting teams, fighting multiple fires in Alberta and British Columbia in Canada during July and August,” said Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa.

“South African crews have received high praise from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) for their levels of fitness, good work ethic and high morale while

The South Africans were initially deployed to Edmonton, Alberta from where they were dispatched to assist with the suppression of wildfires in the heavily forested Slave Lake area. Once the Slave Lake fire was controlled, Alpha crew was redeployed to British Columbia, while Bravo crew remained to complete mopping up operations in Alberta. The opportunity to work overseas has allowed the WoF crews to experience not only fire fighting conditions in different fuel types but also working in very large fire fighting operations with a greater range of tools and machinery.

“Following their month long operations in Canada, CIFFC released a positive crew performance report lauding amongst other, the South Africans for their physical fitness, productivity, health and safety and mopping up operations,” added Minister Molewa.

The South Africans were initially deployed to Edmonton, Alberta 26 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

She continued in saying, “When they arrived in Canada, we knew Volume 3 | No 9

News already that the South African training standards and qualifications were verified against the Canadian, USA, Mexico, Australian and New Zealand systems and our training was way up there, being compatible with international standards. Our upbeat and always happy South African crews with their song and dance have been well received in Canada and have even appeared in the local and national media as well as on the Canadian Broadcast Corporation.

They have set positive examples to the local and international crews on how to build strong morale and teamwork.”

The South Africans worked alongside international fire fighting teams drawn from Mexico, USA and Australia, deployed to assist Canada once the size and number of wildfires outstripped the available local resources. Canada has experienced an extremely hot and dry summer, leading to record levels of wildfires. In anticipation of increasing fire danger weather under future conditions of climate change, the international fire fighting ‘family’ has been working together for some years to put exchange and resource sharing agreements in place. This is the first successful deployment between Canada and South Africa.

Minister Molewa added, “Our crews were excited to be returning back home, spending some time with their families before rejoining their respective Working on Fire teams

Minister Edna Molewa welcomed the teams back in South Africa. throughout the country. All of them have expressed their joy at having been able to assist Canada with their wildfires and have described their journey as having changed their perspectives on live in general but they have also learned a lot whilst having been over there.”

“We are extremely proud of the exemplary manner in which our participants from the South African government’s Working on Fire programme represented our country with pride and dignity. The Working on Fire programme is about changing lives and we are confident that this trip has had a significant impact on the

lives of these young men and women who will now be able to learn from this experience and also impact on their other colleagues and families in the programme. We are certain that this resource sharing arrangement between South Africa and Canada has paved the way for even more meaningful future engagements as well as resource sharing agreements with other countries. On behalf of the South African government, I want to thank the Canadian Government, the Alberta and British Columbia Provinces and the Canadian fire authorities for having made our South African participants so welcome in their country,” concluded Minister Molewa.

The South African team with teams from Mexico, USA and Australia Volume 3 | No 9

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South Africa’s NSRI honours volunteers, long service and remarkable rescues responded to the stricken Angolan yacht Bille taking part in the Cape to Rio Yacht race approximately 100 miles North West of Saldanha Bay. Using a small inflatable, the SAS Isandlwana’s crew went to the rescue of the six crew members of the stricken dismasted yacht. Unfortunately, the seventh crew member of the yacht died when the yacht was dismasted in the storm prior to the arrival of the rescue team.

The Silver Gallantry award recipients

S

outh Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute held its 2015 annual general meeting (AGM) at The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay in the Western Cape and included long service awards for volunteer crew, awards for service to NSRI and four awards for remarkable rescues carried out by NSRI volunteers, the South African Navy and a Grade 8 Knysna school pupil.

The awards were handed out by NSRI board chairman, Ronnie Stein.

Silver Gallantry Award Johnny Albert, Station 2 Bakoven; Jeremy Joseph Godfrey, Station 2 Bakoven and Alex Ryan Albert, Station 2 Bakoven for the rescue of 18-year old Shane Keenan who was entangled in his kite lines and being swept towards rocks off Glen beach, Camps Bay by a huge ground swell and a 50 knot South Easter on 19 January 2015.

Bronze Gallantry Award Daniel Heimann, previously Station 6 Port Elizabeth (now HQ) and Stephen van den Berg, Station 6 Port Elizabeth for going to the rescue of surf skier Clinton Hempel on 1 November 2014 at Sardinia Bay. Clinton had paddled with friends from Summerstrand, 28 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Port Elizabeth, to Sardina Bay. The conditions deteriorated during the paddle and he fell off his surf ski near to the take out beach. Separated from the group and unable to remount his surf ski he became seriously hypothermic. Although he managed to hold onto the ski he was unable to help himself in any other way.

Chairman’s Letter of Appreciation SAS Isandlwana Captain and crew for the rescue of six crew on the yacht Bille.

On 7 January 2014, SAS Isandlwana

Waterwise Academy Recognition Award Devon Dodd, a Grade 8 pupil at Oakhill School in Knysna, was surfing at Buffalo Bay on Freedom Day, 27 April 2015, when he noticed a swimmer in distress and he rescued the man, whose name he never found out, using his surfboard as a floatation aid.

It is the first time that this award has been made.

Marmion Marsh Award The Marmion Marsh Award was presented to Billy Harker. In 2006, following a long search by air and sea units in foul weather conditions, in fading light, the NSRI eventually found and saved the life of surf skier, Casper Kruger. Race organiser, Billy Harker, approached the NSRI about starting a surf ski paddlers fundraising project. The concept was simple, a

Recipients of the Chairman’s Letter of Appreciation Volume 3 | No 9

News R25 per month debit-order campaign marketed into the surf ski community and ring fenced to fund sea rescue boats around the country. The funds raised have been used to build four rescue boats to date. Spirit of Surfski 1 in Gordon’s Bay, Spirit of Surfski 2 in Simon’s Town, Spirit of Surfski 3 in Durban and Spirit of Surfski 4 is currently in production and will serve at Port Elizabeth.

Alric Simpson Award The Alric Simpson Award was presented to Captain Kieron Cox for his quite remarkable contribution over the past 29 years to the training of NSRI crew. For 27 years Captain Cox was a member of the national operations and trainee committee sub-committee on training, in a purely voluntary capacity. He was specially noted for his meticulous attention to detail in contributing to the formulation of content and in designing the format of the task books and manuals needed to ensure that our crew were given the best possible grounding for their task as sea rescue volunteers. In particular, Captain Cox designed a training course on

electronic navigation systems tailored to NSRI’s special needs, which he donated to NSRI.

Long Service Awards, 30 years David Robins, director and Station 3 Table Bay

Director’s Thanks Hendrik Josias Henn of Station 17 Hermanus on the occasion of his standing down from the position of station commander of Station 17, Hermanus, on the 14 April 2015 after 26 and a half years in the post and for staying on as operational crew.

Long Service Awards, 35 years Roger Clancy, Station 12 Knysna Phil Ress, Station 3 Table Bay Michael Clark, Station 17 Hermanus

Long Service Awards, 20 years Laurent Eray, Station 14 Plettenberg Bay Nazeem Abrahams, Station 16 Strandfontein Gavin Fordham, Station 19 Richards Bay Michael Saunders, Station 25 Hartbeespoort Dam Geoff Harris, coastwatcher at Station 9 Gordons Bay Lynne Harris, coastwatcher at Station 9 Gordons Bay Long Service Awards, 25 years Dr John Donald, Station 14 Plettenberg Bay Andre Fraser, Station 15 Mossel Bay Marion Spencer, Station 17 Hermanus

Long Service Awards, 40 years Brad Geyser, operations board member (Obm), Station 2 Bakoven and Station 8 Hout Bay Rob Stirrat, director and Station 3 Table Bay Ian Wienburg, director and Station 3 Table Bay Long Service Awards, 45 years Ian Strachan, honorary life governor (Hlg), Station 9 Gordons Bay Most Improved Station Award Station 20 Shelly Beach Best Rib Station Award Station 2 Bakoven Best Class 1 Station Award (Pat O Sullivan) Station 10 Simon’s Town

The Bronze Gallantry award winners

Devon Dodd receives the Waterwise Academy Recognition Award

The Marmion Marsh Award was presented to Billy Harker

Alric Simpson Award recipient, Captain Kieron Cox

Volume 3 | No 9

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 29

Reciprocating saws

Reciprocating saws – as important as hydraulic rescue tools?

By Colin Deiner, Chief Director, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government

Reciprocating saws must never be seen as a replacement for hydraulic rescue tools but complimentary to them

J

im Gargan, author of the first authoritative text book on vehicle extrication, “Vehicle Rescue”, written with, the legendary vehicle extrication instructor Harvey Grant, often said that when you are using a tool in the fire services that was designed for another industry, you must remember that you are ‘only borrowing’ the tool and therefore need to understand its initial intention and therefore its limitations.

It was, however, ‘Uncle’ Jim who played a huge part in adapting many of these tools for use in rescue. We immediately think of the rescue strut, the origin of which was in the construction industry where it was used as a stabilisation device. The original ‘JIMMIJAK’ became the blueprint for a wide range of stabilisation systems, which have become an essential part of virtually every self-respecting rescue squad in many countries. He also spent a huge amount of time with manufacturers of reciprocating saws in developing the ‘rescue blade’.

His book, “BTLS Access”, provided rescuers with many solutions to dealing with victims of vehicle entrapments without having to make use of hydraulic rescue systems. The technology available to us in hydraulics is

30 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

phenomenal and thousands of people owe their lives to the innovations of modern rescue tools. We can’t do without them and not for a moment would I advocate that they can be replaced by any other rescue system. By introducing a good selection of pneumatic and electric cutting tools into you arsenal of rescue equipment you can improve your rescue capability to such a high level that your extrication times can be reduced by 50 percent or more. You can also have them at hand if for whatever reason you lose the function of your hydraulics.

During the late Nineties when I was still heavily involved in the South African National Extrication Challenge, our committee decided to follow the international practice and introduce the ‘Limited Evolution’ into our competitions. The difference was, however, that we decided that, in this category we would do away with the hand-pump operated hydraulics altogether and only allow tools that were operated either by electricity, batteries, compressed air or good old elbow grease. We found that in previous ‘limited’ evolutions teams were not migrating to the fantastic options made available Volume 3 | No 9

Reciprocating saws mechanisms on batteries allowed for rapid replacement and similarly the quick-chuck keyless design made blade replacement quicker and easier. Most importantly new blades were developed especially for rescue purposes.

Reciprocating saws had ‘arrived’ as a rescue tool.

Cordless reciprocating saws are now produced by various manufacturers and commonly use an 18-volt rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) battery. These batteries generally last for fifteen to twenty minutes but this could be less if they are operated under heavy-load conditions. A recently introduced 24-volt battery increases the usable power time by about 33 percent, according to its manufacturers.

The blade thickness is a major contributor to the effectiveness of the blade to them by other hand tools but would rather default to connecting their hydraulics to the hand-pump and then proceed to extricate the victim using this method.

More often than not some poor team member would end up furiously operating the hand-pump for close on 20-minutes, wearing bunker gear in the heat of the day.

Often we would end up with a real victim in the exercise pit and had to call on a few paramedics to exercise their ‘treatment of heat exhaustion’ skills.

It was during the 1999 extrication challenge in Cape Town that we decided to ban hydraulics from the limited evolutions and were amazed at what we saw. The proficiency of some rescue teams with air chisels and reciprocating saws was so good that they were using these tools in tandem with their hydraulics. A new world opened up for many rescuers. As is the intention with these challenges, it wasn’t long before we saw this multitasking on the road.

Electric to battery Rescue services who initially acquired reciprocating saws generally opted for electrically powered saws for a number of reasons. Battery powered cordless saws in those years had a limited work duration, which meant that you often had to stop midway through a job to change batteries. This was quite laborious as the rapid battery change capability didn’t yet exist and it meant removing a bulky rescue glove to allow you to replace the battery. The electric saw obviously had the limitation of having to be close to an electrical source or needed to have a generator carted after it. Blades were also a problem in this time as they did not have the ability to cut through different materials simultaneously and frequently snapped under pressure.

Changing blades was also a mission on its own and it required a separate tool to achieve this.

Fortunately the increased popularity of the reciprocating saw in the rescue fraternity brought about many improvements and adaptions to the original tool.

Batteries were adapted to perform better; quick-release 32 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

It makes a lot of sense, however, to always make sure that before starting any task that you have two or more batteries available. You can consider also carrying an electric saw on your rig as a back-up. They obviously don’t have the time limitation of the cordless saws, which is very important if you are faced with a complex rescue.

If planning to use a cordless reciprocating saw for operations, have an electric saw set up and ready to use.

