WhatsApp a crucial tool in blaze battles

WITHOUT the fast-paced messages and voice notes that come with WhatsApp, the devastating Knysna and Plettenberg Bay fires would have been far more catastrophic.

This was the view of Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) chairman Bruce Richardson, who hailed the social media app for the key role it played in relaying messages to and fro among firefighters.

The more than 20 WhatsApp groups for volunteers, firefighters and response groups that were already in place ensured speedy communication.

Richardson said he was aware of more than eight groups that had been put in place during the fires which had been instrumental in firefighting efforts last week.

Prior to the fires, the primary role of the PBCPA had been setting up neighbourhood watches and working with the police and medical services in the area.

The network, however, became essential when phone lines were down with only a few radios to go around.

“We have this amazing working relationship within the town. It has been primarily focused on crime combating in the past, but in a crisis like this it proved to be the perfect platform to set up the administration of fire-fighting activities,” Richardson said.

“Because we had all the communications and everything in place, we were constantly kept notified of what was going on in each and every aspect of fire-fighting.”

He said more than 100 messages came through each group in an hour.