Fire and Rescue International Vol 3 No 2

Integrated fire, rescue, EMS and incident command technology

Volume 3 No 2

Contents 2

Comment

Competition 3 FRI Images Cover profile 4 Rural Metro Training Academy: fire rescue training excellence in Africa News 8 New ambulance act to bring positive change in South Africa 12 KZN spearheads state-of-the-art emergency health services 13

Soweto collapse tests EMS crews

14

Statistics of ambulance accidents revealed

15

9/11 Memorial Museum opens to the public

16

Rescue teams collaborate at Meyersdal collapse

18

Taking the heat in more ways than one

Emergency medical services 53 KwaZulu Private Ambulance’s footprint continues to grow Risk mapping 55 Why risk mapping is important - by Malcolm Procter

58

National Burn Association of South Africa Giant steps for emergent burn association

Heritage 61 The Maltese Cross

What’s on?

62 Fire, disaster and rescue related events across the globe Poem 64 “A fire fighter’s tears” - Author unknown

20 California King Fire calls for over 8 000 fire fighters to tackle 22 South African incident management team visits USA 24

Major wildfire at Betty’s Bay

25 Cosmas boots available in South Africa through Fremtac 26 Celebrities, fire fighters and paramedics face off in a gripping challenge 29

ACSA receives four new 8x8 Rosenbauer Panthers

31

Major bus collision in KZN

Management skills 32 Fire department company operations officer - what it takes to be a success - by Colin Deiner

12

Fire service 36 Lanseria Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Service 41

A fire fighter first and foremost

Obituary 42 Missed but never forgotten

43

Storage tank fire hazard management workshop Storage tank fire hazard management workshop

Fire safety 47 Community risk reduction: Theories and models to promote fire prevention - by Rodney Eksteen

49

NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium

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Comment Editor Lee Raath-Brownie lee@fireandrescue.co.za Cell 082 371 0190 Journalists Taryn Champion Alexandra Rose-Innes edit@fireandrescue.co.za Cell 071 641 3884 Advertising advertising@fireandrescue.co.za Cell 079 107 3967 Design and layout Marc Raath marc@fireandrescue.co.za Finance Noddie Knibbs accounts@fireandrescue.co.za Circulation Vicki Jacob subs@fireandrescue.co.za Secretary Vicki Jacob pa@fireandrescue.co.za Administration Mirriam Moroane Contributions Africa Colin Deiner Rodney Eksteen Etienne du Toit Reinard Geldenhuys Brian Lobb Malcolm Procter Braam du Preez Stefan de Villiers Publisher Lee Raath-Brownie FIRE AND RESCUE INTERNATIONAL Tel 011 452 3135/6 Fax 086 671 6920 Box 8299 Greenstone 1616 www.fireandrescue.co.za Subscriptions 12 editions per annum South Africa R285 per annum incl VAT Non-subscribers: R35 incl VAT per issue Southern Africa (airmail) R480 per annum International (airmail) R680 per annum Copyright All rights reserved 2

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Volume 3 No. 2

Fire and Rescue International (FRI) is proud to present the 26th edition of our industry magazine. We, as all other publishers, face the challenge getting our magazines to our readers as we are reliant on the postal system for delivery. Both our magazines, Fire and Rescue International and Disaster Management Journal, have had a digital footprint since April 2014. In an effort to overcome delivery problems, we will be offering the digital version as part of our product range. We will be communicating details via email. You are welcome to contact us regarding magazine delivery problems so we can try and resolve the issues.

We trust you will enjoy reading and sharing this edition!

Lee Raath-Brownie

Cover profile The internationally accredited Rural Metro Training Academy features as our front cover profile and we highlight its history, training programme and world-class facilities.

FRI Images photographic competition A photograph of a prescribed burn training session won one of our readers the competition this month. See page 3 for details.

CONGRATULATIONS! Submit your high-resolution photograph featuring a rescue, emergency, incident or fire scene and win R2 000 cash!

News section The proposed new ambulance act is our main news item this month followed by the new night vision aero-medical system launched by KwaZulu-Natal emergency health services, the Soweto and Meyersdal collapses, the California King Fire, the South African incident management team’s visit to the US and a major bus collision. Other news items include various fire fighting changes, product launches and vehicle hand-overs.

Management skills Colin Deiner discusses what makes a good company officer and reviews the basic skills required. Deiner also highlights the leadership role the company officer needs to play and outlines the debriefing, training, incident command and communications aspects.

Fire service FRI visited Lanseria International Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Service and we share the history, staffing, operations, equipment, training, past incidents and challenges of this very competent ARFF service. Chief Bennie Vorster, manager of the ARFF service, shared his background and the people who influenced his career with us.

Obituary As in life, death is certain; we profile a fallen hero in a moving obituary. Rest in peace, Richard Ashenborn.

Workshops and seminars FRI attended several workshops and seminars and we review the Storage tank fire hazard management workshop held at Sasol Secunda’s training centre and the jointlyheld Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and The Southern African Institute of Forestry’s (SAIF) two-day seminar in George.

Fire safety Rodney Eksteen discusses community risk reduction programmes and looks at the theories and models to promote fire prevention. The integration of passive and active strategies, high risk behaviour in individuals and the use of a systems approach form part of this interesting topic.

Emergency medical service (EMS) Kwazulu Private Ambulance service is profiled in this edition and we share its history, operational footprint and services offered with our readers.

Risk mapping Malcolm Procter shares his experience regarding risk mapping and explains why it’s such an important tool.

The National Burn Association of South Africa (NBASA) The important work done by The National Burn Association of South Africa is highlighted.

We also share its history and profile its operations.

Heritage The Maltese Cross is the international symbol of the fire service’s willingness to make great sacrifices in order to protect others from the effects of fire. We pay tribute to this ancient symbol and share its history with our readers.

We value your opinion and invite you to share your viewpoint with our readers.

Fire and Rescue International is your magazine. Read it, use it and share it!

Lee Raath-Brownie Publisher

Images

This month’s FRI images winner!

Congratulations to Rob Erasmus for his photograph ‘Little room for error’ taken with a Nikon L25, ISO-80, a shutter speed of 1/320th of a second and an aperture 4.8 F-stop.

Photo description: Prescribed burn training in Fynbos

Rob Erasmus wins this month’s prize money of R 2 000!

Well done!

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.

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.za.

>>ENTER NOW! Volume 3 No. 2

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Cover profile

Rural Metro Training Academy: fire rescue training excellence in Africa

Rural Metro Training Academy is a world-class training centre based in Greytown

T

he internationally accredited, Rural Metro Training Academy is a world-class training centre based in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. “We are a customer-focused organisation committed to delivering superior quality programs and services in a congenial environment”, said managing director of Rural Metro Emergency Management Services, Chris Gilbert “The training academy was established to train professional fire fighters and affords private individuals pursuing fire fighting as a career, an opportunity to attain an internationally recognised qualification that can be benchmarked against the rest of the world. The academy boasts very high standards and provides exceptional quality training.

Herman Binneman 4

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History The Rural Metro Training Academy was founded in 2007 from humble beginnings in a modest facility in Greytown. With minimal resources, the academy commenced offering limited courses to a more local market. As the demand for specialised or internationally accredited programs increased, courses were modified to include the petrochemical, aviation, marine and disaster

management industries. Over a period of three years, this modest training facility evolved into a sizable academy with appropriate resources.

To accommodate the growing interest in the fire fraternity both nationally and internationally and to exceed the expectations of their clients such as district and local municipalities, Chevron, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), Transnet and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the company resolved to build a state-of-the-art training academy. Land was acquired and a contemporary facility was developed.

Following intensive construction, the academy opened for business in November 2012.

Since inception, this centre of excellence has trained approximately 1 200 students from South Africa, various countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Facilities The training academy is established on two hectares and includes a main facility and practical fire training drill yard. The academy is situated in the light industrial area and comprises of the following amenities: • Large reception area and offices • Three dormitories, two for male students and one for female students • Ablution facilities • Two fully equipped large lecture facilities (capacity of 60 students each) • Two fully equipped smaller lecture facilities

Cover profile (capacity of 20 students each) • Student dining area • Serving area for meals • Instructor accommodation • Stores • Laundry • Practical training props • Documentation centre The centre’s four spacious lecture rooms are equipped with overhead projectors, adequate training material, sufficient lighting and ventilation. The dormitories are similar, if not superior to, accommodation one would encounter in para-military and military facilities.

In addition, the academy also has the relevant fire, rescue, medical and hazmat equipment as well as fire engines, cleaning/sanitation teams, medical care during and after hours, 24-hour security, transportation and internet access offering students free Wi-Fi.

Piet Makhoba, Steward Govender, Herman Binneman, Omeshini Govender, Dumisani Makhathini, Bond Erallal and Jaques Naude

“Our training exceeds the preferred standard in terms of notional hours and the desired outcomes are met. Rural Metro aspires to the values of discipline in an orderly environment and complies with the standards required for international fire fighter training,” said training centre manager, Herman Binneman.

Accreditation The Southern African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) and the Local Government Sector Education Training Authority (LGSETA) accredits Rural Metro. The endorsement by the International Fire Services Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) allows the centre to train fire fighters on a global

Dumisani Makhathini, Piet Makhoba, Steward Govender and Bond Erallal

One of the centre’s four spacious lecture rooms

One of the male dormitories

N Buthelezi, S Gumede, S Khanyile and D Pillay Volume 3 No. 2

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Cover profile

Rural Metro’s Mandeni pumper assisting with the fire demonstration

Extrication training

Patient care

The training facilities are world-class

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) students 6

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Cover profile

Fire fighting training

scale. Additionally, the academy is a member of the Joint Oil Industry Fire Forum (JOIFF) and the Fire Protection Association (FPASA) of South Africa.

Training programs are National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) aligned. Competent learners achieve certification via IFSAC, SAESI or LGSETA. Rural Metro’s course facilitators are registered NFPA 1041 instructors. In addition, Rural Metro employs accredited assessors, moderators and verifiers.

“Our aim is to assist our clients to obtain dependable information within the most professional and ethical methodologies so as to guide policy, development planning and decision-making processes,” said Binneman.

• Swift water rescue • Confined space rescue • Vehicle extrication • Trench rescue • Driver operator • Aerial apparatus • Crane operator • Fire instructor I • Fire officer • Incident command • Learnership 57803: Further Education and Training Certificate: Fire and rescue operations NQF 4 and Learnership: National Certificate: Emergency services supervision: Fire and rescue operations: 64390 NQF 5.

Binneman is a seasoned fire officer with 30 years fire service and international training experience. He is a qualified ILS paramedic and has an advance diploma in fire engineering science.

Courses on offer include: • Fire fighter I • Fire fighter II • Hazmat awareness • Hazmat operations • Rope rescue level I and II • Breathing apparatus • Compressor operator • Advanced fire prevention • Fire investigation

Rural Metro’s course facilitators are registered NFPA 1041 instructors Volume 3 No. 2

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News

New ambulance act to bring positive change in South Africa at a lower rate than compliant services. This threatens the financial stability of compliant services and puts the public at severe risk of being serviced by an ambulance that will not be able to perform suitable procedures during the course of an emergency.

There are also certain medical aid schemes that are seen as supporting the problem by making use of service providers operating below the minimum norms and standards, as well as not performing proper regulation of their own service provider networks. The South African Private Ambulance and Emergency Services Association (SAPAESA) has offered to assist with this on numerous occasions but according to their chief executive officer Oliver Wright, without any positive outcomes.

Since Carte Blanche recently aired a show depicting an industry seemingly in turmoil and highlighted what seemed an inability to regulate maverick operators, much talk about the proposals in the white paper ensued. There is no denying that the new act will be legally binding and it will be considered a criminal act to operate any sort of ambulance service without complying with and being accredited by the act.

According to Oliver Wright of SAPAESA, the proposals are seen as a very positive and important step in the future development of the private ambulance industry in the country. A task team was established prior to publication of the draft act, which included representatives from the various provincial health departments, as well as from SAPAESA.

T

he proposed new act regarding regulating ambulances is hailed as the ultimate answer to the current shortcomings in the regulation of private ambulance operators. After substantial growth in the private ambulance industry over the past four years, there are many services that no longer comply with the accreditation standards of the Board of Healthcare Funders of South Africa. Not only has it brought the industry into disrepute, this trend is seen as endangering the lives of the public who depend on proper emergency services.

Many of the new services do not meet the Board of Healthcare Funder’s accreditation criteria and are of major concern in South Africa. Non-compliant services are a very poor reflection of the local private ambulance industry and seen as not in a position to offer either a safe or quality service to patients within the country’s borders.

The problem is compounded by the fact that noncompliant services are able to offer ambulance services 8

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ER24’s chief operating officer, Ben Johnson, says the act will provide industry-accepted quality and compliance benchmarks to which all ambulances, whether state or private, will have to comply. Johnson further states, “This will ensure appropriate standards are maintained and those wanting to enter the industry do so for the right reasons. The act will now hold operators of ambulance companies accountable, something that did not happen in the past. As with any act, the key to success will be how it is implemented and controlled by the respective provinces.”

“As with anything else, the rules and regulations will only have the desired effect if there is consequence for non-adherence and ongoing policing to monitor compliance. We support the initiative as it relates to quality and standards. However, these provisions may be better placed in the office for health standards compliance. Additionally, we do not support the use of these regulations to try and limit competition, or in any way regulate commercial decisions regarding the number of vehicles utilised in any given territory to best render services to our customers. If we all engage in the

News process as requested, I believe the act will benefit the industry significantly,” added Johnson.

SAPAESA SAPAESA started the Private Ambulance Association (PAA) in 1990 with various other major role players to set standards for the industry. Up until 1994 no regulation criteria for private ambulance services existed in the country.

The current accreditation criteria for private ambulance services have been outdated for several years. SAPAESA has made several submissions to the Board of Healthcare Funders since 2005, encouraging the implementation of updated accreditation criteria, as well as the need for annual reinspections of existing, accredited services. However, to date no new processes have been implemented.

Dr Jonathan Witt, an EMS practitioner told Fire and Rescue International that the minister of health has a “complete misunderstanding of private ambulance operators and their training.” Wright agrees that the issue of training courses in the ambulance industry, both private and public, remains a concern as well as bone of contention. He says, however that the operations of private ambulance services in South Africa, as well as its regulation, is a matter that has been described at length between the health department, as well as specialists within the ambulance industry.

be inspected and accredited as part of the licensing process and all bases will have to fully comply with the act.

Wright says the proposed act will perform a supportive role to what SAPAESA has always striven to achieve, namely quality ambulance services, all operating to the same minimum norms and standards, with the aim of providing the best clinical care to the public. There is no doubt in his mind that the new act will be achievable, but will need to be properly monitored by the National Department of Health which will need to ensure it is implemented at provincial level.

Wright sees it as having a very positive influence on the industry and is of the opinion that proper implementation of the act can only yield positive results. The organisation encourages all medical aid funds in South Africa to contact them for assistance with regards to setting up their emergency medical services networks in order to ensure that only compliant services are being utilised as providers. SAPAESA is a non-profit company with no legally mandated rights to regulate any ambulance service that is not a member of the association.

Wright stresses this is the very reason that medical aid schemes are encouraged to stipulate that any of the

Johnson strongly disagrees with this statement. He made it clear that through various initiatives, such as the emergency medical services review programme, National Committee of Emergency Medical Services (NCEMS) and other engagement with industry stakeholders, the minister, through the National Health Department, is fully aware of issues surrounding the private EMS sector. It is this awareness that has resulted in the publication of draft EMS legislation.

Oliver Wright of SAPAESA agrees and says, “There is a very good understanding of the current concerns around the operations and regulations of the ambulance industry as a whole. While we do have comments to submit on the draft act as part of the public participation process, we support the health department in what they are aiming to achieve and we believe that the minister is well informed with regards to the need for increased regulation” he added.

The act is proposing that an emergency medical service manager be appointed to supervise licencing and to ensure the act is upheld in totality. This will mean that each ambulance service will need to appoint their own emergency medical service manager, whose qualifications to fill the position must be approved as part of the licensing process, by the Department of Health.

The act in itself will not limit services to practicing within a certain area but each operational base will Volume 3 No. 2

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News EMS service providers must be registered as SAPAESA members. SAPAESA continues to provide free specialist, consultation services to bodies such as the Department of Health, Transport and Labour, regarding use and regulation of the private ambulance industry. However, membership is not compulsory.

Johnson of ER24 states, “What industry players need to understand, is that the draft bill is just a peg in the ground and through input and engagement with government, we will end up with an act that is well researched and represents all sectors of EMS delivery in the country.” He also stressed the company’s strong relationships with national and provincial government and said ER24 has been actively engaged in the process. In his opinion, it has been a very inclusive initiative and the industry has been widely canvassed for input and opinion.

Johnson also says that the lack of control has reflected badly on the industry. “It has also allowed rogue operators to proliferate across the country. It is a sad day for EMS that we have arrived at this point in the first place! Patient care should be the first and foremost priority on everyone’s mind but this hasn’t been the case.”

“As for direct impact, there hasn’t been much other than generalised frustration that operators are allowed to compete in an industry where it is possible for anyone to buy an old taxi, convert it into the semblance of an ambulance and then run around on the roads picking up patients. On a positive aspect, the fact that we adopt best practice and clinical standards has allowed ER24 to raise ourselves above these practices and I really believe our patients and clients have appreciated and directly benefited,” Johnson adds.

Having been presented with the question if the industry is really in such a conundrum as pictured in the Carte Blanche show, Johnson says, “Yes and in some cases, even worse. Carte Blanche focused on a small aspect of our industry in one area of the country. There are many other bad practices which were unfortunately not highlighted. However, it is important to state that even during such dark times for the EMS industry as a whole, not all operators can be painted with the same brush. There are many operators out there on a daily basis that do have the patient’s needs at heart and strive to make a difference!”.

As ER24 already subscribes to industry’s best practise and exceed proposed requirements, Johnson says there is very little the company needs to change or improve to comply with the act. “A positive effect will be that we no longer need to spend as much time and money having to regulate and quality check service providers that our company contracts with. If a service complies with the act, it would mean they comply with industry standards and best practice. Obviously, we would still invest time developing and maintaining 10

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relations with our provider network, but with less focus on regulating standards.”

Finally, Johnson believes in the benefits of the proposed act as it will provide current and future entrants to the industry with a frame of reference on operational expectations and the level of service they are expected to deliver to the South African public.

Like ER24, who believes that the proposed act will benefit all in the long haul, chief operating officer of Netcare 911, Craig Grindell trusts that the act makes reference to various compliance standards that will ensure a consistent level of service is provided irrelevant of the provider by dictating minimum standards. “The Netcare 911 team welcomes the proposed act as we believe that any formal legislation introduced to improve emergency services in South Africa to be imperative. Through our quality leadership and improvement processes, Netcare 911 is continuously striving to render only the best possible level of care, including professionalism to our patients. We believe that this proposed act will only compliment the processes that we have in place to further achieve our goals in rendering optimal patient care through a world class service,” Grindell explains.

