Challenging time ahead for those battling blazes

FIREFIGHTERS will work throughout the festive season. They will have the assistance of about 120 seasonal firefighters, who will be employed by the city on a six-month contract.

There will be around 200 to 240 firefighters on every 24-hour shift at the 30 stations around the city.

“The seasonal firefighters will fight only vegetation fires, while our firefighters will continue working on their normal duties with their normal 24-hour shifts. We currently have about 114 seasonal firefighters that we have recruited. However, our goal is to have about 125,” said Theo Layne, fire spokesperson.

During the festive season, more vegetation fires occur. Layne said most of these are usually started around 2pm, when children come home from school and are left unsupervised while they are playing in the bushes and subsequently start fires.

Additional dive units will be at Strand, Lakeside, Milnerton and Roeland Street fire stations. The department has two contracted helicopters from 1 December to 30 April should there be any major fires this festive season. Layne said they could also call on the defence force for assistance. They would also look to the provincial government, should they require additional helicopters.

The department has the assistance of Table Mountain National Park and Wildfire fighting services.