Cape Town - Cape Town firemen fought a total of 15 215 fires in which 97 people died over the past year – nearly 4 000 more than in previous years.
To counteract the effects of fires, a R40 million budget has been allocated by the City of Cape Town for the new financial year, starting next month, for resources, training and the upgrading of fire stations.
From July last year until the end of May this year, there were 11 160 vegetation fires and 2 573 homes set alight.
Uncategorised fires, which also flared, included fires at factories, landfills and chemical plants.
From July 2013 until the end of May last year, 11 250 fires occurred across the city, which claimed 115 lives.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said the increase in fires could be attributed to drier summers and rapid urbanisation.
Smith said the City’s Fire and Rescue Service was finalising the recruitment and training of 25 new learner firefighters – positions for which thousands of people had applied.
Applicant figures “speak to the high level of unemployment”, Smith said.
“While the Fire and Rescue Service cannot stop people from starting or causing fires, we can put them out as quickly as possible. The statistics reflect just this. While the number of fires has increased, the number of people who have died has decreased as a result of our turnaround strategy for fire and the ongoing investment in fire awareness training in communities across the city,” said Smith.
The city plans to buy at least five new fire engines by September, costing a minimum of R3 million each.
The city has 30 fire stations across the metropole and 884 firefighters.
Ten cameras at designated locations, including Tygerberg Hill, Cape Town International Airport and in Muizenberg, are able to detect fires within an 8km radius and can trace, down to the physical address, where it is coming from.
Smith said the City was planning to close its Epping fire station and convert the building into a training ground. The Epping fire station would then move to Langa.
“The department also wants to recruit more seasonal and volunteer firefighters to increase capacity during the peak firefighting season between November and March,” Smith said.
The City says to report a fire, dial 107 or 021 480 7700 from a landline. Do not call 10111 to report a fire.
Cape Times