When posed the question of whether the lack of coordination and control of private ambulance services impacted Netcare 911, Grindell says, “Due to Netcare 911’s internal quality assurance and standard operating procedures geared specifically towards delivering a professional service and providing best practise care to all of our patients, the impact of any suggested absence of coordination has to a large degree been lessened and in some areas even negated. It has, at times, saddened us to see colleagues in other organisations operating without appropriate equipment or under extreme financial pressure but our focus has always been and will always remain on the patient and patient care. It is with this mind-set and our rigorous internal procedures that we have remained largely unaffected by the apparent or implied lack of coordination in private EMS.” Grindell stated that subsequent to the release of the white paper, all affected persons or organisations were afforded the opportunity to provide input/comment on the proposed act. Netcare 911 serves on the National Committee for Emergency Medical Services (NCEMS) and supportively provided input into the drafting of the proposed legislation.

Various role players in the medium and smaller-sized sectors of the industry were approached for comment.

Some felt that there has not been enough consultation with the private sector and did not want to be quoted.

Others, for fear of retaliation, refrained from offering an opinion. However, the overall feeling is one of optimism and being prepared to support the governmental initiatives to regulate the private ambulance industry in the country.

News Sarel Hofmeyr, premier Senzo Mchunu , Johan Stone and MEC for health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo

KZN spearheads state-of-the

K

art emergency health services

waZulu-Natal premier, Senzo Mchunu, has described the launch of the night vision aero-medical system as a radical transformation of emergency health services.

The night vision goggles (NVG), a specially designed pair of goggles, was launched in Richards Bay recently. These goggles are generally used in a military environment and improves visibility in night conditions. This technology is used by global high-tech air forces and is a first for the South African province, the country and the African continent.

At the same time, the KwaZulu-Natal health department’s aircraft interiors have been modified and training has ensured, that to date, almost

all Richards Bay pilots have been fully trained. With this night-vision equipment, the helicopter crew is able to see someone 183 metres away on a moonless, cloudy night.

Its availability will greatly improve access and delivery of advanced medical and trauma care to patients and victims of vehicle collisions and those trapped in mountains. Use of this technology has also resulted in the increase of operational aeromedical flight hours.

“The NVG system will assist in delivering essential health services to our people, especially those previously neglected in remote areas,” Says Mchunu.

However, we are cognisant of the fact that we cannot achieve this alone. That is why we are committed to forming

The pilots: Farzana Mahomed, Berry Mtsweni and Warren Bretherton

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partnerships with other stakeholders. I want to express my appreciation to all the role-players involved in this venture.

I can mention the Red Cross Air Mercy Services, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), as well as other important players such as health professionals across all categories.”

According to the Department of Health, the establishment of landing zones and the refurbishment of landing strips is underway. The following hospitals already accessible to receive and dispatch night flights: Eshowe, KwaMagwaza (Melmoth), Ulundi Airfield (Nkonjeni), Ceza, Vryheid, Itshelejuba (Pongola), St Benedictine (Nongoma), Hlabisa, Mkuze Airfield (Bethesda), Mosvold, Manguzi, Mseleni, Dukuduku (St Lucia) and Ngwelezane.

Farzana Mahomed,MEC for health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo ,Berry Mtsweni, premier Senzo Mnchunu and Warren Bretherton

News

Soweto collapse tests EMS crews

Remains of the old power station after it collapsed

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mergency medical service (EMS) crews worked handin-hand as various rescue personnel rushed to the tragic scene in Orlando in Soweto, South Africa, where an unused power station collapsed, killing eight people.

According to Russel Meiring, spokesperson for ER24, RIGA rescue, Rescue South Africa, ER24, City of Johannesburg Emergency Services and the South African Police Service K9 unit were all instrumental in retrieving victims and survivors from the twisted steel and wire of the collapsed tower. The old station, behind the landmark Orlando towers, collapsed after vagrants had allegedly stolen cables and steel to sell as scrap. By randomly removing the support beams over a period of time, the lead to the building eventually collapsed, resulting in the entire building caving inwards, trapping an unknown quantity of persons.

City of Johannesburg Emergency Services (JHB EMS) first arrived on scene and set up a mobile command and incident command centre. After arrival of all emergency that partook

in the rescue, ER24 activated Rescue SA for their specialised equipment.

Crews worked around the clock under extremely dangerous situations as the structure at the time was highly unstable.

Four live patients were located on site trapped under the concrete and steel beams that once supported the enormous power station that

supplied electricity to the entire West Rand.

Emergency medical services began by slowly removing the rubble from the site where the persons were trapped, ensuring that the rescuers lives were not at risk of a secondary collapse. At one point two rescue operations took place simultaneously and resources were shared by both

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News

Statistics of ambulance accidents revealed

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o less than 286 Gauteng provincial ambulances in South Africa were involved in accidents from 2001 to July this year, with 254 dubbed as serious, translating into 89% of these accidents being labelled as major collisions.

Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow health member of the executive council for the province, Jack Bloom, revealed these figures during a sitting of the provincial legislature.

According to the latest statistics, in a written reply by Gauteng department of health’s member of the executive committee, Qedani Mahlangu, to Bloom’s questions, 98 accidents occurred in 2011, 80 in 2012 and 97 in 2013. This year, until July, 11 ambulance accidents

rescue teams until more equipment was deployed. “The bravery shown by the fire fighters left me astonished and during the rescue operations the fire fighters put their own lives at risk to rescue the patients, that at this time had being trapped for several hours”, says Deon Esau, City of Johannesburg EMS. The rescuers worked hand in hand, squeezing their bodies through insignificant tunnels that were created to reach another human being. Eventually after almost seven hours, the first person was

were reported. At the time of going to press, the department of health could not yet pin a price tag on these accidents as investigations continue.

Gauteng only has 428 ambulances to serve this vast area, considered to be the 18th biggest metropolis globally and with these accidents occurring regularly, many vehicles are currently being repaired in workshops and are off the road. The ambulance shortage is seen as a major reason for poor emergency response times in the province. There is a more than one in two chance that an ambulance will have a serious accident over its driving lifetime if these statistics are taken into consideration.

According to the government’s answer on this issue, these accidents were a result of the weather, the

removed from the rubble with a great sense of accomplishment felt by all the rescuers.

Another patients arm was amputated before he was rescued.

This trapped patient was stuck between two steel beams, which had the possibility of causing a secondary collapse if handled vigorously. The call was then made to bring expert medical surgeon’s to ascertain the possibility of amputating the arm of the patient.

Rescue workers making their way through a tunnel to save trapped survivor 14

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road conditions and in certain cases, negligence. Certain trends with regards to the accidents were identified and contained in the official documented answer as a problem with reversing these big vehicles, speeding and the involvement of a third party.

Mahlangu was however not in a position to provide any figures regarding the cost of these accidents and the resultant repairs of the ambulances.

She told legislature that various steps had been taken to address this situation. An accident committee has been formed and driver training will be provided to the various regions.

She also said that disciplinary action had been instituted against the negligent drivers, in this case 95 so far.

He was then taken to hospital in a stable but critical condition.

Overall, 13 people have been found in the building. Eight bodies and five people were found alive. ”Special thanks should go to City of Johannesburg EMS, ER24, Rescue SA, Ekurhuleni , Emfuleni and Tshwane Urban Search and Rescue teams for their assistance by providing expertise and equipment at such a major incident,” concludes Deon Esau of City of Johannesburg EMS.

After long hours the first trapped survivor is rescued

9/11 Memorial Museum

News

opens to the public

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n 11 September 2001 hundreds of civilians, fire fighters, paramedics and the like entered the World Trade Centre to lend a hand to those in need. As a result 343 fire fighters and 60 police officers sacrificed their lives while standing up for what they believed in, helping others.

After 13 years, the National September 11 Memorial Museum, dedicated to the 2 983 lives that were lost in the 9/11 attacks, is now open.

First open to the survivors, families and rescuers in the month of May as a sign of respect, the museum is also now open to the general public.

Extending over nine kilometres, The National September 11 Memorial Museum contains various objects from the most devastating terrorist attack experienced in America.

Designed by the Norwegian firm, Snohetta, the museum signifies the exact events and outcomes that took place on 11 September 13 years ago.

12 500 objects and 580 hours of film and video lay within the museum walls, which were built upon bedrock of tragedy and anguish. “An airplane hangar full of largely bruised, contorted artefacts formed the basis of the museum”, says curator Jan Ramirez. These are objects of remembrance, which have significance to many and may inflict

Fire truck brutally crushed on 9/11

pain again. Although pain inflicting objects are displayed in the museum, burying the facts wouldn’t be seen as a true reflection of what happened on this traumatic day. Much thought and consideration thus went into the what is displayed in the museum, structural components of the building as well as the design of the museum to ensure that those who passed in the attack were honoured at the highest level.

9/11 Museum in a nutshell The museum is divided into sections

Helmets worn by fire fighters on 9/11 are displayed in a glass case

and contains actual artefacts found of those who worked in the trade centre as well as video footage, voice recordings of stressed voices, images of shocked witnesses, the final phone calls from passengers to their loved ones, a wall of remembrance and so on. Below ground lies the biggest whole piece left of the World Trade Centre, including the original concrete slurry wall that held back the Hudson River as the towers fell.

Messages cover benches surrounding the museum and images of falling bodies as some jumped out of the window of the building are displayed behind partly-hidden alcoves.

Items received from survivors, families of the dead, first responders, cleanup workers and agencies that were part of the investigation are also put on display. One item displayed, in particular, includes Welles Crowther’s red bandana that lies in an enclosed glass case. This heroic young man was an equities trader situated on 104th floor of the South Tower of the centre and died in the collapse after running back in the South Tower to save 12 people. Although such simple artefacts, these objects hold much significance and value to all who were affected on 9/11.

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Rescue teams collaborate at Meyersdal collapse collapsed. According to the media, plans for an extension of the house were never lodged for approval with the local municipality. Much speculation surrounds this tragedy, but no answers will be forthcoming before a commission of enquiry has completed its inquest.

Rescue crews searching for bodies underneath the rubble

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etcare 911 paramedics were the first responders to the scene of the much publicised house collapse

in Meyersdal, south of Johannesburg in South Africa recently. Eight people died on site as a section of the multi-million Rand dwelling

A tangled mass, which once was a fire truck, leaves room for thought and compassion for the 343 fire fighters who died trying to save lives.

Brutalised helmets, which depict how severely the fire fighters suffered, were donated by families and added to the museum display. Some helmets are so

battered, making the severe trauma to the heads not difficult to imagine.

A fire truck of the New York Fire Department’s Ladder Company 3 remains a particular item of commemoration for fire fighters who lost their lives in the disaster. This

According to William Tladi, spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (EDEMS), information regarding the collapse was not entirely clear and Netcare, on arrival at the scene, requested the assistance of EDEMS. Alberton Fire Station and Rescue South Africa also responded with a specialised rescue team and advanced equipment was called. Rescue SA was also instrumental during the recent Soweto power tower collapse.

Municipal ambulances and those of ER24 and Netcare 911 ambulances

beaten truck carried 11 members of Ladder 3 who lost their lives while making their way up the skyscraper to evacuate victims. The vehicle had sped to the World Trade Centre from its fire house in Manhattan’s East Village neighbourhood to aid those in need of help.

They died in the line of duty as the North Tower collapsed. The battered truck will join the remains of other emergency vehicles that were destroyed, including from the New York Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department and the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY). This section will be dedicated to those who were involved in helping others during this tragic time and allow civilians to remember and honour them.

Items displayed may have emotional impact but are rightfully laid out in remembrance of the 343 fire fighters and paramedics who were killed during the 9/11 attacks as they willingly devoted their lives to saving The ‘Last Column’ and biggest whole piece left of the World Trade Centre on display those in need.

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News transported eight survivors from the scene of the collapse to nearby hospitals. Five of the injured suffered serious injuries and two were in critical condition.

One of the patients was still trapped under the rubble and screaming for help when municipal ambulances got to the site in the upmarket ecoestate. Inflatable air bags were used to lift heavy concrete slabs and wooden cribbing, in order to stabilise all loose concrete to ensure the safety of the rescuer and patient. All team members worked side by side in an effort to save the trapped victims.

Sniffer dogs from the South African Police Service’s K-9 unit were deployed to identify sites where bodies were trapped under the rubble. Spiritual counselling was rendered onsite to those who had survived the incident unharmed but were in severe shock and extremely traumatised.

Eleven construction workers survived the collapse.

According to Tladi, counselling was also offered at the Brackendowns Police Station.

It is alleged that the extensions to the multi-million Rand house were never approved by the local municipality

Rescue operations were called off at 22h00 on the first day, as there seemed to be no signs of life under the rubble.

Ekurhuleni council structural engineers and investigators from the department of labour were also on site during the operation.

Rescue operations resumed on 19 August as no information was available on how many workers were still unaccounted for.

According to reports, there were two construction companies on site prior to the incident. One construction company was able to tell rescuers how many of its workers were on site, but the other was not sure. After the property caretaker and construction companies involved, acknowledged that everyone has been accounted for, was the operation halted The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) started an enquiry into the tragedy but at the time of going to print, the situation was still under review.

Rescue teams worked for two days and sniffer dogs were also brought in

The house in a prestigious eco estate in Meyersdal that collapsed Volume 3 No. 2

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Taking the heat in more ways than one

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again�‌-Robert Laurence Binyon Photo credit: Andy Thomas

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he contestants at the recent national South African Emergency Care (SAEC) fire fighter challenge not only had to contend with tough conditions and opposition but the sweltering heat in eastern Johannesburg in South Africa, was probably the most brutal of all. With temperatures rocketing into the thirties, 58 individuals and 19 teams faced various challenges to find the men amongst men.

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September 2001, was held. A wreath was laid with Joe Adlam, a chaplain for the emergency services, officiating.

Two hundred fire fighters saluted the bravery of their 343 fallen comrades.

However, before the start of this annual contest, a hauntingly beautiful memorial, in remembrance of the heroes of 11

Not only did the local guys honour their international colleagues but the stellar work performed by the search-and-rescue-dogs, was also remembered before paramedics and firemen faced each other in a gruelling challenge.

Honouring their fallen comrades, 13 years after 9/11 Photo credit: Andy Thomas

In sweltering heat, contestants had to drag the famous 85kg Oscar across 30m. Photo credit: Andy Thomas

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Jan Liebenberg and Paul Rotherham Photo credit: Andy Thomas

The winning team, also from Midvaal 911 Photo credit: Andy Thomas

Teams had to complete an obstacle course comprising of fire fighting and rescue challenges in the shortest possible time. The day once again proved why South African emergency and rescue services are rated amongst the best globally.

According to Jan Liebenberg, owner of SAEC and a fire fighter himself, the quality of the teams and individual contestants was very good this year. “We are very happy as this event has grown tremendously,” he said.

The winning team was from Midvaal 911 and during the individual leg of the competition, no one could hold a candle to Tertius Engelbrecht, also of Midvaal 911.

Participants wore personal protective equipment (PPE), including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), all of which weighed over 23 kg in total and challenges included, amongst others, dragging an 80 kg dummy over 30 metres and running up five storeys with a 21 kg pack. At the top of the scaffolding structure, contestants had to hoist another 21kg ‘doughnut’ pack to the fifth storey, after which a fully charged 32 mm diameter mm fire hose had to be pulled over a distance of 20 metres through swinging doors, opened and sprayed at a target. A Keizer Force machine’s steel cylinder of seven kg also had to be knocked from one side of a frame to the other.

SA Emergency Care is a privately owned company giving back to the community as much as possible. The company also hosts an annual corporate challenge with fire fighters trained at SAEC competing against each other.

This annual challenge, inspired by the international ‘Toughest Fire fighter Alive’ competition, sees local teams compete to win a place at this prestigious event, held in America.

The four-footed heroes were not forgotten Photo credit: Andy Thomas Volume 3 No. 2

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California King Fire calls for over 8 000 fire fighters to tackle

Fire fighters battle King Fire along the highway

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uring September 2014, Northern California experienced one of its most drastic disasters.

The King Fire, formerly known as the Pollock Pines Fire, broke out off of a hiking trail in Sierra Nevada of California, burning east of Sacramento and consuming a dozen homes as well as 68 buildings. The fire also threatened a University of California, Berkeley, a tree, plant and wildfire research station. The fire

resulted in thousands having to evacuate their homes as it spread uncontrollably.

Smoke travels harming the air quality of affected and surrounding areas.

Image captured by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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Over 8 000 fire fighters, some coming from as far away as Alaska and Florida, were sent to combat the huge and unwieldy wildfire. However, even with this profound quantity of fire fighters, the fire was only fully contained in October after burning 39 546 hectares of land. “We’re not sitting back and waiting.

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An air tanker drops Foscheck fire retardant on a hillside ahead of the King Fire We have crews trying to get those containment lines strengthened,” said state fire battalion, Chief Scott McLean.

Cooperating agencies involved in the battle against the California King Fire include California Highway Patrol (CHP), Red Cross, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services(Cal OES), El Dorado Irrigation District, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Sierra Pacific Industries, PG&E, Placer County Water Agency, Placer County Sheriffs, California Conservation Corps and El Dorado County Animal Services.

The King Fire is one of nearly 5 000 wildfires in California this year, a 26 percent increase compared to an average year of about 3 900. “The reason that fire expenditures have exceeded this year’s budgeted amount is neither because of the legislature or the governor but rather Mother Nature,” says HD Palmer, spokesman for the state Department of Finance. “Fortunately the state has prepared for this very contingency.”

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) sent air tankers to release Foscheck fire retardant and helicopters drew water from the surrounding lakes to combat the King Fire. Over 172 hand crews, 418 engines and 21 helicopters were assigned to battle the King Fire.

“Evacuated homeowners in the White Meadows area near Pollock Pines about 100 kilometres east of Sacramento were allowed to return 23 September 2014,” El Dorado sheriff John D’Agostini said. About 2 700 people still remained under evacuation orders due to the air density being hazardous in the city of Auburn northeast of Sacramento, as well as the Roseville and Rockville areas.

The King Fire was five percent contained on 15 September.

Containment increased to 34 percent on 23 September.

However the King Fire was only reported fully contained on 9 October due to its quick expansion. With continuous burning deep inside the containment lines, fire fighters continued to extinguish the wildfire for the next several days. The wildfire diminished more rapidly as the next few days brought about cooling weather.

Wildfire costs The amount of damage caused and resources spent were particularly costly. The King Fire has become the second most costly blaze in California this year, costing over 53 million Dollars to tackle over the period as of 13 September. This has major implications on the yearly budget set by Cal Fire.

