Heroes-in-the-making got to meet Cape Town’s firefighting squad yesterday as the City celebrated all their incredible efforts on and off the job.
Cape Town, South Africa (05 May, 2023)—The City of Cape Town’s Fire & Rescue Service welcomed young and old to their fire stations yesterday to celebrate International Firefighter’s Day.
The open day attracted hundreds of little ones and their parents and caregivers to the stations where they could learn more about the service and what they do. One little one, two-year-old Izrael Post from Blouberg Strand, even wore his own firefighter outfit in honour of his heroes. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, joined firefighters at the Goodwood fire station where the men and women in uniform went through their paces.
“It is heartening to see so many of our youngest residents interested in the Fire & Rescue Service. They can see first-hand what it takes to run into a dangerous situation to save lives and property,”—Alderman Smith.
During the past summer season, the Service was augmented by 111 seasonal firefighters who assisted in combatting wildfires and enabling the Service to respond to 7 409 vegetation fires between November 2022 and April 2023.
This doesn’t include the thousands of emergency calls to which the Fire & Rescue Service responds throughout the year. Between 1 May 2022 and 28 April 2023, they responded to 22 506 calls and while most of these calls are fire-related, 3 613 were motor vehicle accidents, 1 104 incidents were assaults and many others were medical emergencies.
In addition, the fleet has been bulked up and the Service now boasts 72 fire engines, 28 water tankers, 28 skid units, 17 rescue and 10 aerial vehicles.
Not to mention, two firefighters, in particular, won South African hearts after completing the Two Oceans Half Marathon in their uniforms and raised over R180 000 for the cause at the end of their finish line, and the Volunteer Wildfire Services.
International Firefighter’s Day honours all of their efforts and inspires future heroes to step into their boots.
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