Even though the cordless saw performs satisfactorily, the electric saw does not have the operational time limitation of the rechargeable batteries, which is an important factor at extended operations.

Saw blades – time to specialise Reciprocating saws have since their inception become the tool of choice for many applications in the fire and rescue environment. They get used for forcible entry, structural collapse rescue (where they are particularly effective at cutting through reinforced steel) and vehicle extrication. These applications are generally much more demanding than the standard construction-type tasks for which they are used most of the time. The first thing you should do to increase the capability of the saw is to replace the standard consumer-grade blade with a specialised bi-metal blade designed specifically for fire and rescue services.

Cordless reciprocating saws are now produced by various manufacturers Volume 3 | No 9

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Reciprocating saws Cutting reinforced concrete bars (rebar) in a structural collapse scenario will sometimes require a finer toothed blade. Remember that rebar is generally constructed from waste steel and its strength may vary along any two points throughout its length. Rebar must obviously be cleared of as much concrete as possible before the bar cutting starts.

I would not recommend reciprocating saws as the tool of choice for this job. A good rebar cutter or hydraulic rescue tool will be far safer, especially if you are cutting close to a victim. In any event, make sure you always have sufficient hard protection in place when cutting close to any person.

Anticipate the movement of the blade and ensure that you won’t injure anyone if things go south.

A good team-approach to multi-tasking will only be successful if you practice and practice often ‘Rescue-blades’ are derived from the heavy-duty bi-metal ‘demolition’ blades that were first used by professional contractors. Bi-metal blades were first introduced in the 1960s and were found to work well for rescue due to their special construction and high resistance to breaking. The demolition blades tend to bend rather than snapping or breaking off and also have a higher resistance to chipping of its cutting surface. The robustness and improved performance of demolition/rescue blades are due to their construction whereby a high-speed steel cutting edge is welded onto a flexible, spring-steel base (hence the term bi-metal).

The blade thickness is also a major contributor to the effectiveness of the blade. The standard 0,9mm blade is not effective for fire and rescue applications and therefore the broader 1,5mm blades will offer more resistance during cutting but will provide a more effective cutting operation.

The ‘tooth-per-inch’ rating of a blade is very important in determining the best blade for the application. Blades with many small teeth are used for precision cutting work and have limited use in the rescue environment. The demolition/rescue blade has a lower ‘tooth-per-inch’ rating and will offer a more robust surface which will not wear out as rapidly. When you are cutting through a car door you must appreciate that you are penetrating a number of different materials (metals, plastic, glass etc) and therefore you need a saw that can break as much as cut as fast and effectively as possible. As a result you don’t really care what the final product looks like as long as it is open and out of the way.

34 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

How long should your blades be? Due to the versatility of a reciprocating saw, make sure that you carry a variety of lengths on your rescue rig. I have on a number of occasions used recip saws to release people trapped by machinery. In these cases you have often very little space to work with and this is where you will need the shorter, sixinch (152 mm) blade. We once responded to an incident where a young boy’s arm was caught in a washing machine. To release his arm, we needed to cut through the cylinder but due to the limited space between the cylinder and the casing we decided to cut a few inches of the end of the blade. It worked. The most important thing to remember here is to make sure that the inward stroke of the blade is still on the outside of the base.

When you are cutting broad c-pillars or the multiple layers of materials found on vehicles today, it is better to have the longer 8- or 9-inch (203mm or 228mm) blade. When attempting a ‘gull-wing’ cut you might need to opt for the 12-inch (305mm) blade. This will give you the desired ‘reach’ you need but could cause the additional hazard to the patient on the other side. Hard protection again comes into play here.

Rescue blades are generally identified by the words “Rescue” or “Fire and Rescue” printed on them.

Experienced rescuers should easily identify these blades by looking at the thickness and teeth-per inch. Most

Reciprocating saws have a wide range of applications in rescue Volume 3 | No 9

Reciprocating saws known rescue kit suppliers usually provide rescue blades but in the event that you can’t get your hands on them, you can use the industrial demolition blades as a backup.

Operation – where and when As mentioned above, reciprocating saws have a wide range of applications in rescue. The most common uses in vehicle rescue will be roof removal and relief cuts through doors and the length of the roof.

The first and most important principle when operating the saw is to ensure that the ‘shoe’ or ‘foot’ in which the blade is inserted should lie flush against the material being cut.

This prevents saw slippage, reduces vibration and assists in guiding the blade as it cuts.

Many rescuers believe that the saw should be lubricated continuously during any cutting operation. Some rescue squads will use oil while most favour a soapwater mixture or dishwashing liquid. Recent research has, however, revealed that lubricating a blade has no impact on the effectiveness of the saw. Lubrication might extend the life of the blade but this should be weighed up against the option of tying a rescuer up who will have to operate the spray bottle in an already crowded confined space.

When you are cutting any materials that are in contact with a victim, you should, however, consider lubricating the material (especially metals) with water. The heat generated by the cutting activity could be conducted to the victim causing further injury.

Multi-tasking Reciprocating saws must never be seen as a replacement for hydraulic rescue tools but complimentary to them. The best rescue squads are those who are able to go to work on a car using both their hydraulics and a combination of reciprocating saws and air chisels.

Instead of doing a partial roof-flip on a vehicle, rather take the entire roof off by taking the A- and B-pillars off with your hydraulics while the C-pillar is removed with the recip saw.

A partial roof flip will always leave a substantial column in the way of medics trying to package the patient and will definitely be in the way of the spinal board when it is time to remove the victim.

A good team-approach to multi-tasking will only be successful if you practice and practice often. Go to your local junkyard and spend lots of time with on half of your team on the hydraulics and the other on the hand-tools.

In closing Extrication in South Africa reached a high point in the past decade when many of our rescue teams participated in international extrication challenges and performed admirably. Outside of these events we observed innovative thinking and innovation addressing a wide range of rescue topics. Those were exciting times. It is my wish that we pick up where these pioneers left off. The benefit will be seen when we are able to increase our extrication times and result in a live and viable patient.

Reciprocating saws are very effective in cutting the front windscreen by applying a line of foam (like shaving cream) to the surface before starting the cut. This helps to prevent the fine glass particles from flying all over the place and injuring rescuers and the victim. Adequate soft protection should also be put in place.

special risk fire protection

Remember to let the saw do the work. The operator’s hands should be firmly on the insulated areas and should be there to guide the saw along its path. Never force the blade onto a surface as it will slow the blades movement down compromise the cut.

Most manufacturers have variable speed settings on their saws. Ensure that your setting is best suited to the material that you need to cut. A general rule will be to cut harder metals at a slower speed. Increasing the saw’s cutting speed will not increase the speed of the cut but could cause damage to the blade itself. Ensure that saw is running before applying the blade to the surface. Make sure that you establish a small groove as a purchase point before commencing with the actual cut. Starting the cut from a ‘standing’ position might cause the blade to slip or snag onto something and momentarily cause the operator to lose control.

The friction of the cutting effort will obviously cause the blade to be quite hot and care must be taken to handle the blade with gloves if it is necessary to do so.

Volume 3 | No 9

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 35

Incident command: High-rise building fires

High-rise building fires: Adopting an incident command system (ICS)

By Ian Schnetler, Chief Fire Officer, City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service

rise fires pose other challenges that need to be taken into account.

The size and complexity of the interior spaces are challenging and sometimes limited causing arduous access, with extended travel and response times also contributing to the problems faced by emergency responders.

Additionally, most high-rise structures are equipped with various environmental, fire protection and life safety systems that require support and control. Successful emergency operations in these types of buildings also require preplanning and technical competence on the part of emergency responders.

The base at a high-rise incident resembles a ground level staging area

F

ires in multi-storey high-rise buildings in South Africa have been relatively few and far between and fires of the magnitude of the Twin Towers in the 9/11 event, have not been experienced in this country. One hopes that as fire and rescue service members, we will never have such an incident happening. But, as always in our profession, there is a first time for everything and when that day arrives, we should at least be prepared to face such an event.

Fire and emergency incidents of such magnitude require the deployment of a good system of incident command, without which the best laid down standard operating procedures (SOPs) count for nought.

Incident command describes the overall management of an incident and requires specific functions to be carried out by specifically trained and designated roles within the incident command system. It can be applied in a modular format as the incident escalates or de-escalates. The 36 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

following has been adapted from the High-rise Structure Fire Operational System Description (ICS- HR-120-1) module developed by Firescope.

Overview The high-rise module describes an all hazard organisation designed to provide effective management and control of essential functions at incidents occurring in large, multistorey buildings. These incidents may present significant management, logistical and safety challenges to emergency personnel.

In addition to the normal incident command system (ICS), incident management team (IMT) response roles and role specific functions such as the incident commander, safety officer, logistics officer, planning sections chief and public information officer, high-rise building fires require some additional modified role specific functions to assist and manage the incident.

Besides the normal challenges facing incident commanders at fires, high-

Modular organisation development The order in which the ICS organisational structure develops may vary with the type and scope of the incident. The following are examples of modular development of the ICS that serve to illustrate typical methods of expanding the management organisation at a high-rise incident.

These examples reflect the size and complexity of the incident and the available resources at a given time in the incident: • Initial response organisation: the incident commander manages the initial response resources as well as all command and general staff responsibilities. The normal incident command general and staff positions unfold and apply during the initial stages. • Multi-group/division organisation: The incident commander has established most command and general staff positions and has established a combination of divisions and groups to reflect the location and nature of the incident. • Multi-branch organisation: The incident commander has identified a number of actual or potential incident challenges and has Volume 3 | No 9

Incident command: High-rise building fires

established all command and general staff positions. The IC has also established several branches to effectively manage the problems and the resources required for mitigation.

Designated incident facilities Base and staging have modified functions and locations in highrise incidents.

Staging area: The challenging nature of high-rise incidents requires modification to the standard ICS concept of a staging area. The limited access and vertical travel distance of large highrise buildings require establishment of a resource staging area within the building. The high-rise staging area must also serve multiple functions. The staging area is generally located a minimum of two floors below the emergency, as long as the atmosphere is tenable.

Initial response organisation This chart depicts the initial assignment including a command officer on a fire involving a single floor of a high-rise building. The IC has deployed resources to fire attack, lobby control, staging and base (ALS-BASE).

The staging area manager’s function requires changes in order to facilitate a multi-storey or high rise incident, as with most other positions.

Base: The base at a high-rise incident resembles a ground level staging area. The main difference between base and a typical staging area is that base must be expanded to perform the functions inherent to supporting large numbers of personnel and equipment. The base should be located away from the incident building to provide for the safety of personnel and equipment.

Organisation and operations Modified ICS positions: Certain existing ICS positions and functional units within the high-rise incident organisation have modified responsibilities that require full descriptions. These positions include: staging area manager, rapid intervention group supervisor, base manager, ground support unit leader and evacuation group supervisor.

Specialised high-rise ICS positions: Lobby control and systems control unit leaders are specialised functional positions specific to a high-rise incident.

The lobby control unit is established to provide access control, accountability and routing inside the building. As the incident escalates, a separate systems Volume 3 | No 9

Multi-group/division organisation As additional resources arrive, the IC has activated the operations section chief along with multiple divisions to supervise action on each involved or threatened floor. Rapid Intervention crews/ companies are assigned as determined most effective by operations. Groups may be assigned certain functions such as medical care for victims or stairwell pressurisation/ventilation. Air operations branch will coordinate helicopters used for evacuations or reconnaissance. The planning section is activated with selected units. Logistics is assigned to manage lobby control, systems control, ground support, and the incident base. control unit may be established to operate, supervise and coordinate the vital operation of specialised systems incorporated into modern high-rise buildings. These systems may include electrical supply and smoke removal systems.

The systems control unit coordinates the efforts of various technical specialists who might be required to assist in the operation and/or repair of the various systems. During the

initial period of an incident or in a less complex building, the lobby control unit may assume the functions of the systems control unit as shown in the basic organisation chart.

The positions and modifications to the named positions are summarised in the position checklists that follow.

These positions on the incident command structure are vital to the smooth operation of an IMT in order to mitigate the incident.

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 37

Incident command: High-rise building fires

Multi-branch organisation The fire has involved multiple floors with various divisions and groups assigned. This complexity has led the operations section to create a fire suppression branch to manage these divisions and groups. A medical branch is established and the air operations branch is expanded. The planning section has expanded to include the resources unit and situation unit. Logistics section has activated the support and service branches as well as various units within each branch to accommodate the extensive logistical requirements for this size incident.

Position checklists Incident lobby control unit leader The high-rise incident lobby control unit leader’s primary responsibilities are to maintain an accountability system, control all building access points and direct personnel to correct routes, control and operate elevators/lifts and direct building occupants and exiting personnel to proper ground level safe areas.

