The brave and the daring souls that fight our fires during the peak seasons get there by putting in hard work; 120 positions are open for the coming season.
Cape Town, South Africa (06 September 2022) – With summer around the corner in Cape Town, it means fire season is not too far behind that! To make sure the city is ready, they have opened applications for seasonal firefighters, and 120 positions have been made available.
Firefighters do more than just fight blazes; they help maintain fire-prone areas and enforce fire-related laws when needed. In Cape Town, a city that often has to face terrible fires, having the very best team ready to go is essential.
Opening applications now gives the city time to find the very best men and women for the job. According to the city, seasonal firefighters will work a minimum of 40 hours per week.
“Their key tasks include firefighting duties under the guidance and supervision of firefighters and officers, preparing for emergency incidents, and creating fire breaks along the urban edge.”
During the period of November 2021 to April 2022, the city responded to 8202 vegetation fires. The addition of a seasonal team started in 2009 when a total of 40 seasonal firefighters joined the force. Today that number is 120.
‘The seasonal firefighters not only increase and strengthen our firefighting capabilities, but also provides skills and opportunity to those who are successful,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
‘All our firefighters risk their lives to save others, not only endure long hours in unbearable heat, but they provide an indispensable service crucial to the safety and security of all our residents,’
‘I encourage prospective seasonal firefighters to apply via the appropriate channels. They provide essential assistance to our permanent cohort making the service a force to be reckoned with over the busy summer season,’ added Alderman Smith.
Applications close on the 19th of September. Any successful applicants will also be required to take a fitness test.
The fitness test includes:
- a reach test of 1,9m
- a 2,4 km run within a prescribed time (12 minutes for men and 13 minutes for women)
- 30 sit-ups within 60 seconds
- 30 push-ups within 60 seconds
- a 50 kg dead load carry over 100 m
The top overall performers will be offered contracts as seasonal firefighters and will start their firefighting training on 1 November.
To find out how to apply, check out the City’s website here.
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