Spreading fire- fighting expertise

More than 20 people from villages in Qumbu (part of the OR Tambo municipality) were awarded certificates by Working on Fire recently. This after Working on Fire’s fire awareness officer, Wongama Copiso, ran workshops earlier this year on how to be fire safe and what to do in the event of a fire.

Working on Fire (WoF) is a programme run by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEF) aimed at reducing incidences of veld and forest fires.

The awards event was attended by Fire and Rescue Service Manager for OR Tambo District, Miyon Williams, who commended Working on Fire providing the workshops to the communities. One of those receiving a certificate, Mandisa Jafta, said that they are very happy for what WoF has done for them in empowering them with the knowledge to defend themselves in an event of fire. ‘’Our areas we live in are fire prone. In most cases people negligently cause unwanted fires. The workshops will change the behaviour of the community members towards cause veld fires. There is a light at the end of the tunnel,’’ said Jafta.

Wongama said that he wished that he was able to cover the whole of the Eastern Cape province overnight to make fire awareness to communities.