As directed by the incident commander or agency policy, this unit may be assigned the responsibilities of the systems control unit. The lobby control unit leader reports to the support branch director/logistics section chief.

The lobby control unit leader should be prepared to provide the incident commander or planning section with current information from the personnel accountability (PAR) process.

The safest method of ascending to upper floors is the use of stairways.

The use of elevators for emergency operations should be determined by department policy. This determination is the ultimate responsibility of the incident commander; however, the lobby control unit leader coordinates the actual use of elevators.

Incident systems control unit leader The high-rise incident systems control unit 38 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

leader is responsible for evaluating and monitoring the functions of all built-in fire protection, life safety, environmental control, communications and elevator systems. The systems control unit leader may operate, support or augment the systems as required to support the incident plan. The systems control unit leader reports to the support branch director (if established) or to the logistics section chief. The systems control unit leader must establish and maintain a close liaison with the building’s engineering staff, utility company representatives and other appropriate technical specialists.

Incident staging area manager The high-rise incident staging area manager is responsible for the management of all functions at the staging area and reports to the operations section chief. These include: • Obtain briefing from operations section chief or incident commander • Proceed to selected location and evaluate suitability: make recommendations regarding relocation, if appropriate • Request necessary resources and personnel • Establish staging area layout and identify/post each functional area ie crew-ready area, air cylinder exchange, equipment pool and medical unit if collocated within the staging area

• Determine, establish or request needed facility services ie drinking water and lighting • Coordinate with logistics section or systems control unit to maintain fresh air • Maintain a personnel accountability system for arriving and departing crews • Request required resource levels from the operations section chief: maintain levels and advise the operations section chief when reserve levels are reached • Coordinate with the rapid intervention crew (RIC) group supervisor to designate area(s) for RIC to standby if collocated within the staging area • Direct crews and equipment to designated locations as requested by the operations section chief or incident commander • Secure operations and release personnel as determined by the demobilisation plan • Maintain unit/activity log Incident rapid intervention group supervisor The high-rise incident rapid intervention group supervisor is responsible for the management of rapid intervention crew(s). The high-rise incident rapid intervention group supervisor’s organisational responsibilities vary from the standard ICS position due to the potential for above ground operations, extended response times and rapid intervention crew(s) operating on different floors/stairwells. This position reports to the operations section chief and requires close coordination with the division/group supervisors and the staging area manager.

Incident base manager The high-rise incident base manager is responsible for the management of all functions at the base location. This position within the organisation differs from the standard ICS in that a facilities unit is not appropriate for this type of incident and the base manager reports directly to the support branch director (if established) or logistics section chief.

Incident ground support unit leader The high-rise incident ground support unit leader is responsible for providing transportation for personnel, equipment and supplies refilling of Volume 3 | No 9

Fire service Strap

Eden District Municipality Fire and Rescue Service

Eden Fire Service with Councillor Lionel Essau, acting executive mayor for Eden District Municipality and Gerhard Otto, general manager, emergency services

T

he Eden District Municipality Fire Service is situated in George, Western Cape Province on the beautiful Southern Cape Garden Route. The service was first established sometime in 1980 when it was still known as the Outeniqua Divisional Council. Fire and Rescue International met with Gerhard Otto, manager for Eden District Municipality’s emergency services and the Eden team. And what a team it was! Such passion and commitment!

The position of chief fire officer is currently vacant. Deon van Wyk was appointed as deputy chief fire officer while Wayne Young is the station officer. Young joined the service in 1996 and was transferred to Ladismith in 2006 and Riversdale in 2010.The first fire chief was Patrick Hall in 1992 with Piet le Roux and Tom Lochner as the station officers.

self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders, providing fuelling, service and maintenance of vehicles and portable power equipment and tools and implementing the ground level traffic/movement plan at the incident including marking safe access routes and zones. The ground support unit leader reports to the support branch director (if established) or the logistics section chief.

established. Checklist includes: • Obtain briefing from the branch director, operations section chief or incident commander • Participate in operations section planning activities • Determine evacuation group requirements (personnel, equipment, supplies) • Ensure the evacuation in progress is to a safe location • Confirm evacuation stairwell(s) with the operations section and ground support • Ensure ventilation of evacuation stairwell(s) and safe refuge areas • Coordinate evacuation message with systems control unit utilising the building’s public address system • Assign personnel in the evacuation

Incident evacuation group supervisor The high-rise incident evacuation group supervisor is responsible for managing the movement of building occupants through designated evacuation route(s) to a safe location.

This position reports to the operations section chief or branch director if Volume 3 | No 9

The fire service originally comprised of a volunteer corps with very

minimal resources and training. Its first permanent appointment of fire fighters took place in 1999 whereby 16 volunteer fire fighters were appointed and since then the fire service began to grow to what it is today, a formidable fire fighting service with highly trained and experienced fire fighters.

The Eden Fire and Rescue Service comprises four stations ie George, which is also its headquarters, Riversdale, Hessequa and Stilbaai

stairwell(s) to assist direct building occupants to a safe location • Secure operations and release personnel as determined by the demobilisation plan • Maintain unit/activity log The previous few paragraphs, specifically the examples of the general and staff positions required at an incident, provided an overview of the type of structures and positions that should be put in place when attending a high-rise building fire. The same principles of ICS as applicable to wildfires can and is adapted to provide the incident commander with a set of tools and the ability to manage the sometimes complex situations that may arise at multi-storey building fires.

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 39

Strap Fire service with a satellite station in Uniondale.

The service has been in its current premises for the past five years prior to which it had fairly informal quarters.

The operational area of the fire service covers the entire Eden District, which incorporates the Southern Cape and Little Karoo, an area of some 23 184km2. Eden District Municipality has a population of 574 265 (2011 census) with an annual budget of R19,5 million for the fire service and R5 million for disaster management.

Gerhard Otto

Eden Fire and Rescue has a very close-knit relationship with its disaster management centre as both fall under the jurisdiction of Gerhard Otto. Both the fire service and the disaster management centre work closely together with the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association.

Staff complement Eden’s staff complement comprises 45 fire fighters in four fire stations, 26 permanent fire fighters of which eight are shift leaders, 13 contract fire fighters and six volunteer fire fighters.

“When recruiting fire fighters, we advertise internally first as this provides an opportunity for our volunteer and contract fire fighters to be appointed. However, certain posts such as the CFO position are advertised externally,” said Van Wyk.

Councillor Lionel Essau and the Eden management team

Clive Africa, Wayne Young, Deon van Zyl, Tippie Bouwer, Gerhard Otto and Clifford Sheldon in the reception, which profiles and honour past projects 40 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

All of the permanent fire fighters have at least Fire Fighter 2, Hazmat Operations and EMT B/BAA as a minimum level of qualification.

The contract and volunteer fire fighters must have a minimum level qualification of Fire Fighter 1, Hazmat Awareness and First Aid Level 3 before they are entitled to work at Eden. All fire fighters have extensive training in other disciplines ie: • Chainsaw operator • Prescribed burning, • ICS 100/200 • High angle rescue • WSAR • Trench collapse • Structural collapse • Swift water and cave rescue • Confined space rescue • New car technology • Radio telephony (ground to air radio) Volume 3 | No 9

Fire service Strap • Hazmat technician • Various leadership and management training • Instructor “We have nine female fire fighters.

Some of them can show the men a thing or two about endurance!” said Van Wyk. “Although our fire fighters are all dedicated, hardworking, highly trained and experienced, there will never be enough fire fighters on a fire line,” added Van Wyk. Training Eden Fire Service endeavours to send their fire fighters on as many courses as possible. “We are fortunate enough to have a training department at our head office who strives to get our fire fighters on various courses. You are never too old to learn and you can never say that you have learnt enough. The more courses our fire fighters attend, the more they are empowered.

Our fire fighters conduct daily inhouse training as this is part of their program. Refresher courses are attended to as frequently as they are given,” added Van Wyk. Eden does not have an accredited training facility, which means that their fire fighters normally travel to the Western Cape or up North to attend specific courses. The fire station is equipped with a gym, obstacle course and a yard big enough for the fire fighters to keep themselves fit, skilled and up to date.

Operations “Our areas of expertise are wildfires and hazardous material (hazmat) incidents,” said Young. “Our fire fighters are highly experienced and trained in fighting wildfires as this has been our bread and butter since the service first began. We are also well trained and fairly well equipped in dealing with hazmat incidents although there is much room for improvement in both training and obtaining more resources for dealing with hazmat incidents. A number of our fire fighters have also been trained in various rescue courses such a high angle and wilderness search and rescue (WSAR). All of our fire fighters have been trained to that of emergency Volume 3 | No 9

Some of Eden Fire Service’s resources

The formal flag raising ceremony was concluded with a serenade perform by Emile Conrad medical technician (EMT) with a Basic Ambulance qualification.”

“There are no specialist services outsourced by our department although we have assisted with wildfires in the West Coast District as well as with the Cape Town fires of 2000. We are always willing and prepared to assist any fire service who requires additional support at incidents,” added Young.

The most common emergency incidents Eden attend to are wildfires as the district is prone to experiencing a fire season for most part of the year. In the summer they

experience very hot and humid temperatures and in the winter frequent berg wind conditions.

“If we are not dealing with fires then we are dealing with floods. Hazmat incidents are also keeping us busy but there is no pattern to determine high and low risk times with these incidents,” said Young.

Their biggest shortfall is replacing some of the fleet and purchasing essential equipment.

Although budget constraints are a huge concern, the service was fortunate to recently acquire funds to purchase an Iveco Euro Cargo FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 41

Strap Fire service The fire started in the Lang Kloof (Haarlem), moved South towards Plettenberg Bay and then spread East to as far as the Tsitsikamma Forests in the Eastern Cape before being extinguished only two weeks after it started.

A memorial to those who paid the highest price

A number of factors contributed to making this a major incident and challenging their resources, which included the length and size of the fire line, 30-year old vegetation that included well established and mature pine plantations and a wind speed that was over 120km/h at times. The fire also spread into the heart of Plettenberg Bay destroying a vast number of homes in its informal settlement as well as in the town itself.

Half of the population of Plettenberg Bay and surrounding areas were evacuated to safety.

Three people died when they were trapped in a vehicle when the fire over ran them. Another seven members of a local forestry station at Redford Road who were fighting the fire, were also killed when they were encircled and trapped. “We have never since experienced a fire such as this one and hope we never have to again,” said Young.

Eden has been victorious in the annual Toughest Fire Alive South Africa challenge in 2011, 2013 and 2014

fire truck, which provided a much needed boost to their fleet. The vehicle, however, is yet to be tested at a wildfire for which it is designed to be utilised although they believe it will pass with flying colours. “We do receive annual funding on our capital budget for the purchasing of essential equipment which is most welcome and we focus primarily on purchasing the ‘must have’ and not the ‘nice to have’ items,” said Otto.

Statistics Eden receives 6 172 emergency calls per annum and it responds to the following incidents: 42 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

MVAs 69 Total number of fires 241 Structural fires (formal) 12 Structural fires (informal) 22 Industrial fires 1 Wildfires fires 175 Vehicle fires 19 Other fires 12 Hazmat incidents 6 Major incidents Eden has experienced a number of notable incidents in recent years.

The biggest and worst wildfire they attended to was in 1998 when a fire burnt an area of approximately 300 000 hectares, killing 10 people.

In August 2013, Eden experienced a major hazmat incident when a cargo ship, the Kiani Satu, carrying 15 000 tons of rice and 330 tons of heavy fuel, ran aground between Sedgefield and Knysna. All 19 crew members were evacuated off the ship by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) stations of Knysna and Wilderness. Eden fire fighters along with members from Working on Fire, the Knysna Fire Department, Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) oil response team and other integrated organisations worked around the clock to contain an oil spill from the ship, which threatened the Goukamma Estuary. After days of cleaning up oil spills for kilometres along the shore and rescuing penguins, the Kiani Satu spillage was contained.

The Kiani Satu was towed to deep sea where it sank.

In February 2011, the Eden team responded to an aircraft accident Volume 3 | No 9

Fire service Strap in Plettenberg Bay where a single engine aircraft carrying seven passengers and two pilots.

The aircraft was en route from Queenstown to Plettenberg Bay when it plummeted into the sea off the coast of Plettenberg Bay. All nine persons on board were killed. Eden fire fighters along with members of the NSRI, South African Police Service (SAPS) as well as a naval boat searched for the missing aircraft and the bodies of those on board. Pieces of the aircraft were found scattered along the ocean floor some 400m off shore. The remains of all nine people were recovered.