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South African incident management team visits USA

By Etienne du Toit, Deputy Director: Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government • Logistics • Services unit leader • Support Unit Leader • Area command It is the opinion of the participants that the general resource situation faced by South African emergency responders, as well as the fact that the likely ‘span of control’ will not surpass the immediate need for any positions apart from the abovementioned. This opinion is based on the current ‘maturity level’ of the system. Additional position specific training can be introduced as the system develops.

Etienne du Toit, Ian Schnetler, Philip Prins and Bertus Senekal

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elected South African representatives recently attended the USAID/United States Forest Service incident management team (IMT) initiative Missoula, Montana, USA. They all have completed type 3 position specific command and general staff training.

The South African (SA) team comprised of Ian Schnetler, Etienne du Toit, Bertus Senekal and Philip Prins. The trip to the US was optimised by the expert facilitation of Tim Murphy, deputy fire operations specialist of the USDA Forest Service Aerial Fire Depot; Johan Heine, CEO of Kishugu and the administrative input of FFA Training’s Michelle Kleynhans as well as the liaison officer for the SA team, Ted Geisey.

The main focus of the visit was centred on the Johnston Bar forest fire in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest close to Kooskia, Idaho.

The four-member SAIMT were treated to a comprehensive program over the nine days in the care of Ted Giesey and Tim Murphy, whereby many centres, agencies and experts in the field were visited. The knowledge gained in physically observing operations at an IMT2 incident, in 22

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this case, the forested region of the State of Idaho, approximately 193 kilometres from Missoula, proved invaluable to the team.

Many lessons were learned at the scene, most of which can be brought back to South Africa and implemented, albeit on a smaller scale. The concept of IMT and the upscaling or downscaling of an incident to accommodate the levels of IMT, in this case the observation of downscaling from a type 2 to a type 3, was invaluable and interesting to observe and be a part of.

The relevant positions that are pertinent to an incident management team in the South African sense, that can practically be implemented, are the following:Command staff • Incident commander (IC)/Deputy IC • Safety officer • Liaison officer • Public information officer General staff • Operations section chief • Division/group supervisor • Strike team/task force leader • Planning section chief • Situation unit leader • Resource Unit Leader

The South African legal framework pertaining to emergency and disaster management as well as the provisions of ‘delegation’ in terms of the Public and Municipal Financial Management Acts were considered in the above recommendation. The aforementioned also influenced the decision to exclude the finance/administrative section from the immediate general staff requirement. It would indeed be quite possible to accommodate this function as a shared responsibility under the logistics section.

Training and the opportunity for development in these positions are very relevant to any future International training programmes being presented, as well as standing in good stead for future local or provincial training initiatives.

The remainder of the program provided an opportunity to observe the various components and resources assigned to a major incident and also to converse with experienced members of incident management teams and organisations involved in wildfire suppression.

Outcomes and results of other discussions The shadowing of a Type 2 IMT at a working incident was one of the primary objectives of the visit; the project was also structured to give key South African emergency service personnel a first-hand insight into

News the implementation of all-hazard ICS in the United States context. The initiative assisted participants to: • Understand interagency operations in terms of all-hazards • Analyse what the United States are doing in terms of pro-actively managing wildfires • Gaining a better understanding about the use of specialised resources ie aerial resources, smoke jumpers and heli-rappellers • Develop meaningful relationships with the people who will support the development of ICS in South Africa • Identify best-practices and articulate means of implementing and benchmarking in the local environment The mission also included a variety of other activities and visits including: • Networking dinner with key US Forest Services staff members • Missoula smokejumpers centre • Northern Rockies Coordination Group Cache • Heli-attack and Coordination centre, Grangeville • Kalispell: Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation • Missoula Fire Laboratory And Testing Centre • Glacier National Park Forest Fire Service • Missoula Rural Fire Department The visits to these centres, agencies and people were invaluable and a wealth of information was both provided and retained for future training interventions. Overall, the opportunity afforded to the SA team was well received, pertinent and relevant for the purposes of furthering the ICS program.

Benefits to the Western Cape Province The incident command system provides an effective and efficient solution to operational coordination requirements and problems of the major fire suppression agencies serving the Western Cape. Major wildfires are a common annual occurrence in the province with its Mediterranean-like climate that typically gives the area four to six months of almost total drought. In addition, the region is threatened with infrequent but potentially disastrous, urban emergencies precipitated by flooding and various types of fires. The

Western Cape ICS program is directed towards improving the effectiveness of the close working arrangement of fire services in the area in response to any major incident, not only those involving wildfire suppression.

Fire and Emergency Services in the Western Cape are currently utilizing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) essentially consists of the following functional elements: • The incident command system (ICS) • The multiagency coordination system (MACS) • Joint information systems (JIS) The National Incident Management System (NIMS) structure provides for the integration of the above elements in incident response. This is a standardised approach to incident and event management that is scalable and flexible and enhances cooperation and interoperability among responders.

The team identified a number of practices that can be implemented in the province, some of these with minimal financial implications, others more significant.

Roll out of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in the Western Cape The implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in the Western Cape is aligned to the USDA Forest Service (USFS) technical

assistance in forest and veld fire management program as supported by the USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The program provided for the formation of the South African incident command system (ICS) working team, the development of the South African Forest, Veld and Prescribed Qualification System, ICS training and course material contextualisation, master trainer training, the establishment of incident management teams and support to technical continuity, management, leadership and program coordination.

The Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, through the ‘Building Incident Command Capacity’ project for 2014/15, will continue with the development of skills and resources relevant to this discipline. Some of the current initiatives include the following: Inter-agency cooperative agreement The Western Cape Government will facilitate an ICS inter agency cooperative agreement between all major role-players within the province.

This agreement will provide for the adoption and formalisation of district based incident management teams.

Establishment of incident management teams The Western Cape Government will assist four district municipalities, namely: West Coast, Overberg, Eden and the Cape Winelands to establish functional incident management teams within their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The Western Cape Government will fund identified command and

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Major wildfire at Betty’s Bay

By Brian Lobb, divisional commander, Overstrand Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management call of a wildfire next to a dumpsite.

Gale force north westerly winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour fanned the fire from the mountain towards houses in Betty’s Bay. A joint operations centre was established at Betty’s Bay Fire Station and an incident command system was established.

The Betty’s Bay destroyed two homes

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major fire broke out in the Betty’s Bay recently, which was fuelled by gale force winds. A number of homes had to be evacuated while the Overstrand Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Service fought the blaze. The SAPS assisted with a precautionary evacuation of the residence.

The Overstrand Fire and Rescue and Disaster Management received the

general staff position specific training.

The City of Cape Town is currently in the process of establishing incident management teams within their own organisation. A detailed training and development programme is currently being implemented.

Promulgation of incident command system regulations The Western Cape Government is currently in the process of promulgating Provincial Incident Command and Control regulations in the province.

These regulations will give effect to the adoption of a common incident command system in the province.

Standardisation of ICS documentation The Western Cape Government will assist the ICS working group in developing a standard ICS documentation ‘pack’ for the province.

Foundation training The Western Cape Incident Command System has now reached a level where all ICS foundation training, namely ICS 100, 200 and possibly 300 24

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Safety of residents and structural protection was the initial objective.

Due to previous history of wildfires in gale force wind conditions, additional fire engines were requested from Overberg District Municipality, Cape Winelands District Municipality and City of Cape Town. Western Cape Emergency Medical Services, Provincial Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Cape Nature, Harold Porter Botanical Society, South African Police Services (SAPS) and the provincial and municipal traffic departments assisted the fire fighters.

can be delivered locally. The role out of these levels will continue unabated.

In conclusion It would be very difficult and indeed unfair to single out any specific highlight. We simply saw and experienced too much. All our expectations were not only met but exceeded. Apart from obvious benefits associated with observing the various programs, the participants also had a perfect opportunity to benchmark certain local programs and initiatives, albeit at a lesser scale.

A number of lessons were learned and old ones reinforced. The importance of integrated planning involving all organisations was again highlighted.

Also, the pooling of resources is a necessity, especially in a developing country such as South Africa where fire services are expected to operate within severe confinements. We have certainly identified a number of practices which can be implemented in the province, some immediately and others over a longer period.

Twenty four emergency vehicles and eighty five fire fighters managed to contain the blaze by the following morning; it started to rain after the fire was contained.

Approximately 450 hectares of mountain fynbos and private land were destroyed, two houses burned down and 19 houses sustained fire damage.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A major challenge was communication as the different fire departments and other agencies use different frequencies and radio systems, which made communicating during the incident difficult.

Overstrand Fire and Rescue remained on the scene and monitored the area for the next 48 hours to ensure that there was no flare up.

The experience also afforded us the opportunity to reflect on our own systems and processes. We have a lot to be proud of. Our incident command system has moved from the Inception stage to a solid foundation phase in a relatively short period. We are now in a position to move to the next level by capitalising on our previous lessons learned and experiences gained through our recent visit.

The above was made possible through the support of organisations like USAID, USFD and the Kishugu Group. The commitment to, and continued support of the programme by the following persons deserve special mention: Tim Murphy, Fred Favard and Reinhard Geldenhuys and Michelle Kleynhans. Ted Geisey, the liaison officer for the South African team was instrumental in optimising the experience.

The ultimate beneficiaries of this programme are not the South African emergency services but the citizens of the towns, cities and provinces they serve.

Cosmas boots available

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in South Africa through Fremtac

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anufacturers of the Vulcan, Titan, Hercules V2 and Helios brands of fire fighter footwear Cosmas USA, has a simple yet robust philosophy, being, ‘to draw on the input and experience of professional fire fighters, the latest innovative materials and technologies and their handcrafted footwear heritage to develop the best fitting, highest quality, high performance personal protective footwear available.’

Cosmas has recently introduced the Vulcan and Titan boots for structural fire fighting as well as the Hercules V2 mountaineering boot for wild land fire fighting. These new additions to the Cosmas range are now available at Fremtac Fire and Rescue, a young and dynamic company based in South Africa that has been established to serve the training and equipment needs of the emergency services and private companies in Southern Africa.

Vulcan and Titan boots Features of the Vulcan and Titan boots include a low profile triple reinforced pull on strap for ease, with mesh windows for enhanced ventilation. Thermoformed tibia guard and ankle armour contoured ankle guards are inserted to protect shins on a ladder, while midsole armour combination composite puncture plate, ladder shank and midsole provide full puncture resistance coverage and thermal insulation for the bottom of the foot.

The Vulcan and Titan boots are additionally equipped with high traction, electrically insulating, oil and heat resistant, vulcanised nitrile rubber outsoles kitted out with ergonomic heelroll and toespring that promotes a natural walking motion and abrasion. Chemical and flame resistant, vulcanised rubber toe caps are also included to extend the boots life.

High profile ladder grips prevent slips and integrated standoff allows for easy removal of the boot.

The Vulcan furthermore contains schoeller fabric upper with kermel, providing excellent heat, flame, chemical and abrasion resistance and remains 87 percent lighter than leather.

Hercules V2 mountaineering boot The Hercules V2 mountaineering boot is the first of its kind and has a mountain inspired design. This wild land fire fighting boot boasts a soft, full grain leather collar, ensuring comfortable calves as well as a durable one piece upper construction, with fewer seams resulting in more durability.

AnkleArmor contoured ankle guards protect ankles from knocks and dings while extended lacing all the way down to the toe ensures a tight fit. Proprietary, welted, high traction, vulcanised rubber outsoles with a true mountaineering tread design provides superior grip and stability. The boots are furthermore equipped with ergonomic heelroll and toespring, promoting a natural walking motion.

Warranty Cosmas USA has extended their warranty to three years, which now applies to all new Cosmas products as well as to all existing Cosmas products already out in the market.

Advanced textile composites is fast becoming the industry standard for puncture resistant devices

The three year warranty came about in the aim of being an innovator and not a follower in the fire boot market.

After introducing the ankle armor, thermoformed tibia protector, the stand-off (heel kick off), the heel lock and the proprietary outsole developed just for fire fighters, Cosmas remains detail focused with the aim of providing the best range of products.

By gathering feedback from male and female fire fighters, mountaineering professionals and emergency services, law enforcement and military personnel for over 40 years, Cosmas ensures that they develop a superior combination of fit across their footwear range.

General manager and vice president of Cosmas, Marc Bouchard states, “It’s simple, we stand behind our products and wanted to put our money where our mouth is. This will prove what our clients already know, that the Cosmas fire boots are the best in the market.”

The new warranty is three times longer than the industry standard of a one year warranty and entails 100 percent warranty against all manufacturers’ defects.

The overall result leaves MidsoleArmor stiff and supportive in the heel and arch yet flexible in the forefoot Volume 3 No. 2

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Celebrities, fire fighters and paramedics face off in a gripping challenge a result of the types of incidents that they deal with every day, their experience is incomparable to their colleagues in most first world countries,” representative of Centrum Guardian Project, Dominique Harmse said.

The winning team included Freddy Morukhu from Johannesburg, Thabo Mbengwana, Lucky Myeza, David Vilane, Enie Molaetsedi and Elton Molaetsedi from Ekurhuleni, Gordon Kühn from Tshwane, Tertius Engelbrecht and Johannes Moreba from Midvaal, Rudi Swanepoel and Gary Kaufman from Lanseria as well as Netcare 911’s Deon Swart, ER24 member Klaus Milbert and Gauteng Emergency Medical Services and current course record holder, Manie Gouws.

Celebrities and Emergency and Rescue Services (ERS)

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n 31 July 2014, Centrum Guardian Project hosted an event that consisted of celebrities, fire fighters and paramedics of the South African Emergency Care (SAEC) training facility, challenging one another in a fire fighting competition. This

resulted in the two groups racing each other through an obstacle course made up of fire fighting and rescue challenges that could be encountered in a fire incident.

Tasks ranged from picking up a 21kg hose pack and then running up five flights of stairs in the shortest time possible, to lifting of Oscar (an 80kg mannequin) that dragged over thirty metres on the same obstacle course.

The event was sponsored by Centrum Vitamins and hosted by the Centrum Guardian Project brand ambassador Ruda Landman; master of ceremonies Paul Rotherham and media and liaison spokesperson for the City of Tshwane, Johan Pieterse.

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The Competition winners The emergency and rescue services (ERS) team victoriously took first place on the day. “This remarkable achievement proves once again that our emergency and rescue service is ranked as one of the best in the world. As

Amongst the celebrity team contestants were Hlubi Mboya, Maps Maponyane, Letshego Zulu, Mika Stefano, Mdu ‘Suffocate’ Mabaso, Mike Sharman, Donald, Marco Broccardo, Simba Mhere, Cyprian Ndlovu and Shelton Forbez.

The fastest male emergency and rescue service (ERS) was Tertius Engelbrecht with a time of 2:32.

Simba Mhere was the fastest male celebrity with a time of 2:46. The fastest female emergency and rescue services was Enie Molaetsedi with a time of 6:42. Hlubi Mboya achieved the fastest female celebrity time of 6:42.

“The competition was part of the 2014 Centrum Guardian Project, which showcases our nation’s multi-disciplinary and high calibre emergency and rescue services to the public,” says Harmse. Over the last six years, the project has profiled 49 finalists across various emergency disciplines such as medical, water, fire and rescues.

By retelling these real life stories of endurance, tenacity, skill and teamwork in a series of threeminute documentary dramas, the project is a rare and compelling

News showcase of devoted service to all South Africans.

Centrum contributes to emergency and rescue services training With every Centrum product purchased during the July, August and September period, Centrum

donated R1 towards specialised training for the emergency and rescue services. Centrum furthermore consulted with the role players in the industry to identify the specialised training needs for the various disciplines. Generous training sponsors have supported

Paul Rotherham was the master of ceremonies Photo credit: Simon McDonnell

Simba Mhere of Top Billing competed in the challenge Photo credit: Simon McDonnell

Training helps to avert and in some cases, minimise disasters. Not only

ERS showing how it’s done during the Burn Out

Abseiling Buddy, the yellow Labrador fire dog down the 5 storey tower

Emergency services showed their mettle Photo credit: Simon McDonnell

the project by sponsoring additional candidates for every candidate that the project pays for. This brings the total value of the training being provided to nearly R 1000 000.

The arduous tower

The challenge was rewarding Photo credit: Simon McDonnell Volume 3 No. 2

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Course record holder, Manie Gouws being interviewed by Paul Rotherham does it enhance the lives of the emergency and rescue services personnel who benefit from improved knowledge and additional skills but ultimately the community in which the emergency and rescue services operate will also benefit.

The ERS personnel continue to devote their strength, stamina and energy to saving lives.

The training courses that have been selected include: • Five-day aviation healthcare provider course aimed at caring for the critical patient in the aeromedical environment (ER24 Training Academy) • Five-day high angle rope rescue training course (Emergency Training Solutions and Rural Metro Emergency Management Services)

Reward ceremony, Photo credit: Simon McDonnell

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• Five-day Fire prevention and safety strategies course, a new theoretical programme covering fire safety and practical fire fighting as well as five-day fundamentals of fire investigation and advanced fire prevention courses (Fire Protection Association of South Africa) • One-day light motor vehicle and new car technology rescue techniques training (Fire Raiders and Holmatro) • One-day snake identification and bite treatment course (International Medical Services) • One-day advanced driver training course (MasterDrive) • E-Learning programme presented by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) • Two-day paediatric life support (Netcare911 School of Emergency and Critical Care) • Five-day swift water training (White Water Training) • Three-day advanced petrochemical fire fighting course (Sasol Secunda Chemical Operations) • vehicular rescue and extrication training course (Western Cape Fire fighters Association)

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ACSA receives four new 8x8 Rosenbauer Panthers

ACSA’s OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports take delivery of four Rosenbauer 8x8 Panthers

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irports Company South Africa (ACSA) recently took ownership of four new state-of-the art 8x8 Rosenbauer Panther airport crash tenders. The handovers took place at ceremonies held at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport, respectively.

The purchase of the new vehicles formed part of ACSA’s replacement programme of ARFF tenders as per the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) services manual where it is recommended that airport crash tenders should be replaced every 10 years. The airport’s replacement program further extends this by two years prolonging the ARFF apparatus’ lifespan to 12 years. There is also a relocation programme between regional airports in place.

