Why no ‘Plan B’ at the fire station?

Seven people living in an Empangeni home lost everything they owned when a fire destroyed their residence last Friday.

The fact that there was no loss of life or physical injury was a blessing, but that is of little comfort to those who lost virtually all their possessions.

This goes far beyond furniture and appliances consumed in the blaze; it includes clothing, bedding, utensils, school uniforms and books, computers, cell phones, jewellery and other personal belongings, perhaps irreplaceable heirlooms and special items of sentimental value.

And then there are the important documents that must be replaced.

In this specific incident, the house under discussion is located within walking distance of the Empangeni Fire Station and under normal circumstances a fire engine would literally have been there in minutes, in time to limit the damage.

As it happened, the newlypurchased fire engine based at the station was reportedly unavailable as the agent is dealing with teething issues.

This necessitated a fire engine having to be dispatched from the Richards Bay station in peak hour traffic – arriving too late to prevent major ruin of the structure.

One understands that the fire engine problems needed to be sorted out – after all, these machines are extremely expensive and the council is right to demand the best performance and value for money. Problems must therefore be rectified.

However, knowing that the station was without its main asset, why was there no ‘Plan B’ in place?

The whole of Empangeni and its surrounds was left entirely vulnerable to such an incident which, as we have stated, could have had fatal consequences.

The matter suggests lack of planning or forethought. Some temporary arrangement should have been in place.

Our emergency services should, at all times, be prepared and well-resourced.

The state of the city’s firefighting capacity, in terms of equipment and building conditions, has long been cause for concern.

The firefighters themselves, who often put their own lives on the line, can only work with what they have, and the ratepayers cannot be compromised.

On the positive side, it was good to see the sympathetic response from the public who felt for the devastated victims and offered material help and emotional support.

We all know that in any unfortunate circumstance, ‘it could have been me’.