Resources The Eden fleet comprise of the following vehicles: 1x Iveco Euro Cargo fire truck (4 months old), 5 000l water capacity, designed specifically for wildfires 1x MAN fire truck (6 years old), 6 000l water capacity and designed specifically for wildfires 2x TATA fire trucks (8 years old),

Eden uses the old caravan as an incident command unit 2 200l water capacity. One is designed for wildfires while the other is multi-functional for structural and wildfires 1x Samil 50 fire truck (40 years old), 5 000l water capacity, designed as a

rugged off-road vehicle for wildfires 1x Nissan fire truck (40 years old), 5 000l water capacity, designed for fighting structural fires 1x MAN 6x6 water tanker (30 years old), 13 000l water capacity,

The new Iveco Euro Cargo 4x4 fitted by Ramcom

The hazmat unit is built on a Mercedes Benz Atego 1528 chassis by Marcè

All vehicles are fitted with a minimum of two pumps

The wildfire unit was fitted on a MAN TGM 1824 4x4 chassis by Fire Raiders Cape

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 43

Strap Fire service resources and fire fighters to their maximum ability,” said Young.

We were treated to a guard of honour during our visit!

Challenges The main challenge faced by the fire service, as with most if not all other fire services in South Africa, are budget constraints. This has a severe effect on replacing redundant vehicles, purchasing of essential equipment and training and as such could compromise service delivery to the public. Other challenges faced by the fire service is an ever changing fire risk due to climate change, invasive alien plants, changes in weather patterns and an influx of population, which has a drastic effect on fire behaviour. The service has noted that wildland fires occurring in the district are far larger and catastrophic than they were some 10 to 15 years ago.

The Eden Fire and Rescue Service does its best to keep up to date with advances and new technology in the fire service. Fire fighters attend training in new techniques such as high angle and new car technology to name a few.

Van Zyl added, “The purchasing of new and advanced equipment, however, is painstaking slow due to financial constraints, which hinder us in acquiring the latest items.”

The inhouse training facility designed to supply bulk water at a fire scene 1x Mercedes Atego hazmat and rescue truck, designed and equipped for dealing with hazmat and some rescue incidents such as motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), high angle and swift water 2x Toyota Land Cruisers (between 1 and 6 years old) equipped with skid units and for wildfires 2x Nissan Patrols (5 years old equipped with skid units for wildfires 2x Toyota Hilux (between 3 and 7 years old) equipped with skid units for wildfires 1x Ford light rescue vehicle (newly refurbished equipped for MVAs and carries basic equipment for hazmat and rescue incidents 44 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

“We are currently in the process of rebuilding and converting a Samil 20 truck and a Ford V6 Bakkie into rugged off-road fire fighting vehicles,” added Young.

“We have four fire stations in the district and although we specialise primarily in wildfires and hazmat incidents, we also render a municipal fire fighting service to the Kannaland Municipality. We have adapted our fire fighting tactics in accordance with our resources but this is a very dangerous attitude to develop. During our peak fire season, we may respond to a number of wildfires over the same period of time, which stretches our

Fire safety There are various fire safety awareness programmes offered

by Eden and they work closely with role players such as Cape Nature Conservation, Working on Fire and the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association with training mediums and communities. In Kannaland, the primary focus for fire safety is the informal settlements and in the Hessequa and Uniondale areas, the primary focus falls on wildfires.

“We do not have a dedicated fire safety team yet so this task is delegated to the shift leaders at all of the fire stations,” added Van Wyk. “One of the biggest problems we are faced with is that we do not have a dedicated team to conduct fire safety inspections and to enforce the relevant legislation.

This task is delegated to the various shift leaders.”

Volume 3 | No 9

Fire service: CFO profile

Meet Deon van Wyk, deputy chief fire officer, Eden District Municipality Fire Service

E

den District Municipality’s, Deon van Wyk, stepped into his current position as deputy chief fire officer (CFO) in 2006. Van Wyk, a first generation fire fighter, said, “I joined the service in January 1991 after I finished my military service.”

Deputy chief fire officer Van Wyk, who has over 24 years of experience said, “I obtained the necessary qualifications and went through the ranks from junior fireman, fireman, shift leader and in 2006 I became a deputy fire chief.

We asked Deputy chief Van Wyk what made him join the fire service and he replied, “My ambition was always to serve the community, to help and save people’s lives and property. After I saw how passionate and proud my mentor at the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) fire station was, there was no turning back.”

Mentors “I was lucky to have three mentors in my life since I started my career,” added Van Wyk. The mentors that helped streamline his career included Ockie Stander from ACSA George fire station, who was his shift leader when he started his career in the fire services. “He is a person that you could look up to and his motto was always to lead by example. He was a true leader and mentor. I still respect him and listen and learn from him.”

“I also underwent some training from Stuart Taylor who was the shift leader at George Fire and Ambulance Services. He was a good mentor and I gained my medical knowledge from him. He was a true leader in both the fire and medical profession.”

Van Wyk cited Gerhard Otto as one of his mentors. “What can I say, a perfectionist; a true leader in every step of the way. He also leads by example. My wish is to operate and manage the way he does. He always goes out of his way to help and support his personnel and go the extra mile.”

The biggest influence on his career thus far was the motivation from his family and the satisfaction of a job well done and the safety of all the crew after an incident.

“It is the best profession in society,” added Van Wyk. Management style We asked Deputy chief Van Wyk about his management style. “I am a do it yourself and practical person but I will delegate work to firemen and help and teach them if they don’t understand. If I am on scene, it doesn’t matter if it is for one or seven days. What I started, I want to finish. There must be no come backs. Whatever courses I Volume 3 | No 9

Deputy chief Deon van Wyk

attend and new skills I learn, I forward to the firemen to assist them in becoming more effective and motivated.”

The primary factors that kept Van Wyk in the industry through the years are the camaraderie, brotherhood and the satisfaction he gets out of his work. We also asked Deputy chief Van Wyk what motivates him, “The appreciation and thanks that you get from the public when you save a life or property. There is nothing so satisfying than to save a life.”

Van Wyk realised that he was not getting younger and wanted to expand his knowledge base. In addition he was regularly appointed as acting deputy chief so the next step up the ladder was to become deputy fire chief.

Advice in mentoring a fire fighter or future fire chief, Deputy chief Van Wyk said, “Be passionate and proud. Never stop learning from your superiors and keep educating yourself.

Acknowledge your fire fighters achievements.”

His recommendation to fire chiefs is, “Never forget that your career started at the bottom before you became a CFO. Be humble. Stay abreast of technology in the new and modern world.”

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 45

Rescue Roundup

Rescue training on new vehicles

By Neville van Rensburg and Julius Fleischman, World Rescue Organisation (WRO) assessors and members

Although these vehicles were designed and manufactured with safety in mind, accidents still happen and responders need to extricate patients fast and safely.

The question then arises whether responders are ready and trained to extricate a patient from these new technology vehicles.

Practice makes perfect

W

ith today’s fast changing vehicle technology and the introduction of new car technology, rescuers need to stay up to date with new materials used in modern vehicle manufacturing so as to safely extricate trapped patients. Rescuers also need to work around latest materials and safety systems in vehicles as well the various types of fuel used such as hybrid and electrical vehicles, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuel etc.

longer than in Europe. Conversely, most of these wrecks the students are practicing on are without wheels and windows and some without doors.

This creates a challenge when these students respond to real accident scenes involving modern and hybrid vehicles and then, while on an incident, have to deal with new car technology.

It is really important that vehicle manufactures in South Africa as in Europe, make new car technology vehicles available to rescuers for training so as to upskill them, creating training opportunities on the latest technology available on the market.

We are grateful to scrapyard owners that are always willing to assist rescuers to train students to use extrication tools and master the techniques. However, just looking at the vehicles on our roads, we notice the increase in new vehicles. If we look at these vehicles, the B post is being manufactured stronger and as such metal relocation and techniques need to be practiced.

Currently, most services providing vehicle extrication training in South Africa don’t have the opportunity to train new students on current vehicle or new car technologies. Most of us have to use vehicles in scrap yards to train students.

The problem with this is that the students do not get the opportunity to work with new car and hybrid vehicle technologies, gaining experience only on older models and getting used to cutting on older materials. However, it is important for rescuers to still train and practice on older models, especially in Africa were older vehicles are in use for 46 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Training on new vehicles is of immense value Volume 3 | No 9

Rescue Roundup The traditional method of providing side access to a casualty is the B post rip. This involves firstly forcing the locking (Nader) bolt of the rear door, then cutting the top of the B post through the front and rear door window openings. A cut is made into the rear of the base of the B post at sill level and spreaders used to force a tear through the rest of the post. The whole side of the car will then swing forwards on the front door hinges. The technique takes about 12 minutes if all goes well but rust in the sill of older cars can result in the sill starting to crumble rather than the B post tearing if too deep an initial cut is made. The use of high strength light alloy (HSLA) in modern cars at the foot of the B post can also complicate matters and even skilled operators may take 20 minutes or more to complete this task.

Roof strip or trench This evolution has actually been around for quite a while, as has the roof flap evolution. But the roof flap really doesn’t give you the space you need (except on SUVs, minivans and station wagons) and you still need to cut roof posts for it to work. The roof strip or trench removes the centre of the roof from between the roof rails from front to back. This enables you to quickly remove most of the roof with a lot less weight to manage.

However, with today’s vehicles, this evolution enables you to avoid cutting the areas where most side curtain supplementary restraint system (SRS) inflation modules are placed. You still need to pull edge trim prior to cutting but except for the Jaguar S-type and Volkswagen Golf, Rabbit and Jetta

models, the vehicle should be free of these devices. Although you might still encounter higher-strength roof rail reinforcements, they should not be as strong as the roof posts.

Using the hydraulic cutter, make a relief cut inboard of both roof rails at the front and the back. Then take a reciprocating saw or a rescue air chisel and make a cut connecting the relief cuts on both sides. Although you can use the reciprocating saw or rescue air chisel for the entire process, the hydraulic cutter will make short work of any higher-strength reinforcements on the roof edges.

Use caution in making cuts since the blades or bits will extend into the vehicle’s occupant space. Use hard protection and good visual referencing as you work. After removing the roof section, cover the sharp edges on each side, since these cuts will be very sharp and

jagged. Although this evolution will not remove the entire roof, it will facilitate removing patients up and rearward vertically.

Roof tenting What about the vehicle that has ‘uncut table’ reinforced roof posts?

Maybe do a roof trench? But what if the patient’s condition is time critical and he needs to be disentangled right away? Going through the vehicle’s side using a door displacement doesn’t always provide enough room and is not quick either.

Ideally, you also strive to remove patients with ‘head, belly and toes’ in line. As vehicles have evolved, the average window opening has gotten larger. These factors point to a roof tent evolution. Basically, you will widen the rear window opening, recline the patient’s seat and slide the patient up a long spine board for packaging and removal.

To widen the window opening, you have to manage the rear window glass first. The easiest and quickest way to widen the opening is to place the hydraulic spreader into the window opening and open the spreader. After removing the edge trim, place one arm of the spreader on the vehicle’s package deck and the other arm against the roof edge. For the arm that is against the package deck, first place cribbing on the deck to spread the load of the tool’s force over a greater area.

As the spreader opens, you create space by tenting the roof.

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 47

Rescue Roundup donate these to training centres for students to practice on. What better vehicles to use as these vehicles already have tensions, torsions and flexions.

The types of vehicles that are used in Europe for training exercises have the latest technology enabling emergency staff to experience new technology Now you can improve on this tent by either extending the tent with a hydraulic ram or jack or by making a partial roof trench and using the ram or jack to push the roof piece even farther up. Although your disentanglement space is smaller than usual, the roof tent provides some quick useable space if your patient’s condition is time critical.

So it is best to experience and practice on the new technology vehicles to hone your skills.

Practicing on new models, students are able to experience how new car technology will react to extrication methods. The following two photographs courtesy of Dave

Dyrample of Road Way Rescue, explain new extrication techniques used on new car technology vehicles.

You can practice these techniques on older vehicles; however, the results would not be the same.

As emergency vehicle instructors in South Africa, we need to be able to train emergency personnel on new car technology. These are rescuers that will be responding to incidents and have to save the lives of those trapped. As first responders they need to train but we struggle to get proper vehicles to train on.

Surely vehicle manufacturers or insurance companies where new technology cars are written off could

Suggestion Introducing an annual vehicle extrication day for instructors at vehicle plants using new vehicles that have been tested and are not sold to the public will enable instructors to experience new car technology and research relevant extrication methods. We, as emergency service personnel, can also play a role to ensure that vehicle manufacturers are able to research the impact accidents have on their vehicles.

