No days off for metro fireman Solly as Knysna calls
AN off-duty Nelson Mandela Bay firefighter, who spent the entire weekend fighting fires across the Bay, raced down to Knysna on his rest days to assist with extinguishing the raging forest fires.
Springdale father-of-two Saleem “Solly” Julius, 48, packed his bags and drove through to Knysna on Monday morning, only hours after finishing his four-day weekend shift at the Bay fire department.
Speaking from Knysna, while fighting a bush fire, Julius said that he had to assist after hearing how firefighters were struggling against the raging blaze.
“We are like a family and when I heard about people dying and the fires spreading earlier this week, I knew I had to go and help. In these situations, you do not ask questions. You see your brothers need help and you go,” he said.
“My mind was made up after my 16-year-old daughter came to me on Saturday morning and told me that she has seen how the Knysna fires are spreading and that I should go help.”
Julius, who has been a firefighter in the metro for 28 years, won a gold medal last year at the Toughest Firefighter Alive competition.
Julius left only hours after battling the Van Stadens fire that left half of Woodridge College gutted.
After hearing about the death of volunteer firefighters John Blaauw, 63, and Bradley Richards, 24, he knew it was time to go. “On hearing this news, as a firefighter you know they need help.”
Bay fire chief Andre de Ridder said he was extremely proud.
“This just shows the calibre of firefighters we have. It makes one feel proud to be in the profession and the fact that our guys use their own initiative, and go and help others at their own expense, just shows the dedication.”