OR Tambo handover Kris Reddy, assistant general manager and the previous chief fire officer at OR Tambo International Airport said “during its 21 years of existence, ACSA has invested significantly in infrastructure,

technology and equipment” and added that this latest purchase was testimony to how seriously the company takes safety. Chief fire officer (CFO) Clive Naidoo said “ACSA has invested lots of funds and time to ensure that the company is world-class. Does the investment make us world-class? No our people, our fire fighters, make

us world-class. Their commitment, training and fitness make us worldclass.” Michael von der Heyde of Rosenbauer thanked ACSA for their support and said that it was a privilege to work with ACSA. Cape Town handover CFO Werner van Rensburg said “Safety is key to our business and

Clive Naidoo, Kris Reddy, Michael von der Heyde, Rishi Thakurdin and Andrè Vermeulen Volume 3 No. 2

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Werner van Rensburg, Deon Cloete, Mark McLean, Rishi Thakurdin and Klaus Hörschläger

Unveiling of the new 8x8 Panthers at OR Tambo

Wynand Kleynhans, Clive Naidoo and Terence Reddy

Kris Reddy

Athol Hardy demonstrating the features of the Panther 8x8

The external colour-coded water and foam gauges

with the acquisition of the new Rosenbauer 8x8 ARFFs, we now exceed the safety standards as prescribed by ICAO.” Klaus Hörschläger, Rosenbauer International’s regional vice president for international sales outlined the history of Rosenbauer and added, “A total of 2 500 vehicles are built by Rosenbauer last year of which 161 were Panther 30

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6x6 and 8x8 configurations. Ten of those were ordered by ACSA.” Specifications The Rosenbauer 8x8 Panthers boast two turbocharged Caterpillar C18 engines with a power output of 630 horsepower each. The vehicles have an overall vehicle length of 13 metres, a width of three metres and two automatic transmissions. The

cab allows for a driver and five crew members. Four seats are equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) sets. The body/ tank construction and mounting is designed to guarantee safe on- and off-road performance.

The water pump’s output is 9 000 litres per minute at 11 bar rated capacity and is capable of

Major bus collision in KZN

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n 23 September 2014 at around 06h30am, a metro bus rolled over an embankment on the M24 near Bridge City in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, killing four passengers and leaving 28 others injured. The bus had been ferrying about 60 passengers from Ntuzuma to the city centre. Rob Mckenzie, KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services spokesman said, the first medic on scene’s initial reaction was to call for more help.

Emergency services arrived on scene shortly after the accident took place and treated the injured passengers accordingly.

They were then transported to various hospitals in and around Durban. One passenger experienced severe injury and was

discharging total volume required by the roof and bumper turret, ground sweep nozzles, hand line nozzles and under truck nozzles discharging simultaneously at designed pressures. The water tank capacity is 15 000 litres; the foam compound tank 1 800 litres and the dry chemical powder unit two 250 kilograms. The roof monitor’s

The new nozzle can be operated by one person due to its unique design

News

airlifted to hospital for immediate attention by the Department of Health’s air ambulance.

“We continue to double our efforts through law enforcement to ensure the safety of all road users, but do emphasise that we must all play our active roles. On behalf of the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal, I wish to send our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate accident and we wish those in hospital a speedy recovery,” said the MEC for transport, community and safety liaison Willies Mchunu.

Exact detail to the cause of the accident is not certain; however these events will remain the subject of a police investigation.

reach is approximately 90 metres with a full discharge rating of 6 000 litres per minute at 10 bar while the bumper turret’s reach is 65 metres with a discharge rating of 1 500 litres per minute at 10 bar.

The 52-ton vehicle’s acceleration is an impressive 0 to 80 kilometres per hour in 21,5 seconds, with a top

Metro Bus rolled down 50-metre embankment killing four passengers

speed of 160 kilometres per hour, meeting ICAO’s requirements.

Other notable features include the external colour-coded water and foam gauges for ease of reference and the electrical-assisted doors. The extension lights have a 360-degree operation span. The new nozzle can be operated by one person due to its unique design.

The high-tech gauges on the dashboard

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Management skills

Fire department company operations officer – what it takes to be a success

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

A good company officer must lead by example, never expecting his/her staff to do things he/she would not do

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o you have tried your best to impress your senior management, passed the necessary qualification exams and done virtually every course available to you. Your labours have resulted in you being promoted to the rank of company officer. You now have a shift to command and the responsibility of millions of Rands worth of equipment and vehicles to use to their maximum abilities. How well will you do it, will you command respect from your subordinates? Are you going to be trusted by those who report to you and those who you report to?

I will try to offer some advice to officers or potential officers. As I have mentioned on many occasions in this column, this not an empirical statement of fact. It is merely an opinion and therefore you are free to use it and hopefully gain some sort of value from it. Or….you can disagree, in which case I would love to hear from you.

The basics Your interpersonal skills, experience, knowledge and trustworthiness are all very important (and we will get to this later), however, before anyone can think of promoting someone into this position they must ensure that the following skills/knowledge base are in place from the get-go: • A thorough knowledge of departmental policies and 32

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procedures and how they affect your position and responsibilities.

• Be well versed in the role and legal authority of your employer (municipality, industry) and how you should act within these parameters.

• Experienced in all aspects of fire ground safety and fire fighter survival.

As first line officer it is you who will commit forces into the initial attack and to ensure their safety and survival throughout the incident.

• Understand the basic fundamentals of human resource management.

This relates to disciplinary actions, grievance procedures, salary issues, leave allocation and other department specific issues such as transport allowances. You will from time to time be asked by your staff to assist with a human resource related issue and how you handle it could reflect your level of caring for and responsibility shown to your staff.

• Be able to make a quick and accurate appraisal of the incident you are attending and make positive decisions. Offensive or defensive attack. Rapid or prolonged extrication.

• Have a working knowledge of current trends in building construction, as well as construction practices from yester years.

• Be familiar with fire service and occupational health and safety legislation and national standards.

• Know how to do fire inspections, which will assist in detecting noncompliance issues and violations

that will allow you to take it up with building occupants or your own fire safety law enforcement services.

• Know how to conduct a fire education and awareness programme for various age groups.

Your station will be called on to host school groups from time to time, which are an ideal opportunity to get the fire and life safety message across.

• Have a solid training background as you will eventually be providing more training to your crews than your department’s training school.

• Have a thorough knowledge of your department’s communication systems and its interoperability with the systems utilised by the other services you work with.

• Have an acceptable administration and IT skill set. Report writing is a fact of our daily existence and as a middle manager you will be relied on to do a lot of this.

Leadership I have always been of the opinion that great leaders are born and not made. It is, however, so that leaders need to be identified and their skills nurtured to the point where they can utilise their talent to the best advantage of their service.

The challenge here is a little more difficult in the fire/rescue environment as you have to blend this talent for leadership with a sound knowledge and experience of the wide range

Management skills of components that make up the fire service. It can’t be done overnight!!!

A good company officer must lead by example, never expecting his/ her staff to do things he/she would not do. Work on your skill sets and inspire confidence in your staff by demonstrating a high level of technical skills. This will give fire fighters the confidence to follow you into any hazardous situations you may encounter and inspire them to improve themselves in an effort to emulate your efforts. If this happens, acknowledge the efforts of your staff, even if it surpasses yours.

Remember that you will not always be the fittest, brightest and bravest fire fighter around and as you get older you will experience a diminishing ability. It is still very important that you maintain an acceptable level of physical fitness to serve as an example to your staff. It is very difficult for a young fire fighter to be inspired to extra-ordinary physical heights if his/her orders are coming from an unfit, overweight and out-ofbreath officer.

Different people will react to criticism or praise in different ways. Some might respond well to a good telling off while others might react negatively and it may take a long time to win their trust again. Get to know each one of your staff members and how they are motivated. The incident scene is a different environment to the station house. During a high risk incident the stress levels of all responders might be high and the words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ might not be heard very often. It is vitally important that all orders are given in a clear and audible manner and that no one is in any doubt as to what is expected of them. Also don’t ask someone to do something that they have not been trained to do and are not familiar with.

A major cause of frustration presents itself when responders don’t carry out orders correctly, show a lack of ability to do a certain task or are just plain sloppy. We are always told that you should not yell at anyone on a fire ground but rather deal with them in a calm manner and gently correct

their mistake. A raging structural fire, victims screaming to be rescued on the upper floors, problems with your water supply and your nozzlecrew doesn’t know how to enter the structure properly. Calm?.......I don’t think so! When you have lost your cool during an incident you will need to revisit the incident at a later stage. Explaining to the victims of your abuse as to what the reason for your unhappiness was and how you expected them to perform. Give them a chance to respond and explain why they did (or didn’t do) the particular deed and what their reasoning was. It will also not always be necessary to apologise (this will off course be dependent on the level of abuse and the specific members of their families you decided to give them your opinion of).

An important quality to acquire is to be a good listener. If a staff member considers a matter important enough to bring to you, you should give it your highest priority. Try not to be distracted while listening to the matter. Leave your emails for later and put your cell phone on silent when doing this. Being a good listener shows your personnel that you honestly care about them is probably one of the most important things you can do to instil trust and respect in your team.

Debriefing There are generally two types of debrief you can have with your crew. The first would be a critical incident stress (CIS) debrief when you have dealt with a particularly disturbing incident that might have a prolonged effect on some of your staff. The second is a technical debrief where you review the incident and your activities.

A peer debrief is considered by many experienced responders as the best way to deal with the after effects of a disturbing incident. People are more open to discussing their feelings with their colleagues who know what it was like and experienced the same events as they did. Outside professionals are sometimes seen as ‘intruders’ into a very personal space and ‘weren’t there’. This is okay and has been found to be so for a very

long time. The only rider here is that the person leading the debrief (you, the officer) should at least have some training in how to conduct it and how to recognise the warning signs of a serious condition. It is then that the services of a professional must be brought in.

The incident debrief must be held as soon after the event as possible. The best time to do this would be at the incident site immediately after the ‘all clear’ has been given and before the equipment making up process starts.

The reason for this is that it allows the incident commander to point out things that cannot be disputed later.

“Joe, why did you pitch the ladder there?” or “Pete, why did you shore the trench corner like that?” are questions that can be asked while everyone is present and able to see what you are getting at. Personnel will need respond immediately to these points and not have the luxury of the drive back to the station to dream up any excuses.

You can also use the debrief onsite to point out things such as vehicle placement, safety issues such as damaged overhead power lines, collapse zones and certain structural features.

After a multi-agency incident it might be necessary to participate in a larger debrief, which could deal with a bigger, more strategic picture. Here you will be required to represent your sector of operations.

Be ready to honestly and succinctly respond to any criticism you or your service may receive. Also indicate where you felt things were not working and could be improved.

Being nice and neglecting certain important points for ‘political reasons’ won’t correct the problem and you could find yourself facing it again during future operations.

Always remember that your main objective is to improve your fire fighter/rescuer and any criticism should be positive and indeed to build the confidence of the person.

If you do have to raise a number of negative issues related to poor performance always try to end on a positive note.

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Management skills

It is important that you maintain an acceptable level of physical Communication Emergency services and public safety directorates are large organisations with many branches and levels of management. Junior personnel are not generally involved in decision making at senior level and are seldom called upon to interact with the head of department. How many times have you heard an old colleague say “In my day the only time you saw the chief was when you did something great (which never happened), or if you were in big trouble”. For the most this hasn’t changed much. When you are representing your staff at an officers or management meeting, make sure you provide accurate feedback to them on issues that may affect them or that should be passed on to them.

Rumours generally start due to a lack of accurate information. Ineffective communication doesn’t only hurt your staff but your entire service.

As an officer honesty is most definitely the best policy. As officers leading your people into dangerous situations you will want them to trust you and not second-guess or question any of your instructions. If they are not convinced of your honesty, you will have a hard time convincing them to accept a risk to their safety during a challenging incident.

Training The average operational fire fighter will attend a few months of rookie school after which they might attend a range of elective training courses such as an engineers 34

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(pump-operators) course, various technical rescue courses, hazmat technician level training and any other ad hoc training presented from time to time by outside agencies and private organisations.

If they undergo their rookie training at the same department they are employed in, they will develop an understanding of the vehicles and equipment used by the department and receive their training within the doctrines of their employer.

This is a great advantage to the company officer who inherits the rookie and it is generally not all that difficult to get them up to speed within the company they are assigned to.

Technology does however change. A lot of the equipment you used in your first few years has been modified almost beyond recognition. The department might decide on a different strategy for freeway hazardous materials response that might differ from what was taught in an initial hazmat awareness course. The responsibility for adapting personnel to these changes will generally fall to the company officer. This will require you to stay up to date with the latest technology and fire fighting/rescue strategies and be in a position to transfer this knowledge if it is of benefit to your department.

Fire fighting and rescue relies most of all on teamwork. During many vehicle extrication challenges I have judged and attended it has been the teams who have worked together as a team

who have been the most successful.

The recent FIFA World Cup in Brazil had many teams with great players (Argentina had Messi, Portugal had Ronaldo) but ultimately the cup was won by the country that best played together as a team, Germany.

Teamwork is essential for success.

You will have to establish the team and exercise it continuously until you reach perfection. Again, as in sport, a team is made up of a number of members who each play a specific role in their quest for victory. Some of the tasks are more glamorous and others less so. Players need to understand that the less glamorous tasks also have to be done. Your skill will be to identify the people that are best suited to the different tasks and have them understand it and how it fits into the bigger picture.

The limit of the driver/operator’s glamour is when they drive that 14-metre, 550hp red monster through traffic. In doing this job, they must have a clear understanding of everything that is happening in the engine, gearbox and drivetrain behind and underneath them from the moment they turn the key (or press the button) to start the truck until they turn in on the incident. The same should happen when they stop the vehicle and engage the pump power take off (PTO) or raise the aerial ladder.

Spending quality training time with your crew will produce incredible benefits that will have major advantages for a long time.

Quiet times on shift are perfect opportunities to get out the high angle kit and practice knot tying or building raising systems. Get your crew to tie the knots in the dark.

Exercise other ‘bread-and-butter’ operations such as working with ground ladders and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) drills.

Cold, rainy days can be spent debating tactics for a specific risk in your response area. Where are the hydrants located? Where can we optimally position our units? Best routes of entry into the structure, etc.

Most importantly, train with your staff.

Again, this is about gaining your team’s respect.

Management skills Incident command The company officer is responsible for leading the personnel under his/her command at all times. He/she will have to evaluate the situation they are in continuously and direct their activities according to the prevailing conditions.

Fire fighter safety is always the prime consideration. For you to be successful as an incident commander you must keep yourself motivated, educated and up with new trends, management and leadership skills and equipment.

It is very important that every person on your team is completely up to date with your department’s incident command system (ICS) and standard operating procedures (SOPs). You will frequently find that when speaking to junior staff members that they are of the impression that the ICS is a load of documents that are only there for the officers. If they are not trained and kept up to date with these procedures they will not understand their specific role in the system, which will make it impossible for them to perform their role adequately.

The six priorities for a company operations officer are: • Your personal safety • The safety of your crew • Public life safety • Incident stabilisation (successfully managing the incident) • Minimising property damage • Protection and caring for your equipment and vehicles (even on scene) The behaviour of your staff must always be reflective of the reputation of a fire fighter/rescuer and the department as a whole. Remember that that you are dealing with an incident that will have a profound and often devastating effect on the people in affected. It is not acceptable for a group of fire fighters to be high-fiving each other on the front lawn of a residential fire when a family is standing close by watching their entire existence go up in smoke.

I have often experienced the kind of gallows humour that accompanies a gruesome incident. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with it as it

provides a coping mechanism for those involved. It must, however, happen at the right time and place. In addition to this, having a good sense of humour is one of the best qualities you can develop. People have in the past scorned humour in their jobs as it is ‘too serious’ to be laughed at. Many hilarious situations happen on the fire ground or at a rescue scene. The internet has many websites focussing purely on fire service humour, it is part of our heritage. As you go about our day with a healthy dose of humour, always take into account who we are sharing our space with and how they will react to it.

Conclusions So what makes a good operational officer? I have up to now shared a number of thoughts. A lot of these can be good bits of advice to use or at least ponder. Others are qualities that could take years to develop. Being a good company operations officer cannot be fast-tracked. It takes years, hard work, dedication and perspective to finally get you into what I believe is the best job in the world.

Spending quality training time with your crew will produce incredible benefits that will have major advantages for a long time Volume 3 No. 2

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Fire service

Lanseria International Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Service

Lanseria International Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Service’s arsenal

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anseria International Airport is situated north west of Johannesburg in South Africa’s Gauteng Province. Fire and Rescue International met with Chief Bennie Vorster, who heads up the airport’s rescue and fire service, and his crew, to profile the service.

Lanseria International Airport (LIA) was established in 1974 when two

private individuals identified the need for an airport to the north west of Johannesburg, South Africa.

When the airport started operations, a Ford F250 was converted into a fire engine and manned by a volunteer crew. The airport was later taken over jointly by the municipalities of Krugersdorp, Roodepoort and the then Transvaal Administration.

The airport fire services, although managed by the airport, sorted under the Krugersdorp Fire Department.

By this time, two Unimog fire tenders and a Toyota Hi Ace ambulance, with a full time fire crew of 10, made up Lanseria Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services.

The South African Air Force used Lanseria Airport as a base for their Impala 4 Squadron as well as 41 Reconnaissance Squadron from 1979 to 1991.

In 1991, Lanseria was sold to a group of private investors and became the only privately owned international airport in South Africa.

Chief Bennie Vorster

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Lanseria International Airport is a licensed category seven airport for

rescue and fire fighting purposes, which means that aircraft with a fuselage length of up to 48,9 metres may operate at the airport. The airport category is however upgraded to category eight on a regular basis when larger aircraft, with a fuselage length of up to 60,9 metres make use of the facility. These include wide body B-767 and United States of America Air Force C-17 aircraft.

When the airport category is upgraded to category eight, the ARFF service has to increase personnel numbers to man an additional ARFF vehicle.

Additional off duty fire fighters are also called in to man the vehicle during the category eight operations. During normal category seven operations, the two major first turn out vehicles are manned by a four man crew each.

Challenges Like with any airport ARFF or municipal fire service for that matter, personnel numbers are always a concern.

One can imagine the challenge of responding to an aircraft incident where more than 200 people are involved, with a fire crew of 12. It is, of course, unrealistic to expect airport

Fire service authorities to have large numbers of fire fighters on standby at the station and it is therefore important to have sufficient support from external agencies to act as a back up to the ARFF first responder role.

Any licensed airport that operates a scheduled air service is required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to conform to certain safety and other regulations.

ICAO also stipulates the minimum number of vehicles, the performance of the vehicles, extinguishing agents and equipment required for a particular category of airport.

Airport rescue and fire fighting services are continually under pressure to reduce response times to aircraft incidents on or in close proximity to an airport. The objective of the ARFF service is to achieve response times of two minutes but not exceeding three minutes to any part of the aircraft movement area on an airport and to discharge at least 50 percent of its extinguishing agent within this time. To achieve this, ARFFS must stay abreast of technology and improved techniques in fire fighting

Lanseria International Airport is a licensed category seven airport with regard to vehicles, equipment, training and personnel deployment.

Budget “The annual budget may vary quite substantially from year to year since it depends in what cycle of procurement of vehicles and equipment we find ourselves in,� said Chief Vorster. There may, for instance, be a year where no major expense with regard to new vehicles or equipment is required.