Way forward to limit the challenges We must relook at how we train our emergency staff in vehicle rescue. Extrication is not just about cutting and spreading; it’s also how the vehicle responds to the extrication techniques. With new car technology, it is important that we look at the vehicle body, flexions, torsions, tensions and position of impact. Students must understand the anatomy of these new vehicles.

We should take students to panelbeaters and scrap yards to look at cars that were involved in accidents. We should also make arrangements with car dealers to bring students around to have a look at new vehicles, the symbols and signs that have been added to it so they know what to look out for. Although this does not include practicing, students will be able to gain knowledge from this.

It would be beneficial for vehicle extrication instructors from different organisations and services to get together on an annual basis to discuss vehicle rescue extrication and the challenges faced. This will promote better training opportunities and create an environment to debate strategies to enhance vehicle extrication training.

With new car technology, it is important that we look at the vehicle body, flexions, torsions, tensions and position of impact 48 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

It is time that we join forces and combine our training efforts in order to benefit the students and mostly the victims trapped in vehicles as accidents happen any place and in all types of vehicles.

Volume 3 | No 9

Training

Standardisation of qualifications

By Theresa Geldenhuys, Senior District Manager: Training, City of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services Training Academy

T

his article provides the history of fire training and qualifications in South Africa, unpacks the current status thereof and calls for standardisation of qualifications in order to facilitate improved access to training and employment.

History The Southern African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI), previously known as ‘South African Fire Services Institute’ has been involved with fire fighting training since its establishment in 1959. Before 1959, qualifications in the fire fighting career could only be obtained through the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) based in the United Kingdom.

SAESI provided qualifications since the early 60s and the following five qualification levels at that time were: • Junior Fireman Certificate • Fireman Certificate • Senior Fireman Certificate • Graduate Diploma • Associate Diploma In 1998, a curriculation session took place in order to formalise the entire examination process. The result was that proficiency training was made part of the curriculum and subsequently changes were effected to certain of the qualifications offered. The changes to the SAESI qualifications were: Pre 1988

After 1988

Junior Fireman Certificate

Preliminary Certificate in Fire Technology

Fireman Certificate

Certificate in Fire Technology

Senior Fireman Certificate

Higher Certificate in Fire Technology

Graduate Diploma

Graduate Diploma in Fire Technology

Associate Diploma

Associate Diploma in Fire Technology

However, after 1988 proficiency training was not enforced and this led to the development of the ‘Preliminary Course in Fire Technology’ that was presented out of new study material, often referred to as the ‘White Files’.

In 1992, the Training Board recognised the proficiency training and funds were made available to below Grade 11 local authorities enabling them to participate in this process.

In 1990, SAESI entered into a contract with the then Success College to provide distance learning opportunities to SAESI members. This initiative enhanced development opportunities providing access to further studies through the University of Pretoria in different programs. This also had the implication that the Institute had to re-align their course curricula and the following title changes of qualifications took place: Before 1990

After 1990

After 1994

Preliminary Certificate in Fire Technology

Preliminary Certificate in Fire Technology

Fire Fighter I Hazardous Materials Awareness

Certificate in Fire Technology

Certificate in Fire Technology

Fire Fighter II Hazardous Materials Operations

Higher Certificate in Fire Technology

Higher Certificate in Fire Technology

Higher Certificate in Fire Technology

Graduate Diploma in Fire Technology

Diploma in Fire Technology

Diploma in Fire Technology

Associate Diploma in Fire Technology Higher Diploma in Fire Technology

Higher Diploma in Fire Technology

In 1994, SAESI was accredited with the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) based in the United States of America. Accreditation was originally received on the Fire Fighter One and Two levels, which included the Hazmat Awareness and Operations courses. These two levels replaced the Preliminary and Certificate in Fire Technology qualifications and were subsequently removed from the Success program.

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 49

Training During November 2001, Success College gave SAESI notice that they are cancelling the contract between them and the Institute as well as removing this program from their prospectus. SAESI had to provide examinations or qualifications to the members of emergency services personnel throughout South Africa.

In the early 2000s, Standard Generating Bodies (SGBs) assisted the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) that started developing qualifications for registration with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for the emergency services personnel. These processes led to entry level qualifications for fire fighters in South Africa.

In 1983 the Human Sciences Research Council did an evaluation of the educational qualification and the SAESI qualifications were compared to the National Diploma in Fire Technology that was offered by the then Technikon Pretoria with the following result: Name of qualification

Result

Junior Fireman Certificate

Standard 9 (Grade 11)

Fireman Certificate

Senior Certificate

Senior Fireman Certificate

Senior Certificate plus one year study

Graduate Diploma

Senior Certificate plus two year study

Associate Diploma

Senior Certificate plus three year study

In 2003 SAQA also did a comparison study for the Technikon Pretoria with the following results: Qualifications that have been registered on the NQF Qualification

NQF Level

Comparison

National Higher Certificate: Fire Technology

Level 5 (ID16894), 240 credits

Gr 12 + 2

National Diploma: Fire Technology

Level 6 (ID16891), 360 credits

Gr 12 + 3

B Tech: Fire Technology

Level 7 (ID16880), 480 credits

Gr 12 + 4

Comparing qualifications, fire brigade personnel (equivalency) Technikon N Dip and B Tech: Fire Technology

SAFSI/SAESI Preliminary Certificate in Fire Technology

None

Certificate in Fire Technology

None

Higher Certificate in Fire Technology

1st year study

Diploma in Fire Technology (Graduate)

2nd year study

Higher Diploma in Fire Technology (Associate)

National Diploma

None

National Higher Diploma

None

B Tech: Fire technology

Comparing the SAESI qualifications to the IFE qualifications (reciprocal recognition) SAESI

IFE

Higher Certificate in Fire Technology

None

Diploma in Fire Technology

Level 3 Diploma with Fire Fighter II and Hazmat Operations

Higher Diploma in Fire Technology

Level 4 Certificate with Fire Fighter II and Hazmat Operations

The current entry level fire fighter qualification that is registered with SAQA (ID 57803) is mostly run as a learnership program and will be replaced by the Occupational Qualification that is currently with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

Tshwane University of Technology is also currently the only higher education institution that offers the B Tech program.

50 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 9

Strap Emergency medical service

IPSS Medical Rescue

K

wazulu-Natal based IPSS Medical Rescue is a 24-hour advanced life support (ALS) medical rescue and ambulance service, which was formed by Dylan Meyrick and Paul Herbst.

IPSS Medical Rescue has enjoyed year-on-year growth since inception. Meyrick explained, “We have developed our business model and service on community and regional needs and we continue to grow with those cities and communities. Our fleet has grown significantly to meet operational demand and we continue to expand into areas where there is a need for our services.”

History “The service came into existence after having identified the need for emergency medical services primarily for our industrial clients on the security side within the region.

The north coast experienced rapid growth, to become a thriving region; existing infrastructure and capacity in respect of emergency medical service (EMS) was not necessarily where it needed to be,” said Meyrick.

Since it started operating in 2013, additional divisions within IPSS Medical Rescue have been formed with respect to training and events. The training centre is the most recent addition to the company and is accredited to present first aid courses. Herbst elaborated on the events division, “We have developed in-house capacity to offer event organisers additional solutions in respect of event risk management and legal compliance services.”

There have been a number of adaptations to accommodate for growth of business. The additional base, located at Mediclinic Victoria Hospital, opened in early 2015. “The Ballito-base moved into larger premises to make provision for continued growth and for the addition of training and administrative facilities.

The call centre also moved to larger premises, which is largely driven by technology,” said Herbst. In addition, all bases are currently undergoing necessary additions or changes, in order to comply with the recently released EMS regulations.

Conclusion If horizontal lines could be drawn between the qualifications currently done by the different institutions it would look something like the columns below.

SAESI

IFE

TUT

SAQA Learnership Further Education and Training Certificate: Fire and Rescue Operations ID 57803

Fire Fighter I Hazardous Materials Awareness

Will be replaced by Occupational Qualification

Fire Fighter II Hazardous Materials Operations Higher Certificate in Fire Technology Diploma in Fire Technology

Level 3 Diploma with Fire Fighter II 7 Hazmat Operations

Higher Diploma in Fire Technology

Level 4 Certificate with Fire Fighter II 7 Hazmat Operations

National Diploma B Tech: Fire technology

With standardisation of qualifications more fire fighters will be able to access the educational system to gain a qualification. Also, standardisation will eliminate confusion with employment and ensure that persons are appointed in positions with appropriate qualifications.

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 51

Emergency medical service Strap

The IPSS Medical Rescue operational team and vehicle fleet

Operations The management system of IPSS Medical Rescue makes provision for two area-operations managers who are further assisted by shift leaders, “We operate on an opendoor management policy and encourage the active contributions of staff and crews,” said Meyrick.

IPSS Medical Rescue renders 24-hour ALS medical rescue and ambulance services to communities and has operational bases in and/or units in the following areas, Tongaat, Ballito, Stanger, Mandeni and Ladysmith. The road operations division focuses primarily on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal and extends coastwise from Umhloti North to Mtunzini and inland to Eshowe, Kranskop

and Ndwedwe, whilst the site-based solutions extend into other parts of the country. Rapid response and technical rescue units operate in Ladysmith, primarily supporting industrial clients within the region.

“Our risk management division is able to develop risk and site-based onsite solutions to industrial clients and remote projects. Solutions range from onsite medical resources and personnel, to turn-key emergency response system development and management,” said Herbst.

The rescue units often assist other services and organisations with rescue capacity and resources. IPSS Medical Rescue has an excellent working relationship with neighbouring service providers, KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS), local authorities and the South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue (SAR) unit.

Meyrick said, “There is also the continuous integration of technology into existing overall services and solutions, including the development of emergency response related mobile applications and software.” Furthermore, “an intensive care unit (ICU) ambulance has been added to the existing fleet, in order to facilitate high-acuity ICU transfers,” he added.

Paul Herbst, co-owner of IPSS Medical Rescue 52 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

On any given shift IPSS Medical Rescue has two medical directors on-call, two operational managers, one incident coordinator, two rescue units, four rapid Volume 3 | No 9

Strap Emergency medical service response units, ten intermediate life support (ILS) ambulances and one ALS ambulance on duty. The operational team currently respond to about 500 calls a month including motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), industrial injuries, medical emergencies and drownings and inter-hospital transfers. The technology-enabled call centre ensures that all resources are managed efficiently and effectively.

Staff complement The team of operational personnel at IPSS Medical Rescue consists of 40 basic life support (BLS), 14 ILS and ALS medics as well as two medical doctors. The call centre has a total of six operators and there are four occupational risk consultants, five training facilitators and four respective managers.

“We understand the need to invest in developing future and current skills and talent pools,” said Herbst.

Therefore, IPSS Medical Rescue identifies enthusiastic and promising individuals and once opportunities open up, they are placed into a stringent volunteer development and mentoring programme. “Unique to IPSS Medical Rescue is that all volunteers are employed on a three month contract and paid a stipend to ensure that they are covered by Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA) in the case of an accident,” explained Herbst.

Vehicle fleet The company’s fleet consists of five rapid response units, ten ILS ambulances, one ALS ambulance, one aquatic rescue unit and one rapid deployment disaster unit. There are also two technical rescue and support units available with respects to vehicle-, trench- and high-angle rescue, including incident command and scene protection and management units.

Siyabonga Gumede, IPSS Medical Rescue ambulance assistant more specifically their ability to ensure consistency in respect of services. It had become a frequent occurrence whereby under and unqualified personnel without adequate resources, were responding to emergency calls from the community. This was of concern to us and other professional organisations for obvious reasons.”

Future developments IPSS Medical Rescue’s future expansion plans include the opening of additional bases and early in 2016 it

Incidents IPSS Medical Rescue has attended to several challenging incidents in recent months. Most notably is the incident that saw a fully laden taxi carrying 18 people, which broke through a barrier and fell onto railway tracks below. A train hit the taxi before anybody had the chance to escape, resulting in 15 deaths. It was a long and challenging incident that left an imprint on many of the personnel who attended.

In another incident, IPSS Medical Rescue’s paramedics and rescue technicians responded to where a man who had been stabbed and thrown off a cliff in a rural location and had been clinging onto a rock ledge for almost 24 hours. In conjunction with SAPS SAR, a successful rescue with a positive outcome was executed.

Challenges Herbst explained the regional-related challenges faced by their service, “Notwithstanding everyday challenges to be expected with running an operation such as ours, we are fortunate enough to identify with opportunities more than we do challenges. On a regional level there have been certain challenges in the past, relating to volunteer emergency medical services (VEMS) and Volume 3 | No 9

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 53

Emergency medical service Strap

IPSS Medical Rescue’s operational team

is expected to have a medical response helicopter available as part of its fleet.

