The Volunteer Wildfire Services are recruiting new heroes and have asked the public to apply for a variety of roles that will help with the next fire season.
With Winter around the corner, the Volunteer Wildfire Services have started their recruitment process for the upcoming wildfire season. Winter is the perfect time for training so the team is gearing up.
There will be information sessions for people to attend at their four bases. These are in Newlands (Cape Town)
South Peninsula (Sun Valley, Cape Town), Jonkershoek (Stellenbosch) and Grabouw. You can see which information suits you best here.
The organisation is looking to fill a variety of roles so if you are not comfortable fighting a wildfire, you can help with administration and event planning or driving. Take a look at the available roles below.
FIREFIGHTERS
“Most have day jobs, some are students, others run their own companies – but all are dedicated, motivated and highly-trained to ensure that our ultimate goal of wildfire suppression is taken care of.”
PLANNING & CONTROL
“The men and women without whom our firefighters would be ineffective. This team helps manage fires from behind the scenes, filling specific Incident command system positions or manning a formal control room.”
DRIVERS & LOGISTICS
“The engine room of the VWS. These members keep things running smoothly, tools are sharp and make sure our crews get to the fires quickly, safely and are looked after when they get back to base.”
FUNDRAISING & EVENTS
“Fundraising and events focus on the task of raising much-needed sponsorships and creating awareness of the organisation’s mission to the greater public. All members are expected to attend events.”
To find out if you qualify for any of the above roles, take a look at their detailed list here.
Sullivan Photography regularly shares breathtaking images of the volunteers in action. Photographer Justin shared some of his insights about the volunteer role on his page along with some of his incredible images.
“As glamorous and exciting as the photos may look, being a volunteer is tough work whether you are on the fire line or working behind the scenes.”
“As a volunteer, you will not only learn about firefighting techniques, environmental conservation and the importance of teamwork – you will act as a fire champion to those around you, driving awareness and education on wildfires in South Africa.” – Justin Sullivan, Sullivan Photography.
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