The following year may require the purchase of a new ARFF vehicle, which can cost up to eight or 10 million Rand.

Personnel and staffing Lanseria International Airport ARFF service has a compliment of 30 personnel made up of the ARFFS manager, three platoon commanders, one training officer, six senior fire fighters, an administrative facilitator and 18 fire fighters. There are currently

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Fire service apprenticeship before being promoted to fire fighter,” said Chief Vorster.

Training LIA has an Airport Training Academy that specialises in various aspects of aviation related training. Besides the obvious fire fighter training that is required to be a fire fighter, an airport fire fighter has to complete various other courses to be classed as a competent airport fire fighter.

The fire training facility allows fire fighters to practise live fire and rescue scenarios two female fire fighters employed by LIA ARFFS. These female fire fighters have proven themselves to be an asset to the department with one of them holding the rank of senior fire fighter. “It is my believe that the single most important attribute to being a fire fighter is that your heart must be in the right place, regardless of gender or race. Couple that with training and dedication and you have a top class fire fighter that can contribute to a successful team who all have different talents, stated Chief Vorster.

“I do not believe that any fire chief will say that he or she has enough personnel, especially at an airport.

LIA is however fortunate to have a highly motivated, competent and dedicated team that has the ability

to deal with any emergency as first responders,” added Chief Vorster.

Fire fighters are recruited at different levels of competency depending on the vacancy. There is a process in place where a post will be advertised internally if there is a possibility of promotion. The basic requirements will however be National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Fighter 1, basic life support ambulance course (BAC) and registered at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and a valid code E driver’s license. An assessment procedure is in place where candidates are subjected to a fitness test based on NFPA standards, hearing and visual tests and psychometric tests. “We also employ learner fire fighters from time to time who will undergo an 18-month

Examples of the courses required by LIA ARFFS are: - Aircraft rescue and fire fighting course - Airside driver/operator - Aircraft technical overview and construction course - Dangerous goods course - Radio license - Aircraft marshalling - Communicable disease management course - Airport disaster management course. Senior fire fighters and officers.

- Supervisory course. Senior fire fighters.

- Management course. Officers.

The fire training facility at Lanseria International Airport allows fire fighters to practise live fire and rescue scenarios. The aircraft training rig can simulate high pressure wheel assembly and engine fuel fires. The self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) facility simulates multi storey structural fires and rescues. A 110 seat aircraft is equipped with a smoke generator system that can simulate smoke in the cockpit, galley, toilets or entire aircraft for search and rescue and aircraft ventilation training.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) regulations require that fire fighters be tested for competency of core fire fighting functions every 90 days. All fire fighter training records are audited annually by the SACAA.

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Operations The airport fire station is currently located in an aircraft hangar that was converted to house the ARFF vehicles, personnel and equipment. Additional mobile units provide office space.

The original fire station buildings had to make way for the extension to the terminal building. The present facilities

Fire service

The engine company’s MAN 480 6x6 carries 8 000lt water, 500lt 3% AFFF and 150kg DCP. Both the rescue and engine apparatus were built by Confeco

LIA’s rescue company MAN 464 6x6 also carries 8 000lt water, 500lt 3% AFFF and 150kg DCP

The Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 was built by Tempest Fire/Fire Raiders and carries 680lt premix and 50kg DCP

The Mercedes Unimog 4x4 is a 1981 model; carries 1 000lt water, 50kg DCP and responds to grass fires

are not ideal but a new fire station will be completed by July 2015.

LIA ARFFS is at a constant state of readiness to respond to any incident or emergency that may occur on or in the vicinity of the airport. The ARFF service is required by the SACAA and ICAO to respond to aircraft accidents within a 10 kilometre radius of the airport.

Part of the licensing conditions of the airport is that it must have a SACAA-approved and tested airport emergency response plan (AEMS).

“This is basically the airport disaster plan and must define the functions, in detail, of all the relevant role players that will be required to deal with and manage a large aircraft accident or incident,” said Chief Vorster. Full scale emergency exercises must be held every two years with desk top exercises held in the alternating years.

Incidents Since LIA is located on the North West border of the City of Johannesburg, the

ARFF service responds to motor vehicle accidents and structural fires in close proximity to the airport. This, however, is only the case when crew strengths allow it. “We are also neighbours to a large informal settlement and deal with a lot of medical and trauma calls. Our fire fighters also work at our neighbouring City of Johannesburg fire stations from time to time; as do their fire fighters spend a shift at the airport. This allows the fire fighters to get to know one another and to know how the other vehicles, equipment and stations work. This is beneficial to both departments since these stations are our first responding back up, continued Chief Vorster.

crew is divided in two response teams, an engine company that responds to all fire related emergencies and a rescue company that responds to rescue and medical related incidents.

In the event of an aircraft accident, the engine company crew will concentrate on external fire fighting operations and keeping escape routes clear of fire and the rescue company crew will be concentrating on internal rescue and fire fighting operations.

The LIA ARFF service responds to a wide variety of incidents but the most common are aircraft that declare inflight emergencies ie technical or flight control problems and daily medical emergencies.

Lanseria International Airport has an enviable safety record with few major incidents occurring. The aviation industry is highly regulated and major incidents at airports worldwide are not common with the exception of large aircraft accidents or terrorist activities that occur from time to time. South Africa has not had any major aircraft accidents at any of its airports where there was major loss of life in recent years.

The ARFF service responds to various emergencies on a daily basis. The fire

“The last noteworthy incident at LIA occurred in February 2014 when a Volume 3 No. 2

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Fire service emergencies are also contained in the AEMS. Procedures exist for the response to any of these incidents.

Should there be any large hazmat, biological or communicable disease incident, the ARFF service will respond and contain as required and specialist units will be called in to deal with and manage the incident in the appropriate manner. These agencies may be private or state.

LIA’s ambulance was built on a Hyundai H1 chassis by Bustruck King Air crashed at the airport resulting in three fatalities. One of the causes of the accident can be attributed to poor weather conditions at the time,” said Chief Vorster.

Risk profile An airport and its operations is by definition a high risk area. “Consider the following, you have large numbers of people of different nationalities and backgrounds, place them in aircraft, which basically is a tube with large fuel tanks attached, let it travel at very high speed on three sets of wheels, down a short piece of flat road and hope it will fly. Do this a couple of hundred times a day and you have risk,” states Chief Vorster.

LIA has a big difference in aircraft type that operates at the airport with a number of flight schools. This mix of large and small, fast and slow and experienced and unexperienced pilots and aircraft create a risk.

flying Boeing 737 – 800 type aircraft.

Since Kulula started scheduled flight operations at LIA in 2005, the airport risk profile changed considerably.

Scheduled operations continue to increase and that require constant monitoring, changing and upgrading of systems and procedures within the ARFF service organisation as well as the airport as a whole.

Mass-casualty preparedness The ARFF service may be required to deal with other non-aircraft related emergencies at the airport.

These may include bomb threats, biological threats, communicable disease threats and unlawful acts against an aircraft and its passengers. How to deal with these

Equipment ARFF vehicles are unique by design and performance and are normally heavy all-wheel drive vehicles that need to carry all its extinguishing agent with it to an aircraft incident or accident. There is no second chance and extinguishing agents have to be applied in a quick and efficient manner to gain control of any fire situation. The Toyota Land Cruiser is a rapid intervention vehicle (RIV) and is designed to reach an aircraft rapidly and extinguish or contain any fire in its inception stage while the heavy equipment is on its way. The vehicle is also equipped to respond to off airport incidents and to deal with rescue situations such as motor vehicle accidents.

Other vehicles in the arsenal include: • 1 x MAN 464 6x6 - Rescue company.

2005 model. 8 000lt water. 500lt 3% AFFF. 150kg DCP. First response vehicle.

• 1 x MAN 480 6x6 - Engine company.

2009 model. 8 000lt water. 500lt 3% AFFF. 150kg DCP. First response vehicle.

The high risk areas are the aircraft movement areas, the terminal building and the bulk fuel installation that has approximately one million litres of fuel at any one time.

Aircraft making use of LIA vary greatly in type and size and range from two seat trainer aircraft to large Airbus and Boeing aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers. LIA handle, on average, 350 to 400 aircraft movements per day and 983 scheduled flights a month between Kulula and Mango 40

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Lizl Potgieter and Trevor Broodryk.in LIA’s control room

Chief fire officer profile

A fire fighter first and foremost

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first generation fire fighter, Lanseria International Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service’s manager, Chief Bennie Vorster, joined the fire service in the late ‘70s at Krugersdorp Fire Department.

Chief Vorster shared his career journey with Fire and Rescue International. “I grew up close to a fire station and was always watching the fire fighters drill and turn out to calls. That’s when I decided that this is what I wanted to do,” said Chief Vorster.

He started his career in 1978 at Krugersdorp Fire Department and moved to Bedfordview Fire Department in 1980 and to Lanseria in 1983 as a senior fire fighter. In 1989 Vorster became a station officer and in 1999, he had a bit of a career change when he was offered the post of assistant operations manager at Lanseria International Airport. He moved back to the fire service in 2001 as LIA ARFFS manager where he still is to date.

The love of the profession and to be associated with so many people with the same passion, kept Chief Vorster in the service.

Mentors When asked about the mentors

• 1 x Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 - Engine company. 2013 model. 680lt premix. 50kg DCP. First response vehicle.

• 1 x Mercedes Unimog 4x4 - Engine company. 1981 model. 1 000lt water. 50kg DCP. Grass fire response only.

• 1 x Nissan 4x4 - Rescue company.

1996 model. Medical response.

• 1 x Hyundai H1 - Rescue company.

2011 model. Ambulance.

• 1 x Toyota Venture - General purpose vehicle.

LIA ARFFS is in the process of procuring a water tanker. This vehicle will have an 8 000lt water capacity with an additional 500lt AFFF capacity and will serve as an additional water

that helped shape his career, Chief Vorster responded, “I’m not too sure about mentors but there were some individuals that I met in the service that taught me about respect and dignity. If I can mention two people out of the many it would be Joe Phillips, my station officer and Jan Liebenberg, a lifelong friend, both from Bedfordview Fire Station.”

Chief Vorster has an open door management style. “We are all in this together and I value the opinion and input of all personnel of all ranks. Respect towards one another is crucial to the success of the department. I believe that respect is something that is earned,” he said, sharing his viewpoint on management styles.

When asked at which point in his career he realised that his ambition was to become chief fire officer (CFO), he answered, “I am fortunate that I have the opportunity to be a CFO but I did not actively make it a mission to be one. I am a fire fighter first and foremost. It is with this in mind that I base my decisions as a CFO on. Although I am accountable to my chief executive officer (CEO) in respect of managing a dynamic department, I remain responsible for the wellbeing of the fire fighters.”

supply to the two MAN first response vehicles. When new vehicles are procured, cognisance is taken of new technology with regard to vehicle design and performance and equipment availability.

Ultimate ARFF apparatus When asked about an ultimate apparatus with no budget limitations, Chief Vorster answered, “No budget limitations, is there such a thing? You can buy the ultimate custom ARFF vehicle in the form of a Colet Jaguar.

These are probably the best custom build ARFF vehicles that you can get.

18 000lt water, 1 600 horse power on the most advanced custom built chassis, transmission and brake systems available.”

Chief Bennie Vorster

The biggest influence or impact on his career thus far was the opportunity to work with dedicated and committed individuals that have the interest of the fire fighting profession at heart.

In sharing his advice to fire fighters and future fire chiefs he said, “Never lose your passion, never forget that you are a servant to others in need and don’t get too entangled in the red tape.”

Interagency involvement All airports are required by the SACAA to have mutual aid agreements with the surrounding local authority fire services as well as medical services and other agencies. Lanseria International Airport has the following services that they can call on in the event of a large incident on the airport or in its vicinity: • City of Johannesburg Fire Department • West Rand District Municipality EMS • Tshwane EMS • Gauteng Provincial Emergency Medical Services • Net Care 911 • ER 24 • For Life Hospital Four Ways Volume 3 No. 2

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Obituary

Missed but never forgotten

By Stefan de Villiers, The Lowvelder experienced pilot, with more than 20 000 hours flying experience, who had been contracted by Kishugu, flying fixed-wing water-bomber aircraft since 2011.

He completed his private pilot’s license (PPL) in grade 10, and when he was in grade 12, he completed and paid for the first two years of his commercial pilot’s license (CPL).

He was well known; earned the respect of every pilot he worked with and certainly left his mark on the aviation industry.

Richard Ashenborn

“L

ook to this day, for it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lies all the verities and realities of your existence; the blessing of growth, the glory of action, the splendour of beauty. For yesterday is but a dream and tomorrow is only a vision but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

This was the motto of the late Richard Bjorn Ashenborn, age 66, who died on duty during a fire fighting operation over Piet Retief, South Africa, on 15 September 2014. Ashenborn was an

The memorial service was held at Nelspruit Airfield on 20 September 2014.

Due to the cold rainy weather, the missing man formation, an aerial salute in memory of the fallen pilot and a celebration of his departure to the heavens could not be performed.

Nonetheless, the Working on Fire (WoF) team’s march on the parade had mourners moved when they performed the incredibly difficult slow march, a sign of great respect shown to the fallen. After The Last Post, to salute and signify the fall of Richard Ashenborn, friends and relatives said their last goodbyes.

Mark Jackson, a Huey pilot and life-long friend of Ashenborn, conveyed his condolences and spoke on behalf of the aviation community. “We are sad about your sudden departure, but we are relieved to know that you left

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us while doing what you love.”

According to Jackson, the only rule Ashenborn had was to have that passion and to live life to the fullest.

He saw the potential in every pilot and motivated them to go further.

There are many individuals flying today who probably benefitted from his prolific knowledge about aviation and life itself.

His wife Elizabeth ‘Bettie’ Ashenborn conveyed her heartfelt thanks to all for the support she received on the passing of her husband.

A picture of Ashenborn, with a WoF flag, signed by all the WoF pilots, was handed over to his wife in conclusion of the memorial service.

FFA Aviation’s Mike Assad

The Working on Fire team’s march

Storage tank fire hazard management workshop

Storage tank fire hazard management workshop

The 2014 workshop participants

D

osetech Fire, Chem Systems and Dr Sthamer Hamburg, recently facilitated a storage tank and associated facilities fire hazard management workshop. The workshop was held at the Sasol Fire Training Centre in Secunda, South Africa and was presented by Dr Niall Ramsden, director at Resource Protection International, a special fire hazard management consultancy provider within the Falck Group.

Various fire behavioural patterns were identified and past events were analysed including full surface and rim seal fires, bund fires, vapour cloud explosions, multi-tank fires, boil overs and pool fires. Pressure vessel storage tank fire scenarios were also discussed and included spill and vent fires as well as boiling liquid expanding vapour explosions (BLEVEs). Spheres and bullet tank scenarios were detailed and past events showcased.

Dr Ramsden has extensive knowledge in the field of specialist fire hazard management in the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors with particular emphasis on refineries, production facilities, storage terminals and gas processing plants. He has been responsible for much of current industry guidance and standards for risk-based development of site-specific fire hazard management policies.

Incident detection systems formed the base of the next presentation and included point gas detection, open path gas detection and portable gas detection. The two different types of point and open path gas detection

The workshop included various indepth discussions and included a practical day at the Sasol Fire Training Centre.

The first presentation dealt with worldwide trends in fire related legislation for tanks. Dr Ramsden discussed scenario-based evaluations and included a cost benefit analysis in the formalisation of a cost-effective and justified incident response policy.

A group discussion followed on a major tank fire case study; an incident at the old Stapleton International Airport involving four tanks. A video of the event showed a number of fire hazard management and emergency response issues, which was used for discussion.

The storage tank protection presentation included the different types of storage tanks and its various fire scenarios.

Dr Niall Ramsden explaining foam inductors Volume 3 No. 2

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Storage tank fire hazard management workshop

The demonstrations included various branches and nozzles

Medium expansion foam pourer

The foam forming a smothering film

High expansion foam generator demonstrated

Mike Feldon of Dosetech Fire

Sakkie Joubert adjusting the nozzle stream 44

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The new Akron Mercury Quick Attack monitor

Storage tank fire hazard management workshop

Lorenz Grabow, area sales manager at Dr Sthamer with workshop participants

Andrè Schutte, Chem Systems; Jan Knappert, Dr Sthamer and Ben swart, SAPREF

ie catalytic and infra-red, were also discussed and the pros and cons of each method were defined. Other detection systems included acoustic gas detection, liquid leak detection, flammable gas detection for tanks, video/CCTV detection and the flame detector types were detailed.

(NFPA) flow rates and spacing. Various design examples were defined and calculations included fuel area, type of foam concentration and application rate to determine the total application rate. Other calculations included the determination of the concentrate required, the number of foam pourers per tank and the discharge rate. The discharge times of sub-surface systems were also detailed and calculations determining the total amount of foam concentrate and number of sub-surface injection points were done. Monitor versus system flow rates, run times and concentrate required were evaluated.

Water cooling systems on tanks were also featured and included the various systems and applications. Horizontal and vertical rings were discussed and the types of nozzles and placement thereof debated. Water curtains and monitors were featured; the application rate of each and drainage issues were also discussed.

A presentation on fire fighting foams and foam systems followed and the various applications defined.

A detailed description of what foam is, its composition and how it works, followed. The limitations of foam, terminology, expansion classifications and the stages in foam production, proportioning and generation were featured. The advantages and disadvantages of nonaspirated foam and aspirated foam were detailed and the expansion rate of each deliberated. The various application methods were also profiled and included the issues to be considered when designing the foam system.

Choosing the best foam application system for tank fires was deliberated and included the background and strategies of various past fire scenarios and examples.

Typical equipment and systems in various countries were profiled and compared. Deployment logistics, water flow requirements, foam flow, radiant heat, monitor throw/height and the smoke plume formed part of the presentation. A detailed discussion around monitor applications and the various fire response options followed, which included foam losses, foam quality, drainage issues, versatility and personnel safety. Different tank protection systems were detailed and included foam pourer systems, sub-surface systems and semi sub-surface systems for both fixed cone roofs and internal floating roofs. Catenary and ‘one-shot’ systems were also discussed and each system’s characteristics detailed. Case studies of past events were used as reference. A detailed discussion on tank foam application and design principles followed and included the US National Fire Protection Association

special risk fire protection

+27 (0) 861 111 544 sales@dosetech.co.za mgf@dosetech.co.za www.dosetech.co.za Volume 3 No. 2

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Storage tank fire hazard management workshop Dr Ramsden also discussed foam system assurance, looking at foam concentrate properties, foam fire performance and system testing. He highlighted the importance of testing the physical properties of the foam to check for no degradation, contamination and poor storage conditions. Fire tests are expensive so choose a test relevant to your application. Fire test protocols were defined and a Large Atmospheric Storage Tank Fire (LASTFIRE) foam fire test for storage tanks was discussed.