Meyrick said, “It will be made available from the helipad in Ballito to service calls in KwaZulu Natal. The plan is to make one of the paramedic seats in the aircraft available to qualified ALS and ambulance emergency assistant (AEA) staff from any service wanting to gain experience as a flight medic. The aircraft will not be branded with our name and logo in hopes that other services will put aside the petty competition and make use of the aircraft in the interest of the patient.”

IPSS Medical Rescue’s rescue team performing cliff rescue 54 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Additionally, in respect of site-based services and solutions, growth into international regions are anticipated within the first half of 2016. Future plans for operational growth are linked to operational demand and case load, therefore IPSS Medical Service proactively monitors the origin of calls so as to identify emerging trends and identify areas in need of operational expansion.

“We are unique in our approach, operational capacity and operational coverage,” remarked Meyrick.

Danelle Hefers, IPSS Medical Rescue ambulance assistant Volume 3 | No 9

Training centre

ETS emergency training solutions

S

ituated in Redan near Vereeniging in the South of Gauteng Province, ETS Emergency Training Solutions offers emergency response related training and operational response services. The company was formed in 2004 and is owned and managed

by John Akal and Dirk Möller, both of whom have been directly involved in the emergency services since 1994.

History The centre was built in the late 1980s on the former KLIP Power Station site in order to service Eskom’s emergency response training needs. In 2004 the training centre was privatised as part of Eskom’s outsourcing initiative.

Over the past 10 years ETS has accomplished the following • Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Level one certification (2014/2015) • We successfully implemented a fire learnership programme since 2013.

We continuously employ four learners to provide them with workplace experience. This has proven to be very successful and most of the candidates have been employed either by ETS or at programme partners.

• An internship programme for five graduates to obtain valuable workplace experience (2015/2016) • Became an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) member (2014 to 2019) • Implemented an internal development programme to prepare identified personnel for management roles.

• Accreditation and re-accreditation with various Skills Education Training Authorities (SETA) (2015) Training ETS Emergency Training Solutions is committed to provide quality training programmes to learners. These training programmes are designed to meet the expectation of employers to effectively and safely have a response capability in an emergency. ETS has grown steadily on solid foundations of integrity, ethics and quality services delivery, based Volume 3 | No 9

Advanced fire fighting training on good business practices and sound financial controls, thereby ensuring positive economic sustainability and managed growth over the long term.

“ETS Emergency Training Solutions has grown from four personnel and 26 different courses in 2004 to 63 personnel, 62 different courses and an emergency response operation team department,” said Möller.

The company presented emergency response training in the following countries, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Seychelles, Lesotho and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Many training programmes are customised to meet specific skills, competencies and expectations of employers, specifically in the industrial and mining industry. Within these industries, risks are usually well defined and programmes can be customised to manage these risks and potential emergencies,” said Akal.

Accreditation The courses and training programmes offered are registered and accredited by • Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSeta) • Resuscitation Council of South Africa (RCSA) • Department of Labour • South African Emergency Service

Institution (SAESI) • Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) • Department of Transport • Construction Education and Training Academy (CETA) • Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education, Training Authority (ETDP SETA) • Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA) Most of the courses and skillsprogrammes are aligned with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) unit standards as well as with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Since its inception ETS Emergency Training Solutions has admitted a total of 23 658 students, achieving an 85 percent pass rate.

Emergency response teams ETS has five operational emergency response support sites. These teams assist with response to emergencies at these sites and participate in incident and accident prevention activities.

“The emergency response teams have become an essential part of the site’s safety and accident prevention strategy.

The operational response team and support operations is a very important element of our development strategy, as this provides an opportunity for ETS to employ fire fighters who has achieved qualifications and find it FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 55

Training centre

Management Team ETS management team consist of the following • John Akal – Business operations • Dirk Möller - Business development • Twoboys Ndwamato - Contracts and new business • Natasha Eberwein – Finance and human resources • Atwick Stilwell – Emergency response teams and support • Jahnell Rangwato - Accreditation

The training area and simulations consist of the following • Fire investigation • Fire search and rescue • Various fire fighting simulations such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) simulation, flash over and backdraft simulation, transformer fire simulators, multi-level industrial area fire simulator, bulk storage containing simulation • Hazardous materials (hazmat) incident simulation area • Rope rescue and confined space rescue tower

Trainers The training centre employs seven core instructors namely • Naomi Green • Nolan Diaz • Lucas Thipe • Andre Raijmakers • Barend Nel • Thato Mohapi • Sandy Bruins (Safety training)

Courses At ETS Emergency Training Solutions the programmes are designed to train learners to respond to and assist in various emergency incidents. The programmes are developed and presented to international standards. “The emphasis is placed on practical skills, and the application of these skills in a workplace incident or accident,” Akal said.

Facilities ETS Emergency Training Solutions’ facilities are based in Redan, on a property of about 40 000 m2. The facilities consist of a large lecture room that can accommodate 60 students and three additional lecture rooms that can take up to 30 students each. There is an onsite first aid room to handle on-site emergencies.

The structure of the training courses consists of 50 percent theoretical and 50 percent practical training, demonstrations and simulated exercises.

difficult to be employed due to a lack of experience.” said Stilwell.

Fire fighting training programmes includes fire awareness in the workplace, specialist fire teams and incident command training

Rescue courses include working at height to technical rescue teams Hazmat courses include product specific emergencies and response to hazmat technician and incident command training First aid training programmes relevant to the workplace Safety training and programmes Learnership The training centre has an internal learner development programme where individuals are recruited and trained in most of the training programmes offered by ETS Emergency Training Solutions.

Candidates are sourced from learners who have completed fire and rescue qualifications but need workplace experience to be able to find employment. Successful candidates are placed at employers in the municipal, mining and industrial environments. “Our internal learning programme consists of a 12 month paid learnership and four learners at any given time,” said Akal.

“ETS Emergency Training Solutions continuously strive to increase its overall efficiency, not only in the training industry but also assisting clients to manage internal emergency response capabilities,” said co-owners Akal and Möller.

ETS Emergency Training Solutions’ management team, John Akal; Twoboys Ndwamato; Atwik Stilwel; Dirk Möller, Natasha Eberwein and Jahnell Rangwato

Programme trainers at ETS, Lucas Thipe, Naomi Green, Thato Mohapi and Andre Raijmakers

Fire simulation area

Fire simulation area

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Volume 3 | No 9

Wildfires

So, who is responsible for

managing veldfires in the urban interface?

Preventing and protecting can minimise lamenting!

By Zane Erasmus, independent environmental consultant

I

n the previous section of this series we looked at prevention plans. Now, we take a look at the second part of an integrated veldfire management plan (IVMP), the fire protection plan.

Fire protection plans for the urban interface Fire protection is a reference to all the activities that are designed to safeguard property and people when the inevitable wildfires do occur in the veldfire urban interface.

There are a range of activities in the veldfire urban interface (VUI) that fire managers will have to conduct but most importantly, bear in mind that in the VUI, all activities have to be coordinated between the different authorities. In this way, duplication should be avoided and activities can be undertaken in the most cost efficient manner.

Part 3 In the VUI, all activities have to be coordinated between the different authorities

The following activities have been highlighted as being relevant in a VUI and fire managers can adopt them as and when relevant.

Fire detection systems All fires, irrespective of the conditions when they are ignited, are small when they start. The sooner a fire is detected, the sooner authorities can respond. If fire fighters can get to a fire rapidly, there is a better chance that it will be small and easier to suppress, thereby restricting damage and saving extensive suppression costs.

The public are always the first line of communication in a VUI and managers would have in their fire awareness programmes, made sure that the correct emergency fire contact numbers are clearly conveyed to all members of the community. This communication can make use of all media types both printed and electronic ie local newspapers and local radio stations. Materials, such as pamphlets and brochures that are distributed during the fire awareness campaigns, should always include the relevant contact details. Notice boards, posters and bill boards should also not be displayed unless they have applicable telephone numbers.

Rewards should not be offered for information, as this may encourage some people to start fires so that they can claim the reward. Also as explained earlier, communities should take responsibility and be accountable for the management of fires in their own areas. Managers should where possible consider the possibility of listing a toll free number for the community to call so that they do not have to pay themselves. This is particularly important in informal settlements or other impoverished areas.

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FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 57

Wildfires

The sooner a fire is detected, the sooner authorities can respond

Mobile skid units can be rapidly deployed on both on-road and off-road situations

Conventional fire lookouts can work very well in the VUI. Staff who is trained to keep a lookout for fires, can also keep a lookout for criminal activities such as poaching and theft.

Fire fighting tools and equipment Managers responsible for an urban interface will, as they do in any fire prone environment, have to ensure that they have an adequate supply of fire fighting tools and equipment in store and at hand in case of emergency.

These tools would be used not only for fire fighting purposes but also for fire management activities such as the preparation of firebreaks and controlled burns.

Human activity needs to be monitored at all times but most particularly during a wildfire. Lookout personnel may have to advise managers of people in the vicinity who may be at risk or indeed, may even have some knowledge of how a wildfire started.

In some areas a lookout may not be economically feasible and managers will need to consider alternatives. In this case it may be advisable to appoint a ‘contingency lookout’. This trained lookout is assigned to monitor an urban interface during times of extreme high fire danger. This may be when a berg wind is blowing or over a festive season when the risk of negligent fires increases. Alcohol abuse and fireworks have started many fires in the past. It is important that the lookout be situated in a space that affords the best view of the urban interface. They should also be equipped with two way radios and cell phones.

Detection patrols are also effective in the urban interface in two important ways. Firstly, the presence of visible personnel can modify reckless behaviour.

Public interaction with uniformed staff in a positive way can reduce wildfire incidents. Secondly, trained and equipped fire fighters can respond to a wildfire incident in the vicinity.

Perhaps the most effective means of fire detection in the urban interface remains a camera lookout.

Municipalities in urban interface environments are best equipped to install the cameras and to monitor the screens in a central disaster management centre. As in a conventional lookout, the cameras can be used to observe for all emergency incidents and not only fire.

While effective, this is the most expensive option, as it requires full time monitoring. If all the parties involved in an urban interface, however, are prepared to contribute to the cost and management, then it can be practical and effective.

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The old adage, “it is much better to have too much equipment at the fire than too little” rings true for the VUI as it does for any veld fire environment.

Wildfires in the urban interface present a unique set of challenges to the wildfire manager.

• The VUI landscape is dominated by woody plant species in gardens and plantations that ultimately increase the intensity of the wildfire.

• Building structure fires also burn very intensely and tend to affect fire spread in extreme conditions. Structural fires can only be controlled by specifically trained, certified and equipped structural fire fighters.

• VUIs are inhabited by communities that are constantly at risk from not only the fire itself but also the vast smoke plumes that originate from wildfires.

It is these challenges that make it necessary for the fire manager to rely on mechanical equipment more than hand tools. Fortunately in most urban interface environments there is usually a good network of roads and water sources allowing close access to firelines and buildings. The fire engines and tenders utilised would depend entirely on the VUI but can be expected to represent the full range of types. There would be a dependence on mobile skid units that can be rapidly deployed on both hard roads and off-road situations.

The hand tools normally used by fire managers in managing wildfires would also be utilised in the urban interface. A dominance of heavy fuels and the ease with which they can be transported, would favour the use of tools such as rake hoes, drag forks and mattocks.

Water sources Water remains the most important resource for fire suppression.

Volume 3 | No 9

Wildfires It is the best way of reducing heat on flames and for bringing a wildfire under control. A fire protection plan should include a map of all available water sources in the urban interface that can be used to fill fire tenders, bakkie sakkies and even ruck sack pumps. Water sources commonly found in the urban interface may include the following: • Small weirs or dams, sometimes constructed in small streams and rivers by municipalities to measure stream volume • Roadside fire hydrants installed in many municipalities for use by the fire brigades • Dams constructed for drinking water by municipalities • Dams and tanks specially constructed for fire management should be installed in strategic areas.

Where possible tanks should allow for a gravitational feed into fire tenders, as this is the quickest and cheapest method of refilling Wherever water sources are utilised for refilling, care should be taken that there is adequate level space available to permit tankers to turnaround, preferably, before refilling.

Road systems VUIs generally have a network of roads providing access to the buildings and communities living in the area. These roads could be clearly identified in the protection plan and mapped for future reference. Roads should be constructed to afford rapid access to areas that have a historic record of wildfire ignitions. Roads to water sources are essential and it should be seen that these roads are in good condition and therefore maintained frequently.

