Only 15 fire vehicles on road in Jo’burg
Begging for rescue, then sending love to their families, then silence as fire takes 3
● Moments before they died, three firefighters trapped in a burning government building in Johannesburg’s inner city were on their phones, crying and pleading with their helpless colleagues to rescue them from the flames, and asking them to tell their families they loved them.
It has also emerged that the City of Johannesburg has only 15 working fire vehicles for 5-million residents. It should have more than 100. The shortage of fire vehicles, and claims that procedures were not followed, have raised concerns that the deaths could have been avoided.
Simphiwe Moropane, 28, fell to his death after he apparently smashed open a window to get fresh air. His air cylinder, which lasts roughly 45 minutes, is believed to have run empty.
His colleagues Mduduzi Ndlovu, 40, and Khathutshelo Muedi, 37, were found close to the window ledge from which Moropane fell. They are believed to have died from burns and smoke inhalation.
The three, who were from Fairview fire station, were among 11 firefighters who entered the building to save trapped employees working for the Gauteng departments of health, human settlements and co-operative governance & traditional affairs.
Their eight remaining colleagues, some of whom were trapped on a 60cm-wide window ledge, were eventually rescued hours later by police helicopters and firefighters.
It has also emerged that the fire department is investigating several allegations that no-one checked the water pressure at the building entrance before they entered. This is standard procedure. One of the reasons firefighters battled to contain the blaze was that the water pressure was so low.
Also under investigation are claims that officials did not follow protocol by setting up a safety staging area two floors below the fire. Such an area is used as a back-up station where spare air cylinders, ropes and personal protection equipment, including radios, are kept.
Johannesburg emergency management services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi confirmed that claims about the water pressure and the staging area were part of their investigation. Also being investigated is whether the firefighters had been correctly using their protective gear, the status of their radio equipment and whether their air supply had run out.
“The investigation will also review the findings of an inspection of the building which was done by the fire brigade a few days before the incident,” he said.
“Everything we are hearing that may or may not have been done by those on the scene will be thoroughly investigated.”
A Johannesburg fire officer with more than 40 years’ experience in Gauteng fire departments said several firefighters on the scene had made these claims to him. He said if they were true, this was why the rescue failed.
“If they had checked the water pressure, they would have known there was no water. With no water you wait for the tankers.
“They didn’t implement their training knowledge. They should never have gone into the building in the first place.”
He said the lack of personal protection equipment was being addressed. “The safety equipment is there now, but if you don’t follow your standard training procedures you are going to die. Lives were wasted.”
Another senior firefighter, also speaking on condition of anonymity, described the trauma of receiving a phone call from Moropane shortly before he fell to his death.
“They were calling on their cellphones begging for help. They said they couldn’t breathe, that they were surrounded by smoke and flames.
“Simphiwe said they were trying to find a way out, that his [air] cylinder was empty and that they were sharing the remaining [air] tanks.”
He said Moropane ended the call after saying he was going to find a way to get fresh air. “Then I heard over the radio that a firefighter had fallen. I phoned back, but the phone just rang.
“A colleague spoke to Mduduzi, who was calling for help. Mduduzi told him Simphiwe fell when he broke open the window. It was total panic. He was crying. He said Mduduzi was asking us to tell those on the ground where they were. They couldn’t move because of the smoke. They were telling people to tell their families they loved them.”
Mulaudzi confirmed that only 15 of the service’s 104 vehicles, which were rented, were operational.
“The other vehicles spend a lot of time being repaired because some are 20 years old.”
He said a tender to replace the fleet would be advertised within the next few weeks.
In November, Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba canned a R161m contract for 29 fire engines because of suspected corruption.
City of Johannesburg mayoral committee member for public safety Michael Sun said they had received five new fire engines this year, along with two fully refurbished vehicles. He said the city had cancelled the fire engine procurement contract after it was discovered the contract was awarded on the basis of forged bid evaluation committee documents.