LASTFIRE is an industry consortium of international oil companies reviewing the hazards and risks associated with storage tank fires. Dr Ramsden was the project coordinator of the original study, which took place from 1993 to 1997.

Demonstrations Practical exercises and demonstrations at the Sasol Training Centre gave workshop participants an opportunity to evaluate and use various products from the facilitators ie Dosetech Fire, Chem Systems and Dr Sthamer, which included nozzles, branches, foam etc. Dosetech Fire supplies and extensive range of fire fighting equipment that includes the Akron range of branches, monitors and nozzles, FireDos foam dosing systems, Mueller Co gate valves, Johstadt portable and trailer pumps and Jones fire hydrants. Dosetech Fire used the opportunity to launch its new FireDos fire fighting nozzles and monitors and showed a video of the new Firedos self-loading skid with foam totes.

Guidelines for foam concentrate storage were also detailed.

Chem Systems, a company wholly owned by AECI, manufactures and supplies all grades of synthetic foams and wetting agents. The company also manufactures Dr Sthamer foams under licence in South Africa.

A case study of the 2005 Buncefield terminal fire in the United Kingdom formed an interesting discussion topic. Dr Ramsden was part of the team during the incident and reviewed the sequence of events of this major explosion, which affected 400 businesses and 25 000 staff members. Its overall financial impact was in the region of five billion Pounds.

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Dr Sthamer, established in 1886, is a family-own business that manufactures protein foam concentrates, synthetic foam concentrates, training foam and extinguishing agents.

BLEVEs are always very dramatic

Fire demonstration included a pan fire

Foam competencies demonstrated

Preparing for the BLEVE demonstration

Volume 3 No. 2

Community risk reduction:

Fire safety

Theories and models to promote fire prevention

By Rodney Eksteen, Assistant Director: Fire Brigade Services, Disaster Management and Fire Brigade Services, Western Cape Government

C

ommunity risk reduction programmes can help to improve the well-being and self-sufficiency of individuals, families, organisations and communities. But not all programmes and initiatives are equally successful.

The programmes that are most likely to succeed are based on a clear understanding of the dynamics within an identified high risk community and the targeted high risk behaviours.

The interventions are developed and managed using strategic planning models, and are continually improved through meaningful evaluation.

Theories of human behaviour can play a critical role in improving fire prevention programmes.

High risk behaviour According to various studies, high risk behaviours in individuals that give rise to unwanted fire and injury are responsive to preventive intervention. Legislative policies, educational programmes, and changes in the physical and social environment have contributed to risk reduction behaviours in many countries.

Many of these examples highlight the necessity of combining behavioural and environmental approaches to fire prevention. The complexity of the fire problem in South Africa demands complementary rather than competitive prevention strategies.

In the following series of articles we will take a brief look at why it is important to identify the multiple levels of influence within the communities that we work in and how the individuals within those communities can be influenced and supported in adopting safer behaviours.

Integrating passive and active strategies The two broad approaches of prevention include passive and active strategies. Passive (structural) approaches rely on changing the environment or products to make them safer, irrespective of the behaviour of the individuals eg fire sprinkler systems, vehicle airbags. Active (behavioural) approaches encourage or require people to take an active role in protecting themselves, despite the hazards in their environments eg fire escape drills, fire hazard inspections.

It is rarely feasible to prevent fire related injury by only focusing on passive strategies. Nearly every passive strategy will require some form of active behavioural response from individuals.

For example, homeowners need to install and maintain smoke alarms; occupants alerted by a smoke alarm still need to find their way out to safety; once safely out, the fire department still needs to be activated telephonically.

In addition, empowering individuals to take an active role in protecting themselves can lead to the political or social action necessary to achieve the structural changes that are necessary.

This is called the active approach to passive protection.

This kind of strategy highlights the importance of combining behavioural and environmental approaches to fire prevention. Programmes using a combination of these interventions eg education, engineering, enforcement, have achieved significant success in reducing community risk from fire.

Ultimately, in order to successfully reduce this risk, our interventions must include behaviour change strategies in order to establish and maintain the appropriate safety behaviour by homeowners, parents, children, educators, decision makers, reporters as well as fire fighters.

The public are generally unaware of the effectiveness of specific fire prevention actions. This indicates the need for

more effective public education regarding fire prevention. In addition, little attention is given to understanding the actual causes and influences affecting individual or community wide fire related behaviours or how to initiate and sustain the positive behaviour change that is required.

Fire prevention campaigns and activities often seem to be based on simplistic assumptions that changing people’s awareness about the fire problem will change their behaviour.

This is often referred to as the ‘blanket’ approach, where the aim is to cover as wide an area or population as possible with the same message.

To be effective, selection of the most appropriate message must be situation specific and depends on the specific target audience, the setting, and the characteristics of the behaviour to be changed. The understanding and application of theoretical models that will enhance the success of prevention interventions is of utmost importance.

Systems approach (Ecological model) The ecological model is a useful concept to help us understand the various levels within a community and how these levels are interconnected.

It provides an organising framework that helps to systematically think about comprehensive approaches and the behaviour of multiple audiences.

Systems thinking, which is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole, is central to ecological models. In this case, the system is the community.

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Fire safety economic, educational and social policies. Often policy development and implementation is used to influence change.

These three levels can be viewed collectively as the community level.

Interventions that focus on the use of social marketing using the mass media, as well as coalition building, community development and poverty alleviation programmes are important.

Diagram 1: The systems (ecological) view of a community and the multiple levels of influence Simply put, it illustrates the dynamic interaction between behaviour and the environment (social and physical) and conveys the idea of multiple levels of influence on both individuallevel and community-level factors in shaping high risk and safety-related behaviours. In other words, the ecological model is not only beneficial in developing and implementing fire prevention programmes, but also in identifying and understanding the fire risk factors within the population.

Individuals are key agents in ecological systems and have several characteristics. For example, they are interdependent with other humans; they have an innate tendency to preserve and expand life, and have the capacity for behavioural variability.

Multiple levels of influence Within this perspective, human behaviour is viewed as being affected by, and affecting, multiple levels of influence.

Basically, behaviour both influences and is influenced by the social environment within a community. This multi-level, interactive perspective clearly shows the advantages of multilevel interventions, such as those that combine behavioural and environmental components (active and passive). Different intervention strategies and methods are available and must be integrated into an overall prevention strategy when working with individuals and communities.

Referring to diagram 1, the first level is the intrapersonal level, which 48

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refers to the influence of an individual’s knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs on his or her own behaviour. Individual knowledge and skill, perception, and motivation (eg Maslow’s hierarchy of needs), attitudes and beliefs are relevant at this level.

Second is the interpersonal level, which refers to how people such as family members, friends, peers, co-workers and significant others can influence the individual’s behaviour. The social networks of the individual are an important influence important here.

Often the intra and interpersonal levels are simply designated the ‘individual level’. Interventions at this level could include activities incorporating educational programmes, counselling, skills development and training methods, door to door campaigns.

The next level is the organisational, which includes structures such as associations, institutions, workplaces, churches, preschools and others that have rules and regulations that can influence individuals and groups.

The community level includes a geographic or political jurisdiction and incorporates the individuals into a group that shares identity, values, norms and other societal influences.

Social marketing campaigns are often used at this level.

Societal represents larger systems, such as political, that have power and some level of control over communities.

Other large societal influences include

Community risk reduction programmes will have a better chance of success when the problems are analysed and programmes are planned, keeping in mind the various levels of influence the ecological perspective comprises. The higher levels (community, societal) are more difficult to change but are more likely to be sustained when changed.

For example, changing laws would be more difficult than changing an individual’s knowledge but when that law is enforced effectively over time, sustained behaviour change can occur.

Conclusion Theories and models can help explain community and individual change processes so that we are better able to facilitate and support the changes necessary in communities and among the residents living in those communities. The ecological perspective can be used to identify potential points of intervention and emphasises two main options: • Change the behaviour (active) • Change the environment (passive) Thoughtful reflection can take you beyond being a public educator or fire protection officer. It can help you to step back and think about the bigger picture. This process of reflection can be extended to pretesting or actively discussing proposed strategies with the person, group, or community that is involved. An awareness of different behaviour theories and the ability to apply them skilfully in practice is what distinguishes a professional and a leader from someone simply carrying out a set of activities. However, the first rule and best advice to keep in mind is this: ‘THINK before you leap’ In the next issue we will take a look at some specific individual level theories and tactics to influence the necessary change in high risk behaviour.

NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium

NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium

By Braam du Preez and Lee Raath-Brownie

T

he Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and the Southern African Institute of Forestry held its annual Fire Management Symposium in September 2014. This year was the 10th anniversary of the popular industry seminar and was held over a two-day period at NMMU’s George campus (Saasveld) in George, South Africa.

The 2014 fire symposium presented a diversity of speakers covering a variety of topics and created an opportunity for people involved with/ working with fire as a management tool or from post disaster point of view to get together.

Professor Quinton Johnson, principal of NMMU George Campus, welcomed everybody and reminded attendees of how the early people, some 162 000 years ago, used fire in their daily lives redefining modern history to make tools using fire.

Professor Johnson mentioned the big fire of 1869 and its major implications.

Ian Henderson appealed for practical approach and said, “We must be

able to apply what we propose.”

Henderson told a few stories of his part in two recent fires and reminded all of the fast moving devastating fire causing havoc in KwaZulu-Natal as opposed to equally big fire slowly progressing in largely inaccessible area with limited loss.

the successes of the Working on Fire program and said, “You cannot think of alien invasive species management without thinking of fire management.”

Peter Harmse’s presentation ‘Air pollution Act – smoke permits needed?’ raised considerations from air pollution health and safety, which fire managers

Other speakers included Tineke Kraaij of SANParks who discussed fire regimes in Fynbos: drivers and ecological requirements.

Her presentation included the recent fire regimes in the floral kingdom and its frequency. Kraaij highlighted the fact that attempts to manage fuel load in prevention wasn’t a fool proof preventative solution. Prof Brian van Wilgen detailed the tradeoffs in fire management between safety and ecological good health and presented an overview of the fire prone biomes in South Africa.

Prof Van Wilgen cautioned that the research being done isn’t getting through to the fire managers and said that the increase in CO2 levels is driving bush encroachment. Dr Christo Marais discussed the economic consequences of sustainable fire management regimes and detailed

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Speakers on the first day of the symposium

Speakers on the second day of the symposium

The Steadidrone demonstration

The Southern Cape Fire Protection Association team

do not usually take into account.

Harmse said that guidelines should be developed for open burning.

roads and harvesting operations and said that fire management is everybody’s business.

Henry Cunningham of SANParks discussed ‘Fire and invasive plants – the end?’ and said in managing invasive alien plants (IAPs), synchronising burning and alien clearing is imperative and that the timing of the burn is crucial; right season, right intensity.

Climate change and how it changes fire management was the topic of James Thobela, a post graduate NMMU students’ presentation. A very interesting animation of temperatures ranging from 1884 to 2012 indicated that the climate is changing and average recorded temperatures are increasing with indications that dry areas get drier and wet areas get wetter. Thobela concluded in saying that fire managers need to change their thinking to adapt to the changing environment. Harvesting and fire management was Warren Williams of Cape Pine’s topic of discussion. Williams highlighted the importance of including integrated fire management plans when planning

Luke Radebe of Department of Forestry and Fisheries’ presentation was on the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill, where are we now? Luke said that the original act promulgated in 1998 had certain shortcomings, which were part addressed with amendments made in 2001 and 2005.

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Further amendments proposed include addressing state land, traditional leaders, municipal land and a definition of veldfires (wildfires), which will make the Act more effective. The changes have been endorsed by executive committee (EXCO) on 18 August 2014 and will be submitted to parliament shortly.

Steadidrone’s Duran de Villiers presented the use of fire drones as an eye in the sky which was followed by an interesting demonstration of the drones, which were developed by Steadidrone based in the Southern

Cape’s abilities.

Paul Gerber of the Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA) gave an overview of the SCFPA, its history, progress, successes and the way forward and said that the key to success of the FPA is partnerships; working together.

Len du Plessis of SANParks’ presentation, ‘Adaptive interference fire management system: Tsitsikamma – management challenges’ zoomed in on a practical application of fire management balancing ecological/biodiversity needs with risks to assets. Du Plessis detailed three models/approaches namely: block burning, adaptive interference fire management and natural fire zone management. SANParks opted for the adaptive interference fire management system (AIFM) approach and further refined the model by bringing scientific applications and managed execution together to make it practical. The carbon/fire relationship was discussed

by Richard Payne, a post graduate NMMU student, who explained why carbon emissions mattered and

NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium

Vanguard’s John Buchan and Stuart Wood highlighted nutrient recycling and climate change perspectives.

Dr Andries Jordaan of University of the Freestate (UFS) DimTec discussed ‘Wildfire risk assessment and challenges for implementation and looked at it from a disaster management perspective.

Dr Jordaan detailed the four key performance areas (KPAs) of disaster management and said that disaster risk reduction and response goes hand-in-hand. He added that it is essential to have a pre-approved contingency plan that included all role players. He also covered the reasons for a risk assessment and emphasised the changing role of the media. Malcolm Procter debated ‘Who is really in charge at wildfire events? Procter quoted legislation and detailed the responsibility of each role player. He reviewed a recent major fire in the Free State where various organisations and people did not comply with legislation and detailed the impact of this.

Cape Town University of Technology’s Leanne McKrill presented ‘Where there’s smoke there’s an awareness campaign. Reflections, lessons learnt and suggestions for future campaigns’ in which she covered the topic of fire awareness from her previous involvement with, amongst others, the Firewise project. She discussed the generic approach and fact that we

Dr Jaap Steenkamp of Cape Fire and Chemical and his team

tend to work in silos, duplicate and that the right message doesn’t often reach the target audience. She identified keys to a successful campaign: the need to be creative, open to new ideas and community specific. Prescribed burning and site sustainability was the topic of Thomas Volontiya of Bedrock Forestry’s presentation in which he alerted to the fact that managers might actually miss the mark despite good intentions by not considering all the potential negative impacts of prescribed burning on site sustainability.

He highlighted the implications to consider the effects of prescribed burning on site sustainability including nutrient states/structure, soil moisture and micro-organisms.

Volontiya

concluded in saying prescribed burning should enhance tree growth, not the opposite and that the decision to burn must be site-specific.

Zane Erasmus discussed managing wildfires in the urban interface and emphasised the importance of an integrated fire management plan, highlighting the three main areas of focus ie the prevention plan; the protection plan and the response plan.

Erasmus defined the urban interface and described the types of urban interfaces. “It is really all about partnerships,” said Erasmus.

Western Cape Government’s Rodney Eksteen talked about ‘Community risk reduction: strategic and tactical

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NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium considerations to promote community safety’, alerting to the alarming monthly death statistics in South Africa resulting from fires and the cost implication to survivors. Eksteen presented evidencebased strategies for community risk reduction and intervention and discussed the risk pyramid, saying that the message content and construction must be action orientated.

Kishugu Group’s Johan Heine shared an overview and the history of international aerial fire fighting.

Dr Andries du Toit and Germie van Coppenhagen of UFS Dimtec

Working on Fire demonstration

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Heine has over 30 years of aerial fire fighting experience and said that although the initial attack timeline is of the utmost importance, air support is not the be all and end all of fire fighting. He added that South Africa has advanced greatly in integrated fire management and effective use of aircraft in fire fighting. He covered the history, which started way back in 1954 and advancement over the last 60 years, which included the formation of Working on Fire in 2008. Heine highlighted that ground support and logistics were critical and eluded to the Western Cape example of excellence for optimal use of aerial quick response; the timeline from detection to first drop.

Tessa Olivier summarised the Global Environment Facility’s Fynbos Fire Project - reducing disaster risks from wildfire hazards associated with climate change. She said that this comprehensive three-year project had three main focus areas: • Strengthening of FPA’s including training and communication • Improved decision-support and risk management systems for fire management; analyse information and data eg: weather stations and the Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS). Future scenarios.

• Implement innovative risk reductions interventions Olivier questioned climate change: how can we adapt to an uncertain future?

Braam du Preez of Cape Pine summarised the conference and Tiaan Pool closed with a big thank you to all the sponsors and people behind the scenes that made the 10th NMMU/SAIF Fire Management Symposium a success.

Emergency medical service

KwaZulu Private Ambulance’s footprint continues to grow

H

artmann Emergency Care was established in 1998 by brothers, Hans and Ray Hartmann, after initially starting a private ambulance operation in 1993. Under the banner of this company, several divisions have been established over the years under management and direction of the two brothers.

KwaZulu Private Ambulance has the largest footprint in KwaZulu-Natal of any private medical ambulance, with bases strategically positioned to offer an interlinking service to its clients.

Fixed operational bases are located in Pietermaritzburg, Shelly Beach, Empangeni, Nongoma, Ulundi, Vryheid, Newcastle and Estcourt. A total of 14 ambulances and 10 rapid response vehicles are operational at any one time, with staff ranging from basic life support, intermediate life support and advanced life support.

KwaZulu Private Ambulance was originally established to service the smaller, rural areas that had no access to specialist emergency facilities. There was a need to supply immediate transportation to critical patients who could not wait for the overburdened public services system for transportation. In those days, there were also endless difficulties in

KwaZulu Private Ambulance has bases strategically positioned Photo credit: Philip Parker

transporting patients across provincial borders in provincial ambulances.

The service grew from these humble beginnings to where it is today. The majority of its client base still originates from areas traditionally avoided by the bigger industry players.

When the service first started, there were very few other private ambulance services operating in KwaZulu-Natal. Due to this industry being seemingly unregulated in the field, there has been a massive increase in private operators in the province. In the Empangeni/Richards Bay area, there has been a boom from three private operators a few years back, to a current saturation of 26 different private operators having

Advanced life support paramedics in rapid response vehicles play a vital supporting role to the ambulance fleet, Photo credit: Philip Parker

started up within two years. This trend is emerging in many of the smaller towns and leads to fierce competition.

Co-owner of Hartmann Emergency Care, Ray Hartmann states, “In many instances, this has led to unscrupulous operators not always able to benefit the patient in need.

Hopefully this will soon become more regulated and controlled.�

Vehicles and staff All ambulances are crewed by basic and intermediate life support staff, operating on a shift basis. Advanced life support paramedics in rapid response vehicles play a vital supporting role to the ambulance fleet. Currently 72 full time ambulance personnel are employed, of which 37 have basic life support, 28 intermediate life support and seven advanced life support experience. Each base has a base manager reporting directly to three area managers. The head office is located in Hillcrest, Durban, with 14 administration and control room staff who are also medically trained. A full time compliance officer ensures that all staff, vehicles and equipment are always up to standard in all requirements and ensures that minimum healthcare requirements are surpassed.