It is important that road signs are installed identifying each road as well as buildings and where possible, individual house numbers. Signs indicating access routes to water tanks and refilling sites are useful during suppression operations. Road signs should be reflective to ensure visibility in the evening as well as in severe smoke conditions when visibility is reduced.

Fire fighting personnel Wildfires in the urban interface are likely to have both fire types to contend with ie structural fires in buildings and veld fires in the veld. The expertise and equipment to manage these two fire types is quite distinct from each other.

Structural fires require very heavy protective gear and tools that allow fire fighters to get access to burning buildings, while veld fire fighters carry lighter hand tools designed only and specifically for dealing with vegetation fires. The training required for each fire type is also quite distinct from the other. It stands to reason thus that a fire fighter trained in structural fire fighting should not get involved in veld fires and obviously vice versa applies as well.

As a rule, the municipal fire brigades are all equipped and trained to deal with structural fires. More recently, municipalities and particularly the district municipalities have started to equip and train fire fighters for wildfires as well.

Any wildfire in the urban interface is going to have teams from both disciplines involved on the fireline. The fire suppression operations will always be joint operations Volume 3 | No 9

Water remains the most important resource for fire suppression (sometimes also called combined operations). Planning and exercising these joint operations is an essential aspect of the prevention plan. Joint operations are only successful if robust incident command systems (ICS) are in place. All role players in the urban interface need to understand the principles of ICS and need to undertake training to at least the standard levels ie IS 100, 200 and 400.

Most wildfire managers will manage staff who have other responsibilities in the region and may only get involved in fire fighting when required. It is critical, therefore, that managers ensure staff receive adequate fire fighting training as prescribed in terms of the national standards set by the Forestry Industry Education and Training Authority (FIETA).

Pre-fire season audits Being prepared for the fire season is one of the fire manager’s key responsibilities.

Most organisations conduct ‘pre-fire season audits’ to ensure that management units are prepared. Preferably these audits should be conducted well before the start of the season to ensure that discrepancies can be addressed before the fire season actually starts. Managers should not see the audits as a witch-hunt but rather as an opportunity to get things in order. The managers can use the audit forms themselves as a checklist to carry out their own inspections before the audits take place.

Following are some points that can be placed on a checklist. These are not conclusive but can be added to by managers depending on their own circumstances and conditions: • Conduct a fire risk and hazard assessment (or audit) at all vulnerable structures • Ensure that all staff training is up to date and current.

For this purpose many managers maintain a register keeping a record of all staff members training • Check all powerlines that may be threatened by trees or branches. Ensure that vegetation below lines has been cleared • Conduct inspections at all water points. Make sure tanks are filled and all piping is operational FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 59

Leadership

Inner circle of friends

By Wayne Bailey

S

Wayne Bailey

hahrukh Khan said, “I do have a close circle of friends and I am very fortunate to have them as friends. I feel very close to them. I think friends are everything in life after your family.

You come across lots of people all the time but you only make very few friends and you have to be true to them otherwise what’s the point in life”?

When I count the number of close friends in my inner circle, I could count them all on one hand. Yes, we have many friends on Facebook, Twitter and other social media, however, how many people do you have close enough to confide in your worst thoughts as a leader? Who do we trust with our insecurities? I ask you to wisely pick these people. In the emergency service, if someone finds your weakness, they can make life hard for you.

Reminds me of a time we found out a fellow fire fighter despised the look, smell and taste of mayonnaise. You

• Inspect all fire tenders and bakkie sakkies to ensure that vehicles are mechanically sound and serviced. Check tanks and hosing. Run pumps and test operation • Make sure that all firebelts and firebreaks are complete and safe • All access roads need to be in good condition. Make sure that turnaround points are clear and negotiable • Make sure that all maps are up to date and that a vegetation map, preferably showing veld type and age, is in place • Check all communications. Telephone lines and radio networks • Make sure that lookouts are operational and staff properly trained • Inspect all fire fighting hand tools for serviceability and placement; • Staff duty rosters need to be updated, and contact details confirmed • Make sure that fire suppression agreements with neighbours, where required, are in place and signed off.

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might ask, what is mayonnaise? It’s a dressing that some people put on a sandwich. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, mayonnaise (/`meιeneιz/, often abbreviated as mayo) is a thick, creamy sauce often used as a condiment. It is a stable emulsion of oil, egg yolks and either vinegar or lemon juice, with many options for embellishment with other herbs and spices. Lecithin in the egg yolk is the emulsifier. Sounds yummy, right.

Our fire fighter found mayonnaise everywhere he went.

In his locker, on his food, in his boots, in the bathroom, everywhere. Why? We found his weakness.

When you build an inner circle around you, that person should bring value to you as the leader and to the department and not make life tough on you like we did our fellow fire fighter. When you choose this person or persons, measure twice and cut once as a close friend told me. May sure you have a confident before confiding in them.

When you start looking for the inner circle person, what traits should you be looking for? Here are some of my picks: People of integrity CS Lewis said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” When was the last time you made a decision not to do something because you thought it

The urban interface integrated veldfire management plan should also allow for role players to hold pre fire season meetings. Agenda items will include: • Exchange staff duty roster information • Identify extreme fire hazards • Confirm emergency fire response • Confirm ICS arrangements • Confirm joint operating protocols • Confirm resources available to each organisation ie tools, equipment, trained staff and aerial fire fighting aircraft • Confirm standard operating procedures • Arrange for post fire investigations In the next section we will discuss the preparation of the final section of the integrated veldfire management plan, the fire suppression plans for the urban interface.

By this stage we should be closer to answering the answering the interminable question posed at the beginning of the series.

Volume 3 | No 9

Leadership was the right thing to do? That’s what you’re looking for in people with integrity. You want your personal morals and character to match this person. The phrase ‘Iron sharpens iron’ means you need something hard and resilient to sharpen your knife. What if you sharpen your knife with less means such as concrete? If you don’t ruin your knife, you’re will at least make it very dull.

Creative minds around you In our business, we always have a plan B. I highly recommend a book, “An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth.” by Chris Hadfield. Fire fighters can learn a lot from this book on survival. In space, Colonel Hadfield spoke of things going wrong. As a team, he said they usually were creative in getting work accomplished. He spoke about an emergency spacewalk that had to happen due to their space ship losing ammonia from the outside. He said planning an unscheduled trip outside usually took weeks or more. In this case, they did it within 24 hours.

If not, they would have died. By having creative minds on board and back in Houston at ground control, they were successful and arrived back to planet earth in one piece. More insights on Colonel Hadfield can be found here https://youtu.be/Zo62S0ulqhA. Devoted people When I think of devoted or loyal friends, I think of the quote by Groucho Marx. He said; “When you’re in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, Dang, that was fun.” In our business, we are devoted to carry out the job of making a save from an auto crash, medical emergency and in training each and every day.

Devoted people get things done and it comes from the heart, not the mind.

People who share your vision Ken Blanchard said, “None of us is as smart as all of us.”

As a leader, you must first have a vision before others can follow. If your vision is to install 1 000 smoke alarms in an area where you had recent civilian fire deaths, how long would it take you to do the job by yourself? By having a team that shares your vision, you can get the job done in one day. There are followers out there waiting on you to share your vision.

that have some of the same gifts as you. There are too many to list here, however, here are some traits or gifts I would want in people around me. They are the gift of wisdom, knowledge, discernment, administration, helper and humbleness. We can always use wisdom in everything we do. Socrates said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” When I don’t have the knowledge in a subject area, I don’t hesitate to make a call and ask the question of someone that is more knowledge then me. For discernment, I find women have this trait more than men. They have this sixth sense.

They will be driving through a neighbourhood and say, “Let’s get out of here, this place is creepy.” Listen to these people. Without administration and helpers, life would be jumbled and a lot of things not getting done.

Oh yeah, you have a great vision to install those 1 000 smoke detectors but who is going to order them, have the alarms on the ground with the necessary tools to install them? Last but not least, humbleness. We model what we see. When I see humbleness in a one’s spirit, it reminds me to be the same.

Knowledgeable and clever people I’m sure you’ve come across people where you said “That ole boy is not the sharpest tool in the shed or he or she may be dumb as a box of rocks or dumb as a bag of hammers.” I tell people I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but beware, there are other knives in the drawer that will cut you. I have knowledgeable and clever people all around me that keep me out of trouble every day. Some people lacking self-esteem may want the public and their peers to think they are a shining star. Not me. When I’m lost or out of ideas, I go to the people in my inner circle for help. If I was the smartest, who would I turn to?

People with connections In life, it’s not necessary what you know but who are your connections. Just recently, I had a need and stood in front of a networking group and said, “Who do you know that does landscaping?” I had two people give me names of people that they had done business with. Life is all about connections. In your community, you are connected to leaders of influence, people to donate for a cause when needed. William James said, “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.” We all have connections that others need. Make sure you share your connections with others. Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

People with complementary traits As a leader, it’s good to have people in your inner circle

In closing, I remind you to measure twice and cut once.

Choose your inner circle of friends and associates wisely.

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Heritage

History of fire extinguishers sodium bicarbonate mixed in it, which was particularly useful for fires where there might be poisonous chemicals around. Suspended in the cylinder was a vial containing concentrated sulphuric acid. The vial of acid was broken by one of two means depending on the type of extinguisher. One means involved the use of a plunger that broke the acid vial, while the second involved the release of a lead bung that held the vial closed. Once the acid was mixed with the bicarbonate solution, carbon dioxide gas would be expelled and this would in turn pressurise the water. The pressurised water was forced from the canister through a short length of hose and a nozzle. The acid was neutralised by the sodium bicarbonate.

An antique glass ‘grenade’ fire extinguisher

F

or most of history, the most widespread fire extinguisher of any kind was a bucket of water stored next to the stove or on the front porch.

In about 200 BC, Ctesibius of Alexandria invented a hand pump able to deliver water to a fire and it is known that the Romans used bucket chains, buckets passed hand-to-hand to deliver water to the fire. Then, in the Middle Ages, ‘squirts’ began to be used to apply jets of water to fires. The squirt worked rather like a bicycle pump. The nozzle was dipped into water and about one litre was sucked up by pulling out the plunger. The charged squirt was then directed at the fire and the plunger pushed home to eject the water. Squirts were used on the 1666 Great Fire of London. The first version of the modern portable fire extinguisher was invented by Captain George William Manby, a writer and inventor from England, in 1819, consisting of a copper vessel of 13,6 litres of pearl ash (potassium carbonate) solution under compressed air pressure.

In the second half of the 1800s, numerous inventors came up with extinguishers that did more than just spray ordinary water onto a fire. Starting in the 1860s, inventors created the soda-acid extinguisher, where a cylinder contained one or two gallons of water that had 62 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

The foam extinguisher consisted of the main body of the extinguisher filled with foam producing chemical and a second container filled with another chemical, which reacts when it came into contact with the solution in the main cylinder. To operate you turned the extinguisher upside down and allowed the two solutions to mix, then hold your finger over the discharge nozzle and shake the extinguisher to ensure the solution was properly mixed then direct it at the fire. The resultant reaction created high pressure and a lot of carbondioxide gas. This could be forced out of the nozzle of the extinguisher to put out the fire.

Around 1912 Pyrene pioneered the carbon tetrachloride or CTC extinguisher, where the liquid was expelled from a brass or chrome container by hand pump, onto a fire.

The sizes were usually of one imperial quart (1,1 litre) or one imperial pint (0,6 litre) capacity but also made in up to nine litre sizes. The CTC vapourised and extinguished the flames by interfering with the chemical reaction. This extinguisher was suitable for liquid and electrical fires and was popular in motor vehicles for the next 60 years. The vapour and combustion by-products were highly toxic and deaths did occur from using these extinguishers in confined spaces.

One of the more interesting types of fire extinguishers developed during the 19th and early 20th centuries were the so-called ‘fire grenade’. The ‘fire ‘grenade’ was a sphere of glass filled with either salt-water or the chemical carbon tetra-chloride (CTC). Fire grenades could be used by firemen or people in distress to put out a fire from a distance. One simply lined up the fire in one’s sight and threw the grenade at its base. The glass shattered and the spreading water (or chemicals, as the case might be) put out the fire, with minimal risk to the fire fighter or person in distress.

In some places, fire grenades were placed on special hair-trigger harnesses above doorways in big, public buildings. This way, if there was a fire, the grenades could Volume 3 | No 9

Heritage

Read and Campbells fire extinguisher

The Pyrene pioneered the CTC extinguisher

fall from their harnesses into the doorways above which they were installed. This kept the doorway clear of flames, allowing people a safe escape route (so long as you were fine with running on top of broken glass!).

