SANParks Sullivan Fire Photographer
South African Fire Fighter in Action! Photo Cred: Justin Sullivan

In a South African first, Dainfern Lifestyle Estate has partnered with Fire Ops SA to launch a Fire Station that will serve the greater Fourways community.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa (08 April 2021) – A small flame can become life-threatening in just two minutes; in five minutes, it could take over your entire home… and with only four to seven Fire Engines in the entire Johannesburg region, Dainfern Lifestyle Estate decided to take matters into their own hands and have created a new facility to protect their own residents as well as the greater Fourways community.

Mlimandlela Ndamase, the mayoral spokesperson, recently stated that Johannesburg only has four to seven operational fire engines on any given day. This means that the city, which has more than 1,4 million households, 5,5 million people and is spread over 1,645 km2, now has to turn to neighbouring metros or private companies for assistance.

This is why the Estate decided to invest in their own Fire Station, which will also serve the greater Fourways Community.

“South Africans have become used to paying for security but firefighting is also an essential service to the greater community. With the current state of our COJ fire stations and vehicles shortages, we made the call as we need to ensure our residents are always protected, be it medical, security or fire,” Peet Trollip, Head of Security on the Estate explains.

The new Fire and Paramedic facility offers the emergency team a base to work from while on shift, but this decision has also made the Estate one of the only in the country to offer on-site security, medical and fire assistance.

“I have seen what a fire can do to a family and how quickly you can lose everything, a security guard can only do so much to fight a fire, but the professionals – who train to do this – can fight the hot zones and get fires under control,” Peet Trollip said.

The Dainfern Estate Fire Station used an older security building on the property, which was fully refurbished, offering new dormitories, bathrooms, offices and ablution facilities and officially opened in November 2020.

SA First: Local Lifestyle Estate Launch Fire Station to Serve Broader Community!
Photo Cred: Fire Ops SA

The fire-fighters are also incredibly happy to be stationed on the Estate.

“We love the new Fire Station and are so thankful to have a base in such a beautiful Estate. Not only are the facilities world-class, but they are also in the heart of the Estate, slightly elevated, giving us a great view of the greater Fourways area, allowing us to see if there are any emergency fires,” Wynand Engelbreght CEO of Fire Ops SA stated.

The Fire Station is equipped with all the facilities needed, a Fire Engine, other rescue vehicles, and all the firefighters have been trained in structural firefighting, river rescue and even vehicle entrapment. The team offer this service to the broader Fourways community and, if called out to assist with a fire, or rescue will claim from household insurance.

“I actually didn’t know that we have so few fire engines in Joburg, and it’s quite scary to think about what would happen if a fire breaks out. Super thankful to have our own Fire Station on the property, but knowing that my friends in the area are protected too makes me even happier,” – Dainfern resident.

Anyone in the greater Fourways area can call Fire Ops SA on 083 622 6026 for more info or to report a fire.


Sources: Dainfern Estate | Peet Trollip 
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