Training Hartmann Emergency Care prides itself on its service delivery, community upliftment and staff development.

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Emergency medical service higher level training every year and in this year alone, six members have already upgraded from basic ambulance to intermediate life support levels. Some of their advanced life support staff is in the process of upgrading their diplomas to degrees or even masters. Hartmann Emergency Care has several volunteers who joined the permanent ambulance crew in order to complete their 1 000 hours operational requirements. This is necessary to upgrade their training to the next level. Once these volunteers have completed their required hours, they make way for the next volunteers.

Services offered The service responds to a vast variety of calls. House calls, motor vehicle accidents, work related accidents and long-distance inter-hospital transfers are a daily occurrence and are available 24 hours a day. Primary or emergency calls are the company’s forte. The emergency number has been extensively marketed to ensure quick access to the public.

To cater for all emergencies, KwaZulu Ambulance Service has placed particular importance on the reequipping and upgrading of its entire operation with brand new equipment.

The latest acquisition consists of 10 LifePac12 and eight Mindray defibrillation monitors, four ventilators and neonate transfer equipment. It is testimony to the company’s reinvestment policy in ensuring high service delivery standards.

A new fleet of vehicles is currently being

converted to replace the existing fleet to keep these new and reliable. Rapid response vehicles include a GTI, Toyota 86 as well as a Nissan 350Z. To cater for higher levels of incoming calls and administration, the service has substantially invested in state of the art call centre software, branded as Ambulance and Emergency Dispatch (AED). This software is local industry specific and designed to assist ambulance control rooms in logging and dispatching criteria. The system has also been developed to supply all statistics that the ambulance owner / operator could ever need, including call statistics, response times, total mileage (both billable and nonbillable), staff statistics, etc. This can be remotely accessed by the relevant managers. It is also linked to live vehicle tracking, direct dispatching of vehicles, including address and global positioning system (GPS) coordinates that are sent directly to the vehicle. The company will also make this software available to any reputable service in the country. It is managed by an outside company and confidentiality is guaranteed.

The switchboard system has also been upgraded to high standard levels with digital lines. All calls are voice recorded with TruLog technology and form an integral part in the company’s quality assurance program.” KwaZulu Private Ambulance has always placed the “interests of the patient first”, the company’s motto which resounds in

everything they do!” says Ray Hartmann of Hartmann Emergency Care.

The various divisions which had been established over the years include: Event Medical Services (EMS), a division specialising in supplying ambulances and staff at sporting and other special events. This division has its own dedicated fleet of vehicles, comprising of 4x4 and conventional ambulances. There are currently 12 ambulances, two quads and three motorbikes in this division; KwaZulu Private Emergency Care Training Academy (KPECTA) trains all levels of first aid, basic fire fighting, CPD, health and safety, as well as basic ambulance assistant courses.

These are offered at various training facilities throughout the province.

KwaZulu Health and Safety supplies a fully comprehensive service to events and the industry, which includes providing of safety plans and procedures, accident investigations and advisory services.

HEC Staffing Solutions supplies industry specific staff to clients, whether medical staff at shopping centers, specialist control room or clinical staff.

HEC Ambulance Conversions is the vehicle conversion factory where ambulances and response vehicles are built, according to South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) specification. As authorised body converters, converted vehicles for both the South African market, as well as neighboring countries, are supplied and finally, HEC Logistics operates a fleet of over 130 vehicles throughout South Africa.

These vehicles transport blood and other biohazardous materials between clinics and laboratories in specialised vehicles, collectively covering in excess of 17 000 km per day. Fluctuations in petrol prices have a major impact on this operation.

Front: Sifiso Ndlovu and Philani Buthelezi Back: Lubabalo Ngumbela, SA Hlongwane , Timothy Reddy , Praga Gouenden and Colin Watson, Sapphire Ryan , Photo credit: Philip Parker

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Staff consists of almost 200 dedicated individuals, pivotal to making a difference in people’s lives. The company’s current Level 2 BEE rating bears testimony to its belief in upliftment and being part of the greater vision.

Risk mapping

Why risk mapping is important

By Malcolm Procter, deputy director, Department of Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Free State, South Africa

µ

R82 R28 R500 R53 R53

R502 R30

Vredefort

R501

R59 R504

R53

R42

Sasolburg

Parys

Eskom Stations

R549 R54 R716

Oranjeville

R51

R716

Bothaville

Koppies

R57

Heilbron

R721

R103

Frankfort R34

Cornelia

R34

R543

Wesselsbron Allanridge R59 R707 Odendaalsrus R34 Hoopstad R70 Steynsrus Welkom Hennenman Arlington R73 Harmony Ventersburg Virginia R73 R700

R708

Hertzogville R59

R710

Senekal N5

R708

R374

R708

Theunissen

R64 R64

Quaggavlei Brandfort

R31

N8

Jacobsdal

Bloemfontein

Petrusburg

Marquard

R702

Moderate High

Warden R714

Extremely High

R57

Bethlehem

Clarens Fouriesburg R711

Kestell R712

Excessively High N5 Harrismith

Roads National

R74

Phuthaditjhaba

Routes

Clocolan

Excelsior

Ficksburg

R704 R709

R48

Luckhoff

Rosendal

Reitz

Ladybrand Thaba Nchu Tweespruit R26 Botshabelo

N6

R705

R707

R708

Paul Roux

R26

R703

Verkeerdevlei R30

Oppermans

N5

R30

R64

R720

R70

Memel

R103

R76

R506

Low

Petrus Steyn

R76

Mild

R543

Tweeling

Edenville

Kroonstad

R719

R505

Fire Risk

R546

R34

R713 R34

National Roads

N3

R727

R34

Railway

Villiers

R82

Viljoenskroon

Legend

R716

R720

Vierfontein R502

R42

R500

Fire Risk Free State

R706

N6

R704

Dewetsdorp Wepener

R717

Fauresmith R704

R369

R717

N1

N6 N6

Springfontein R715

R717

R26

Van Stadensrus

R717

Philippolis

Coordinate System: WGS_84 Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic Standard Parallels 1: 27°15’ S Standard Parallels 2: 30° S

R702

R701

R387

Date: 8/22/2014

Zastron Rouxville

R726

R393

R390

R701

0 10 20

40

60

80

100 Kilometers

R392

R58 R701 R405

T

he definition of a risk assessment states that it is the process of estimating the likelihood and magnitude of the occurrence of an unwanted, adverse effect. It has its roots in the insurance industry, and initially was applied to engineering and nuclear science. The risk assessment approach also often is applied to areas where multiple stressors may be interacting or where comparative risks need to be assessed. It is used to delineate stressor-induced ecological responses can be used to make predictions about the potential for future recovery. Furthermore, predicting the efficacy and associated risks of alternative management scenarios is a natural application of the risk assessment paradigm.

As wildfires cause harm and damage to people, property, infrastructure, economies and the environment, the goals of sustainable development are put to jeopardy. Disaster recovery and rehabilitation efforts require enormous

R58

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The latest fire risk map for the Free State funds that, amidst insufficient contingency funds, are taken out from other development programme that are planned or underway, thereby impeding development efforts.

Therefore, it is important that wildfire mitigation programmes are made an integral part of developmental programme. At the same time, efforts to enhance the capacities of communities and coping systems at various levels and sectors towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency in managing disasters effectively must be sustained.

“Understanding and identifying various types of vulnerabilities such as human, social, economic, and environmental as well as the nature of natural hazards, are essential components of such efforts”. Adapted from de Guzman EM towards Total Disaster Risk Management Approach.

The basic question is: if there are only limited resources available for doing

mitigation work, where would resources best be utilised? Technological advancements in fire fighting should have had a decisive positive effect by now, if the problem was only a matter of fire suppression, especially given the serious general increase in fire fighting budgets in this time period.

However, the reality is quite different. It can easily be shown that the problem is much more complex than just improving fire fighting effectiveness alone. It has to do with factors affecting the occurrence of fires, its characteristics and destruction potential. It also has to do with environmental factors, social evolution, economic development and even politics as well as institutional arrangements.

In the face of tight budget constraints and many competing demands for public resources, there is widespread pressure to demonstrate that aid resources are well spent. As the extent and expectations of fire management Volume 3 No. 2

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Risk mapping Pre-loss planning helps get mitigation measures on to the policy agenda

continue to rise, so too will the need and demand for clarity and transparency in balancing fire costs and losses and in optimising the minimisation of both.

“Common sense dictates we invest more in preparing for fires and preventing them before they start, which will pay for itself in the long run,”(De Bonis M, Southwest Region Director of the Forest Guild in New Mexico.)

Because of the significant economic and human impacts of wildfires, it’s important to address how to mitigate their effects. Risk assessment helps fire managers and planners identify the locations of likely impacts and analyse mitigation measures before a catastrophe. Wildfire risk assessments also serve as a baseline for monitoring change in fire susceptibility and effects.

When people become aware of a hazard and its potential to affect them, they make decisions about how they will respond to the risk. For some, this is a considered process of information gathering, decision-making and deliberate action. For others it may be an ‘unconscious’, relatively spontaneous response to the realisation that the threat exists, in which case ‘preparedness’ might consist of the intention to flee at the first sign of fire.

In other words, it is suggested that everyone makes choices about how to use or not use their skills and resources in relation to the risk. The choices people make reflect the influence of an array of factors such as their perception of the risk, personal 56

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attributes, experiences, situational factors, social influences and so on.

The following quotations are of relevance: 1. “We need to take a common-sense, practical approach to reducing risks we face and protecting our citizens and our communities. We need to identify our risks, educate and communicate to our people about those risks, prepare as best we can for the risks, and then, together, form partnerships to take action to reduce those risks.” (James Lee Witt, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ’s famous and successful director, provided valuable guidance for emergency managers worldwide) 2. “While we cannot do away with natural hazards, we can eliminate those we cause, minimize those we exacerbate, and reduce our vulnerability to most.

Doing this requires healthy and resilient communities and ecosystems. Viewed in this light, disaster mitigation is clearly part of a broader strategy of sustainable development - making communities and nations socially, economically and ecologically sustainable.” J Abramowitz 3. “One essential requirement of the disaster management act is for the development of disaster management plans. This includes conducting of risk assessments, mapping of vulnerable areas, measures to adapt to climate change and the development of early warning mechanisms by organs of state within their functional sphere”.

(Ken Terry Head of NDMC) 4.

The following is extracted from Disaster risk assessment in South Africa:

some current challenges; Gideon van Riet African Centre for Disaster Studies North-West University in Potchefstroom: “The South African Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 and the subsequent National Disaster Management Forum (NDMF), envision the incremental phasing in of disaster risk reduction and risk management in South African. The NDMF has three levels of disaster management plans that municipalities need to comply with and includes deadlines for coming into such compliance are defined. The requirements regarding disaster risk assessments (DRA) follow the same logic, with each ‘stage’ of risk assessment, being linked to a specific level of plan. For a level one plan a so-called ‘indicative’ risk profile is required. This entails an initial indication of the frequency, magnitude and general characteristics of prevalent hazards. It also requires the ‘description and quantification’ of vulnerability and capacity, an estimation of likely losses induced by a specific threat as well as an identification of existing relevant capacities, methods and resources available to manage risks. Finally; • A level one plan requires an estimation of the level of risk posed by a threat in relation to others, so that priority setting can take place (South Africa, 2005:30).

• A level two plan requires a process of ‘risk evaluation’ to have taken place whereby a ‘multidisciplinary, comprehensive’ DRA is conducted.

According to the NDMF (2005:30) this action requires the utilisation of specific risk science expertise that is relevant to the prevalent risks. At this level further prioritisation of risk and ‘at risk groups, areas and developments’ is required (South Africa, 2005:30). It seems the NDMF implies the use of ‘hard science’ or natural sciences expertise to feature much more strongly from this level of plan onwards.

• A level three plan requires measures to be in place for monitoring and updating of risk management plans. Though municipalities are currently only required to be in possession of a level one plan, some DRAs in South Africa are said to have complied with the requirements of level two and three DRMPs, often only in relation to specific prevalent threats.

The dates specified in the Disaster Management Act for finalising of plans are as follows:

Risk mapping Time Frame

Progress required

Within two years of the commencement of the act 2003+ 2 years = 2005

All national, provincial and municipal organs of state will have submitted to the NDMC at a minimum, Level 1 DRM plan, this requires an estimation of the level of risk posed by a threat in relation to others, so that priority setting can take place (South Africa, 2005:30).

Within three years of the commencement of the act 2003+ 3 years = 2006

All national, provincial and municipal organs of state will have submitted to the NDMC at a minimum, Level 2 DRM plan requires a process of ‘risk evaluation’ to have taken place whereby a ‘multidisciplinary, comprehensive’ DRA is conducted. Prioritisation of risk and ‘at risk groups, areas and developments’ is required (South Africa, 2005:30). .

NDMF: ‘hard science’ or natural sciences expertise to feature much more strongly from this level of plan onwards.

Within four years of the commencement of the act 2003+ 4 years = 2007

All national, provincial and municipal organs of state will have submitted to the NDMC at a minimum, Level 3 DRM plan this requires measures to be in place for monitoring and updating of risk management plans.

Current progress towards compliance of the disaster management act: • DAFF contracted the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to do a level one risk assessment in terms and this was completed in 2010 • A level two type risk assessment was completed for the Southern Cape by SSI consultants in 2009, this assessment only covered a small portion of the Western Cape • A level two type risk assessment was completed for the entire Free State by M Procter (DAFF) in 2009 • A level two type assessment was completed for the entire Northern Cape

by Dr A Jordaan of the University of the Free State in 2011 using the methodology developed by M Procter (DAFF) All of the above mentioned assessments are now a few years old and as the risks from wildfires changes, they have become outdated, conducting wildfire risk assessments has not been included in the DAFF strategy for the next five years.

Components of a risk assessment An analysis of fire threat should at least: • Be based on a clearly-defined purpose and utilise a method that matches that purpose • Analyse separately the threat of a fire from elsewhere causing damage at a particular place and the threat of a fire starting at that place and causing damage there or elsewhere • Avoid rating factors into arbitrary categories and avoid combining factors on an arbitrary basis • Particular care is needed when rating fire severity, fuels and weather • Analyse information at scales of space and time that provide a balance in perspective and at levels of detail that match the purpose of the analysis

• Include fire suppression (and other management actions) in the analysis • Address explicitly the boundary issues of the threat of losses from fires that cross administrative or land tenure boundaries and of resource movements across those boundaries • Recognise that fire threat is about probabilities that characterise what may happen over a range of years and fire events. Actual outcomes may be quite different to probable outcomes • Be based on a uniform grid across the entire country • Identify and work within constraints such as the available data Setting priorities for planning The information gathered provides a factual basic to set priorities for planning.

• It provides the documentation for supporting hazard planning and response efforts • Three steps used in this processhazard identification, vulnerability analysis and risk analysis have

different meanings but sometimes are wrongly used interchangeably • Resilience is the ability to successfully meet and surmount challenges, obstacles and problems A resilient community is one that takes intentional actions to enhance the personal and collective capacity of its citizens and institutions to respond to and influence the course of social, economic and environmental change”.

Resilience is not a fixed quality within communities; rather it is a quality that can be developed and strengthened over time. As resilience is strengthened, the ability to mobilise its people and resources to respond to and influence social, economic and environmental change is enhanced. Indeed, there can be potentially high returns to disaster risk reduction investments in hazardprone areas, in the form of both specific disaster risk reduction projects and the disaster-proofing of other development projects. Such investments can also have significant additional indirect

Risk assessment helps fire managers and planners identify the locations of likely impacts

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National Burn Association of South Africa

Giant steps for emergent

T

burn association

he National Burn Association of South Africa (NBASA) was established in January 2008 as a voice to disseminate burn safety education.

The founders of the organisation, Colin Lee and Sharon Jones, are also the operational members of the NBASA, which seeks to provide emotional support to burn survivors and their care givers.

Jones says that the NBASA exists for the development of self-help groups for burn survivors. “One of the strategies is to create self-employment for burn

benefits for the broader economy and sustainable development Knowing where the fires occur allows us to do something about them, without a risk analysis both the fire protection associations (FPAs) and the department are BLIND as fire risk has not been prioritised; Section 15 exemptions are being approved without any scientific risk based data, awareness campaigns conducted on an ‘ad hoc’ basis and nothing can be done to address the causes of fires and in all likelihood it will continue to burn causing damage.

Identification of hazards and vulnerability and commitment to risk management is therefore essential for sustainable development, sustainable development can only be achieved by integrating disaster risk reduction into planning and practice. Fire managers seek a balance between costs such as of fire suppression or prevention and losses such as timber resources, conservation values and property.

They achieve this by implementing management actions such as fire suppression, prevention, preparation and protection in accordance with the perceived importance and urgency of suppressing fires within a particular time and extent and of protecting values. It is also possible that if the Government’s policy 58

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survivors through the development of a cooperative managed by NBASA.” The NBASA cooperative entails training, skilling and supporting burn survivors to operate their own fire safety equipment that they can sell to support themselves.

The founding members of the association are assisted by regional coordinators that include Andile Majola, a coordinator based in Orange Farm in Gauteng Province.

Majola organises the association’s first self-help group namely, ‘Burns Social Club – Youth of Fire’.

response is developed in advance of the urgency of loss, the policy will be more cost-effective, efficient and consistent with long-term objectives.

The history of wildfires can provide a valuable dimension for risk assessment.

Wildfire management mitigation interventions, based on landscape risk analysis lead to a more efficient and effective application of available resources. Over time, mitigation measures/achievements will become measurable and in addition to this, awareness interventions can be highlighted and successes monitored.

Conclusion As the extent and expectations of fire management continue to rise, so too will the need and demand for clarity and transparency in balancing fire costs and losses, and in optimising the minimisation of both. Analysis of fire threat is a vital future need and, despite the difficulties, progress is essential.

Pre-loss planning helps get mitigation measures on to the policy agenda.

Often disaster risk management projects are not undertaken in isolation but rather combined with other considerations bringing about improvements in conditions. After a disaster assistance policy is enacted and a loss has occurred, its cost is largely sunk. Postdisaster assistance at current

In Eastern Cape, NBASA has a burns ambassador, Nombulelo Vokwana, who is currently recruiting burns survivors in order to establish a localised self-help group.

One of the patrons of the organisation is international jazz icon, Thandi Klaasen, who is a burn survivor and one of the late Nelson Mandela’s favourite performers.

As a teenager, Klaasen’s face was permanently scarred by a mix of thinners and petroleum.

Klaasen often appears at the various burn education campaigns

law levels is largely beyond the control of policy makers. It is also possible than if the government’s policy response is developed in advance of the urgency of loss, the policy will be more costeffective, efficient, and consistent with long-term objectives. Well-specified and established policies will also permit those at risk to adopt mitigation measures and make plans for their recovery, consistent with their own preferences and the government’s planned response.