Cartridge-operated fire extinguisher

In 2011 Britannia introduced the first self-maintenance extinguishers, which for the first time in extinguisher history do not require service engineers to visit sites and maintain them.

In the middle of the twentieth Century the modern type of extinguisher appeared using different extinguishing agents. Manufacturers of extinguishers generally use some type of pressurised vessel to store and discharge the extinguishing agent.

The first type of fire extinguishers are pressurised with air to approximately 10 bar, five times a car tyre pressure, from a compressor. A squeeze-grip handle operates a springloaded valve threaded into the pressure cylinder. Inside, a pipe or dip tube extends to the bottom of the extinguisher so that in the upright position, the opening of the tube is submerged. The extinguishing agent is released as a steady stream through a hose and nozzle, pushed out by the stored pressure above it.

The second type of fire extinguishers are the ‘gas cartridge’ type operate in the same manner but the pressure source is a small cartridge of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) at 130 bars, rather than air. A squeeze-grip handle operates a spring-loaded device causing a pointed spike to pierce the disc that held back the pressure, releasing the gas into the pressure vessel.

The released CO2 expands several hundred times its original volume, filling the gas space above the extinguishing agent. This pressurises the cylinder and forces the extinguishing agent up through a dip-pipe, out through a hose and nozzle to be directed upon the fire. This design proved to be less prone to leak down, loss of pressure over time, than simply pressurising the entire cylinder.

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What’s on?

2015 November 1 - 6 November 2015 SAESI Conference Conference, exhibition and training events to facilitate inter-agency engagement to build resilient communities Venue: Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg,

South Africa For more information visit: www.saesi.com/ 2 – 13 November 2015 FPASA Advanced fire prevention course Addresses fire risk management, fire safety legislation, suppression system, fire growth and development, means of escape, flammable liquids and gases, structural protection, business continuity and fire safety management.

Venue: 105 Springbok Road, Bartlett,

Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618/9

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 2 – 27 November 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Pump Operation course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel

Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 2 – 3 November 2015 ATA International - International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) ITLS courses are designed for providers who are first to evaluate and stabilise the trauma patient. The courses provide complete training in the skills needed for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilisation and transportation of trauma patients.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Ondangwa, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na 3 – 4 November 2015 ATA International - International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) ITLS courses are designed for providers who are first to evaluate and stabilise the trauma patient. The courses provide complete training in the skills needed for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilisation and transportation of trauma patients.

Venue: ATA Fourways, Gauteng, South Africa Contact: Melissa Tilma

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: melissa.tilma@

ata-international.com 5 November 2015 ATA International Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) Participants will be able to perform the initial steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in victims of all ages, basic airway manoeuvres and rescue breathing with and without adjuncts.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Windhoek, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na

64 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

6 – 7 November 2015 ATA International - International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) ITLS courses are designed for providers who are first to evaluate and stabilise the trauma patient. The courses provide complete training in the skills needed for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilisation and transportation of trauma patients.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Windhoek, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na 10 - 11 November 2015 Wildfires 2015 – The UK Wildfire Prevention Conference Wildfires in the UK: Prevention is better than cure. This conference is aimed at land owners and managers, fire and rescue personnel and researchers and policy makers.

Venue: SFRS College, Cambuslang,

Glasgow, UK For more information visit: http://bit.ly/1MF6WgX 11 November 2015 ATA International Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) Participants will be able to perform the initial steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in victims of all ages, basic airway manoeuvres and rescue breathing with and without adjuncts.

Venue: ATA Fourways , Gauteng, South Africa Contact: Melissa Tilma

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: melissa.tilma@

ata-international.com 11 - 13 November 2015 SAEC First Aid Level 2 Training Course Training course run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg,

South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak

Tel: 011 608 0907 12 – 15 November 2015 The VCOS symposium in the sun A symposium devoted to the leaders of volunteer and combination departments.

The symposium is designed to enhance your leadership skills in a way that will motivate your department and create a greater impact on the entire community you serve.

Venue: Hilton Clearwater Beach, Clearwater

Beach, Florida, USA For more information visit: www.iafc.org/micrositeVCOSsymp/ 16 – 20 November 2015 FPASA Fire appliance reconditioning A course designed to provide learners with a working knowledge of the correct measures to be taken to restore an extinguisher or hose-reel to full operational readiness Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road,

Bartlett, Boksburg, Gauteng,

South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 19 November 2015 SAEC Basic fire/fire marshall Training courses run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg,

South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak

Tel: 011 608 0907

21 – 22 November 2015 ATA International Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Candidates will be competent to recognise and initiate the management of cardiac arrest and peri-arrest conditions.

Venue: ATA Fourways, Gauteng, South Africa Contact: Melissa Tilma

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: melissa.tilma@ ata-international.com 21 - 22 November 2015 ATA International Basic life Support Instructor Course (BLS I) All instructors must have a valid BLS instructor certificate, and have a firm, working knowledge of the training materials, including textbooks and certificates to be issued for each specific course.

Venue: ATA Fourways, Gauteng, South Africa Contact: Melissa Tilma

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: melissa.tilma@

ata-international.com 23 November 2015 ATA International Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) Participants will be able to perform the initial steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in victims of all ages, basic airway manoeuvres and rescue breathing with and without adjuncts.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Windhoek, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na 23 - 27 November 2015 SAEC First Aid Level 3 Training Course Training course run by SA Emergency Care Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg,

South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak

Tel: 011 608 0907 23 - 27 November 2015 FPASA Fundamentals of fire investigation This course promotes a clear understanding of fire investigation and the rendering of opinion regarding origin and cause. This includes practical investigation exercises and is aligned with NFPA 921.

Venue: 105 Springbok Road, Bartlett,

Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618/9

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 24 – 25 November 2015 ATA International - International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) ITLS courses are designed for providers who are first to evaluate and stabilise the trauma patient. The courses provide complete training in the skills needed for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilisation and transportation of trauma patients.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Windhoek, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na

December 1 December 2015 SAEC Basic Fire/Fire Marshall Training courses run by SA Emergency Care

Volume 3 | No 9

Venue: Modderfontein, Johannesburg,

South Africa Contact: Nicole Vermaak

Tel: 011 608 0907 3 – 4 December 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Resuscitation training for vessel entries course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel

Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com 5 December 2015 ATA International Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) Participants will be able to perform the initial steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in victims of all ages, basic airway manoeuvres and rescue breathing with and without adjuncts.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Windhoek, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na 7 – 8 December 2015 ATA International - International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) ITLS courses are designed for providers who are first to evaluate and stabilise the trauma patient. The courses provide complete training in the skills needed for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilisation and transportation of trauma patients.

Venue: ATA - International Training Namibia,

Windhoek, Namibia Contact: Theresa Foster

Tel: 0264 61 302 931

Email: theresa@

ata-international.com.na 10 – 11 December 2015 Sasol Secunda Chemicals Operations Emergency Management Training Resuscitation training for vessel entries course Sasol reserves the right to cancel courses without notice due to reasons beyond control Venue: Sasol Secunda, South Africa Contact: Isabel

Email: isabel.dejongh@sasol.com

2016 January 26 – 29 January 2016 2016 ARFF Chiefs & Leadership The ARFFWG is an international organisation with members in 37 countries. Members come from major metropolitan airports, smaller regional facilities, the military and private companies. Members are fire fighters, fire chiefs, airport managers, safety officers, base commanders, and shipboard aircraft rescue fire fighters Venue: Wyndham Hotel I-Drive, Orlando,

Florida, USA For more information visit: http://arffwg.org/2016-arff-chiefs-leadership/ 31 January – 4 February 2016 Firehouse World More than 80 conference sessions and moderated panels, featuring US and international instructors, field studies

Volume 3 | No 9

conducted on the grounds of two critical events in Southern California. Over 250 exhibits featuring the latest tools and technology.

Venue: San Diego Convention Centre,

California, USA For more information visit: www.firehouseworld.com/

February 23 - 26 February 2016 SICUR 2016, International Security Safety and Fire Exhibition SICUR brings together the entire safety and security industry, making up a comprehensive showcase of new developments relating to protection and prevention in the widest sense of these terms Venue: Madrid Exhibition Centre, Madrid,

Spain For more information visit: www.ifema.es/sicur_06/

March 8 - 10 March 2016 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Conference From education and mitigation, suppression strategies, high-hazard operations to policy, and including 40,000 square feet of exhibits, WUI addresses the toughest challenges facing the wildland firefighting community Venue: Reno, Nevada, USA For more information visit: www.iafc.org/wui 15 - 17 March 2016 Firefighting Middle East (FFME) This is the Gulf’s premier event designed for fire and rescue professionals in the public and private sectors. Supported by UAE Civil Defence, it is the definitive meeting place for the region’s firefighting community, sharing best practice, establishing new connections and sourcing the latest tools and technologies in firefighting, rescue, first response and public safety.

Venue: Adnec, Abu Dhabi For more information visit: http://isnrabudhabi.com/Portal/visit/ visit-ffme-2016.aspx 22 - 23 March 2016 Aerial Firefighting International 2016 Costly and life threatening wildfires continue to afflict many parts of the world. The causes are many and varied but combating each benefits from our shared advances in technology and operating techniques. Now in its fourth year of drought, California reflects the imperatives of winning the battle against the elements.

Venue: Sacramento, California, USA For more information visit: http://tangentlink.com/event/ aerial-firefighting-international-2016/

April 20 – 23 April 2016 International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) 2014 Annual Conference Venue: Doha, Qatar For more information visit: www.ifsac.org

May 1 – 5 May 2016 The 23rd Annual Xtreme Industrial Fire and Hazard Training Williams Fire and Hazard Control presents its

annual XTREME Industrial Fire and Hazard training event which focuses on flammable liquids fire response tactics and equipment applications including transportable largevolume water supply and delivery logistics, foam and dry chemical applications Venue: Beaumont, Texas, USA For more information visit: www.williamsfire.com/ 2 – 6 May 2016 2016 Pacific Northwest fire investigators conference This conference offers an understanding of fire investigation from basic fire investigation to elevated fire origins and allows one to complete certification testing during the course of the conference Venue: TBA For more information visit: www.nwfire.org 4 May 2016 International Fire Fighters Day For more information visit: www.firefightersday.org 21-25 May 2016 Fire-Rescue Med (FRM) Fire-Rescue Med is a conference for fire-based EMS leaders, including new and aspiring chiefs, providing education and training on hiring and retaining EMTs, public and private integration challenges, embracing technology, billing for services, illness prevention programs and more Venue: Henderson, Nevada, USA For more information visit: www.iafc.org/frm 24 – 27 May 2016 2016 Water Rescue Seminar Presentations are currently planned to review lessons learned from actual incidents that have happened in bodies of water around the world. Learn how to safely and effectively plan, prepare and implement a full-scale water rescue exercise to ensure your organisation is prepared to manage this extremely challenging response Venue: Westin Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, USA For more information visit: http://arffwg.org/2016-water-rescue-seminar/ 30 – 31 May 2016 Australian and New Zealand disaster and emergency management conference The Conference theme ‘earth, fire and rain’ will continue to address planning, response and the introduction of innovative techniques in management of disasters, emergencies and hazards.

Venue: Jupiters Hotel, Gold Coast, Australia Contact: Email: admin@anzdmc.com.au For more information visit: www.anzdmc.com.au 13 - 16 June 2016 NFPA conference and expo This conference and expo showcases fire protection, life safety and electrical; widely regarded as the most comprehensive event in the industry Venue: Mandalay Bay Convention Centre,

Las Vegas, USA For more information visit: www.fireproductsearch.com 15 - 18 June 2016 Fire 2013 - NYSAFC 107th annual conference and expo The NYSAFC conference and expo provides expanded educational programs, EMS CEU workshops, hands-on training exercises and exhibits.

Venue: Turning Stone Resort, Verona, New York,

USA For more information visit: www.nysfirechiefs.com

FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL | 65

Poem

Tribute to the Pathfinders Inspired by fire and fired to inspire

You may not be fearless but you are brave You may not be tearless, but you see past the haze Through tears and blinding flames Dust and smoke do not faze.

You beat the heat to lulling songs And drumming feet Clear and centred, like a spotlight in the night.

With steadfast hearts, sure are pure Spearhead and shaft, like a tunnelling beam Reclaiming from hell, your realm.

Saving lives and forging bonds of kinship Blazing a trail of triumph and friendship You are the pathfinders of glory and honour We are proud of you this hour!!

By Sandra Jane Hedges Proud and loving wife of Working on Fire Bravo team leader, Timothy Hedges

66 | FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Volume 3 | No 9

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