Activities that are particularly useful and likely to be sustained are those that bring tangible benefit in their own right such as, for example, the development and usage of data sets and strategies on fuel levels and access times. More complex analyses of fire threat can build on such work as resources and insights permit. Whatever method is used, its assumptions and justifications must be evaluated and documented.

Any method or exercise to analyse fire threat needs to address many issues relating to purpose, the inherent mobility of wildfire, rating and combining factors, probabilities, scale, management actions, boundaries, quantifying fire severity and constraints.

The method needs to be neither simplistic nor too theoretical. Otherwise the results will lack validity, usefulness, or both; probably to a serious extent.

National Burn Association of South Africa undertaken by the NBASA as a performer, while at the same time acting as a role model for burn survivors.

International jamboree NBASA has held a series of events over the past six years that include several burns camps and two ‘international jamborees’, held in tandem with burn survivors and social workers from Canada, UK, Taiwan and South Korea.

Jones says that the burns camps ‘allow for the emotional rehabilitation of individual burn survivors and some family members’.

In August last year, the NBASA hosted the international jamboree event where burn survivors were escorted in a road parade by a municipal fire truck, the Road Ranger motorcycle group and private and provincial ambulance services, such as ER24.

NBASA conducting burn prevention education at the Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital

A concert and stage show was held at the Pro Music Theatre in Roodepoort, Johannesburg South, that featured an array of performers and speakers, including performances by the University of Witwatersrand Choir and a group of traditional dancers.

The camps and various stage shows hosted by the NBASA have been the key success of the association, says Jones. “These camps and shows have also allowed us to encourage cultural exchange, development of soft skills, overcoming fears and they also include a therapy component,” she says.

Other activities that formed part of the jamboree included wildlife, city and campsite adventures and a visit to the Hector Petersen Memorial in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Current projects NBASA is currently working on a ‘Zero Burns’ week project that will include outreach, education and print campaigns.

Jones says that the project will also include a road show where information will be disseminated and burn safety products will be distributed.

These products could include fire blankets and solar lamps to eliminate the use of unsafe candles and designed to achieve a goal of ‘Zero Burns’.

“We are still looking for a major sponsor in this regard,” says Jones.

Another burns education campaign being developed by NBASA is a ‘4x4 Expedition’ that is currently being planned by NBASA cofounder, Colin Lee. He says that the expedition will traverse across the South African bush ‘into the deepest, darkest Africa’. “There will be international teams of burn survivors driving the 4x4 vehicles, visiting rural villages and spreading burns prevention messages and donating battery powered smoke detectors and fire blankets,” explains Lee. The expedition is set to take place from 1 to 30 September this year and will publicise the ‘Zero Burns’ week that runs from 21 to 28 September 2014.

A fire safety education programme held at a crèche in Johannesburg

The establishment of a ‘Burns centre’ is another focus of the NBASA this year and in the long-term. Jones says Volume 3 No. 2

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NBASA cofounder, Sharon Jones with youth in Orange Farm, Gauteng

that the centre would house therapy rooms, a community theatre and an art space. “We would like to use the centre for offices, counselling rooms, as a meeting venue for our self help and support groups, as well as a for a public information and educational centre.”

Vision Eradicating burns through education is the core vision of the NBASA whose mission is to provide refuge that provides ‘healing hands, hearts and voices’ to burn survivors.

Jones says that the association strives to disseminate information on how to prevent deaths, injuries and property loss, due to fires and burns.

of Johannesburg Emergency Services and having resources that allows us to deliver our preventative messages.”

The pilot groups aims to teach and inform school children or senior citizens, mainly from impoverished communities, preventative education messages around fire and burn safety and allows the stipend from each performance to contribute to the performers self sufficiency.

Funding NBASA receives and works with ‘in-kind’ funding of transport and campsite and

National Burn Association of South Africa founders, Colin Lee and Sharon Jones raises funds for the shortfalls, says Jones.

“We also have a good relationship with the City of Johannesburg, which assists us with many of the facilities we need, such as the use of community halls,” she says.

Lee says that the challenge of the association is the difficulty of transporting all its beneficiaries to events hosted by the association.

To this end, NBASA is currently seeking sponsorship for a passenger bus that would be used at special events hosted by the association annually.

The aim of the NBASA is to assist all affected by burns, with emotional rehabilitation through burns camps, which has a strong emphasis on arts and recreation.

A key development in the association’s relatively short history is the establishment of a pilot group of burn survivors who assist with the NBASA’s goal of creating an industrial theatre group.

The group is based in the Orange Farm township in southern Johannesburg and is a base where beneficiaries have a platform to perform as part of the healing process as burn survivors.

Jones says, “This development is linked to our partnership with the City 60

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A concert rehearsal for one of the NBASA burn education events

The Maltese Cross

Heritage

T

he eight-point Maltese Cross, in Italy also known as the Amalfi cross, is the international symbol of the fire service’s willingness to make great sacrifices in order to protect others from the ravages of fire.

One can easily find a hundred web sites that will tell you that the symbol of the fire service comes from the ‘Knights of Malta’ and their battles with Ottoman pirates or the Saracens.

The cross is eight-pointed and has the form of four ‘V’-shaped elements, each joining the others at its vertex, leaving the other two tips spread outward symmetrically.

Its design is based on crosses used since the First Crusade. It is also the modern symbol of Amalfi, a small Italian republic of the 11th century.

In the 15th century, the eight points of the four arms of the later called Maltese Cross represented the eight lands of origin, of the Knights Hospitaller: Auvergne, Provence, France, Aragon, Castille and Portugal, Italy, Baviere (Germany) and England (with Scotland and Ireland).

The eight points also symbolise the eight obligations or aspirations of the knights: • to live in truth • to have faith • to repent one’s sins • to give proof of humility • to love justice • to be merciful • to be sincere and wholehearted • to endure persecution The first evidence for Maltese Cross on Malta appears on the 2 Tarì and 4 Tarì Copper coins of the Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette (Grand Master 1557– 1568). The 2 and 4 Tarì Copper coins are dated 1567. This provides a date for the introduction of the Maltese Cross.

This symbol of honour, courage and dedication originated with a group of eleventh century knights who were serving in a Jerusalem hospital. They became known as the Order of Knights Hospitaller and later became the Knights of Saint John.

This charitable organisation cared for the ill with great compassion.

Later they assisted the Knights of Crusaders in their effort to win back the Holy Land. As the Knights of St John and Knights of Crusaders attacked the city walls, the Saracens first threw glass bombs containing highly flammable liquids like naphtha and then threw flaming torches to ignite the liquids.

Hundreds of the knights were burned alive. Many knights were severely burned as others risked their lives to save their brothers-in-arms from dying the painful, fiery deaths. Risking the horrible death themselves, knights that were able, struggled desperately to help their burning comrades by beating out the flames and dragging them to safety. Thus, these men became our first fire fighters, the first in a long history of courageous men and women. Their heroic efforts were recognised by fellow crusaders who awarded each a badge of honour - a cross similar to the one fire fighter’s wear today. Since the Knights of St John lived for close to four centuries on a little island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross. Given out in acknowledgment of their heroic deeds of rescuing fellow knights and fighting fires, the crosses were decorated and inscribed.

large fortifications, including St Elmo’s Fort. In 1530, the Island of Malta was given to the courageous knights. The symbol on their flag was the familiar eight-point cross. The cross, which had originally helped the knights distinguish between friend and foe, became the ultimate symbol of heroism and service.

After maintaining and defending the hospital in Jerusalem, the knights eventually moved to Malta and built

Today, fire fighters wear the Maltese Cross to symbolise their willingness to risk their lives to save others.

Finally they acquired the name, ‘The Knights of Malta’. From Malta they launched attacks on the Barbary Pirates and became enemies of the Ottoman Empire once again. In 1564 Suleiman again set his sights on the knights. He sent his armada of over 170 ships to Malta with over 40,000 well trained troops and many thousand more slaves and mercenaries.

Malta endured many sieges starting in 1565, but always remained victorious.

In his book, ‘Badges of the Bravest’ Gary Urbanowicz states that the first use of a Maltese cross was adopted

by FDNY in 1865. In Brooklyn they apparently adopted it in 1882.

The Maltese Cross is considered sacred and represents the principles of charity, loyalty, chivalry, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe, protection of the weak and dexterity in service.

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What’s on?

2014 October 1 - 2 October 2014 FIVE Fire in Vehicles 2014 Fire development in vehicles, fire risks in vehicles with alternative fuels, fire detection and fire suppression in vehicles, statistics and insurance issues, incident management and case studies For more visit www.firesinvehicles.com 3 October 2014 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: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 4 – 5 October 2014 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Candidates will be competent to recognise and initiate the management of cardiac arrest and peri-arrest conditions Venue: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 6 – 8 October 2014 2nd Biannual Conference of the Southern Africa Society for Disaster Reduction Jointly hosted by University of Namibia and Southern Africa Society for Disaster Reduction Venue: Safari Hotel, Namibia Contact: Joyce Shipale

Email: jlnmajova@unam.na For more information visit: www.sasdir.org 6 – 8 October 2014 Conduct a Risk Assessment LG SETA NQF Level 5 accredited skills development in disaster risk management programme course Venue: 263 Jean Ave, Lyttleton, Gauteng,

South Africa Contact: Francis

Tel: 083 285 0195 or 012 664 3192

Email: francis@dms-online.co.za 6 – 10 October 2014 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, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 8 – 16 October 2014 ABC Challenge Hike or bike 500km along the Garden Route to Cape Town.

In aid of Phoenix Burns Project For more information go to: www.abc-challenge.com 9 – 12 October 2014 World Rescue Challenge London

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It is the most prestigious international event for the fire and rescue services. The event will see fire fighters from across the world competing with each other in emergency rescue skills.

It will display how these fire fighters rescue people from crushed cars, collapsed buildings and great heights or from the water. It also helps them to learn different techniques from other teams and incorporate it within their work to make it more fast and safe.

Venue: The Fire Service College, London,

United Kingdom For further information visit: www.wrescue.org/ 10 – 11 October 2014 Heightsafety African Rope Safety Championships Conference and competition Venue: Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa For more information visit: www.heightsafety.co.za 13 – 14 October 2014 International Day for Disaster Reduction 2014 The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan (MP), in partnership with the North West Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs and the Bojanala District Municipality will be hosting the UNISDR International Day for Disaster Reduction 2014 commemoration Theme: Elderly people and disasters Venue: Rustenburg Civic Centre, Rustenburg

Local Municipality, Bojanala District,

North West, South Africa Contact: Mmabatho Ledwaba

Tel: 012 848 4618 or 076 780 9009

Email: MmabathoL@ndmc.gov.za 13 – 15 October 2014 Task Force Leader and Strike Team Leader Course Course detail: Describe the responsibility for managing and supervising task force/strike team resources, reporting, record keeping and after action requirements Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town, South Africa Contact: Michelle Kleinhans

Tel: 013 741 1119 or 078 272 9089

Email: michelle.kleinhans@wofire.co.za 13 – 15 October 2014 Resources Unit Leader Course Course Detail: Describe the related responsibilities to resource status systems, planning process and implementing a demobilisation plan Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town,

South Africa Contact: Michelle Kleinhans

Tel: 013 741 1119 or 078 272 9089

Email: michelle.kleinhans@wofire.co.za 13 – 17 October 2014 Principles of fire safety engineering Venue: Summit Place Guest House, Cape Town, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 13 – 17 October 2014 Fire Prevention and Strategies Theory of fire, legislation, components, operation and use of extinguishers, flammable liquids and gases, hot work, fire hazards of electrical equipment/installations, components/operation/site control of sprinklers and automatic fire detection systems, the organisation and management of fire teams and occupational fire brigades Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road,

Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 14 - 16 October 2014 15th International Conference on Automatic Fire Detection – AUBE ‘14 Venue: Katholische Akademie ‘Die

Wolfsburg’, Falkenweg, Mülheim an

der Ruhr, Germany For more information visit: nts.uni-duisburg-essen.de 14 - 16 October 2014 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: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 15 – 17 October 2014 Division Supervisor and Group Supervisor Course Course detail: Describe the duties and responsibilities required for a division/group supervisor Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town,

South Africa Contact: Michelle Kleinhans

Tel: 013 741 1119 or 078 272 9089

Email: michelle.kleinhans@wofire.co.za 15 – 17 October 2014 Situation Unit Leader Course Course detail: Describe the duties and responsibilities of a situation unit leader with an overview of how to activate, set-up, organise and manage the unit Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town,

South Africa Contact: Michelle Kleinhans

Tel: 013 741 1119 or 078 272 9089

Email: michelle.kleinhans@wofire.co.za 20 – 24 October 2014 Operations Section Chief Course Course detail: Describe the elements of planning critical to the operations section chief as a member of an incident management team Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town,

South Africa Contact: Michelle Kleinhans

Tel: 013 741 1119 or 078 272 9089

Email: michelle.kleinhans@wofire.co.za 20 – 24 October 2014 Planning Section Chief Course Course detail: Describe the role and responsibilities of a planning section chief as a member of an incident management team Venue: Cape Town Lodge, Cape Town,

South Africa Contact: Michelle Kleinhans

Tel: 013 741 1119 or 078 272 9089

Email: michelle.kleinhans@wofire.co.za 22 - 23 October 2014 14th International Water Mist Conference The conference will inform those responsible for selecting fire protection as well as researchers/ scientists who wish to be updated on the current state of water mist technology for fire protection Venue: ICEC, Istanbul, Turkey For more information go to: www.iwma.net

22 - 23 October 2014 Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Candidates will be able to perform a systematic approach to the assessment of a seriously ill or injured child, recognise and manage a child in respiratory distress and failure, compensated and hypotensive shock Venue: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 27 October 2014 South African Qualification and Certification Committee assessment session Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road,

Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 27 – 28 October 2014 Develop and Implement Risk Reduction Plans LG SETA NQF Level 5 accredited skills development in disaster risk management programme course Venue: 263 Jean Ave, Lyttleton, Gauteng,

South Africa Contact: Francis

Tel: 083 285 0195 or 012 664 3192

Email: francis@dms-online.co.za 27 – 30 October 2014 IEEE International Symposium on safety, security, and rescue robotics The 12th IEEE International Symposium on Safety, Security and Rescue Robotics with continue its tradition of attracting cuttingedge papers in the theory and practice of robots for rapid and secure inspection of critical infrastructure, travellers, luggage and paces; disaster response and recovery; humanitarian demining, disaster mitigation and recovery; detection of chemical, biological and radiological risks and operations in these dangerous sites Venue: Toyako Cultural Centre, Toyako Onsen 142, Toyako-cho, Abuta,

Hokkaido, Japan For more information visit: www.ssrr-conference.org/ 29 – 30 October 2014 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: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com November 3 – 14 November 2014 Advanced fire protection Content fully revised in 2011, now 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: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road,

Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 6 – 9 November 2014 Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) Symposium in the Sun The VCOS Symposium provides respected fire service leaders who deliver timely educational topics.

Venue: Hilton Clearwater Beach, Florida, USA Contact: Shannon Gilliland

Email: sgilliland@iafc.org For more information visit: www.iafc.org/VCOSsymposium 6 – 9 November 2014 International technical rescue symposium 2014 ITRS is the leading forum for up-to-date, stateof-the-art, technical rescue information.

Rescuers representing mountain, cave, fire, industrial, and swift water gather to discuss ways to improve safety and performance Venue: Marriott Denver West, 1717 Denver

West Boulevard, Golden, Colorado, USA For more information visit: www.cmcrescue.com/ITRS-W14.aspx 7 – 8 November 2014 Heightsafety African Rope Safety Championships Conference and competition Venue: Cape Town, South Africa For more information visit: www.heightsafety.co.za 8 November 2014 Fire Chief’s Ball Fund raising event for the benefit of the Gert Stoltz Trust To assist and support injured or disabled firefighters, whose injuries or disabilities are not covered by their medical aid or employer Venue: Barnyard Lodge, Ermelo,

Mpumalanga, South Africa Contact: Elize Johnstone

Tel: 082 560 5668 9 – 13 November 2014 26th EMS world expo With the advent of the Affordable Care Act, comprehensive change is coming to healthcare in the United States. The role of EMS providers is among those poised to undergo the greatest evolutions. At EMS World Expo’s first Mobile Integrated Healthcare Summit, top experts and cutting-edge content come together to help agencies navigate this radical new environment along with wonderful exhibits.

Venue: Music City Centre, 201 5th Avenue S,

Nashville, USA For more information visit: www.emsworldexpo.com/conference.php 10 November 2014 Basic fire fighting module The basic theory of fire, methods of extinguishment, components, operations and practical use of fire extinguishers and hose reels Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road,

Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 14 November 2014 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: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa

Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 14 – 19 November 2014 International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) 62nd annual conference The IAEM annual conference provides a forum for current trends and topics, information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security, and advances IAEM committee work Venue: San Antonio, USA Contact: Email: info@iaem.com For more information visit: www.iaem.com 15 – 16 November 2014 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Candidates will be competent to recognise and initiate the management of cardiac arrest and peri-arrest conditions Venue: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 17 – 21 November 2014 Fundamentals of fire investigation The programme will promote a clear understanding of fire investigation and the rendering of opinion regarding origin and cause. It in includes practical investigation exercises and is now aligned with NFPA 921 Venue: FPASA College, 105 Springbok Road,

Bartlett, Boksburg, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 17 – 21 November 2014 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, South Africa Contact: Christine van der Westhuizen

Tel: 011 397 1618

Email: college@fpasa.co.za For more information visit: www.fpasa.co.za 20 – 21 November 2014 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: Action Training Academy, Fourways,

South Africa Contact: Gugulethu More

Tel: 011 450 4981

Email: gugulethu.more@

ata-international.com 24 – 26 November 2014 Develop and Implement Response and Recovery Plans LG SETA NQF Level 5 accredited skills development in disaster risk management programme course Venue: 263 Jean Ave, Lyttleton, Gauteng,

South Africa Contact: Francis

Tel: 083 285 0195 or 012 664 3192

Email: francis@dms-online.co.za

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Poem

“A fire fighter’s tears” Today I am sad. I wish I knew why But all I can do is sit here and cry As I looked at a book, I remembered that day when the world stood still and the sky turned grey I looked at the faces of all that were lost; All the innocent lives, all the tears that it cost They were doing their job, they trusted their fears; They climbed to the top, with all of their peers The load that they carried, weighed nothing at all Their hearts were their strength; they answered their call So many stood watch as the fires raged on; And in the blink of an eye, those buildings were gone With them they took, the lives of those men Who never gave up, they never gave in With helmet in hand, I lowered my head For my fallen brothers, for those that were dead One thing I learned, hold your head high, Don’t ever stop climbing and it’s ok to cry.

I’m hurt and I’m scared and sometimes I’m mad But, most of all, today I am just sad.

Author unknown

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