WOFIRE NEWS Your update to the latest news Working on Fire Working on Fire - WOF TV News Channel @wo_fire www.workingonfire.org As authorities are starting to count the question on many people’s minds is Mountain. It caused a great deal of the costs of this past week’s devastat- “Who are these firefighting heroes?” damage to the environment and infra- ing fires, which ravaged Table Moun- The fires began on Sunday morning, 18 structure, which included buildings at tain and destroyed buildings and April in the vegetation above Phillip the University of Cape town, and the infrastructure at the University of Kgosana Drive. It spread rapidly towards Rhodes Memorial Restaurant, which Cape Town and Rhodes Memorial, Rhodes Memorial and sections of Table was completely destroyed. A fire ignited on Table Mountain on Sunday morning, 18 The fire spread to property and prompted University of April causing extensive damage. Cape Town students to be evacuated from residences. BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN TOOK ON THE FIGHT The Table Mountain Fire is on its third day in the Western Cape and WOF firefighters spent the night battling flames. Multiple firefighting teams from the the City of Cape Town to contain this much-needed donations - such as food Department of Forestry, Fisheries and fire. The images of runaway fires, and water - captured the imagination the Environment’s Working on Fire helicopter water-bomber drops, the of the entire nation. Approximately Programme joined firefighters from firefighters working tirelessly on the 700 hectares of the Table Mountain Table Mountain National Park ground, and the generosity of the National Park’s vegetation was burnt (TMNP), VWS, NCC Wildfires and people of Cape Town to provide in the fire. Strand team busy doing mop-up operations around the Rhodes Memorial area. A total of 116 firefighters joined the Aerial resources (4 choppers and 2 helicopters and spotter planes result- fight. They included firefighters from a spotter planes) oered assistance for ing in 699 water drops, equivalent to number of bases: Newlands, New- most of Sunday. Due to low visibility about 629 100 litres of water. Behind lands Hotshots, Mamre, Helderberg, and strong winds, they were unable to the scenes various other sta support- Jonkershoek, False Bay, Vredenburg, fly on Monday, but eagerly took to the ed these fireline heroes. These unseen Hottentots Holland and Strand Team. skies on Tuesday morning to “get the heroes included dispatchers, drivers, These teams worked on a rotational job done”. At least 60.92 flying hours managers, aviation ground crew and basis throughout the night to ensure were logged by the Working on Fire provincial sta. that the fire was attended to 24/7. aerial resources, which included Huey Firefighters Aerial Resources Print Online Area Burnt in Hectares Number of drops Broadcast Many people in and around Cape Programme was instrumental in fight- operations, unseen, high up in the Town probably will not know that the ing these fires. WOF ground teams mountain. WOF aerial resources also Department of Forestry, Fisheries and were, however, active throughout, played a huge role in helping to bring the Environment’s Working on Fire and for a large part of the week’s the fire under control. Six Working on Fire aerial resources are providing aerial support at the Table Mountain fire. WHO IS WORKING ON FIRE? Working on Fire is funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and was launched in September 2003. The Programme is one of the leading government job-creation and poverty alleviation Programmes, which recruits and trains young people into becoming professional veld and forest firefighters. The Programme has grown from its humble origins involv- ing 25 teams (of 850 beneficiaries) and currently employs over 5 000 personnel, spread across nearly 200 bases in all the provinces of South Africa. At least 31 percent of these personnel are females in the ranks of firefighters, the high- est level of female participation in any similar firefighting service in the world. During the Western Cape fire season, which runs from 1 December each year, Working on Fire has a total of 820 fully trained and super fit firefighters based at 28 bases across the Western Cape. In addition, there are a total of 4000 firefighters from across the country, who could be deployed to the Western Cape, should the need arise. Working on Fire’s aerial resources are operated by Kishugu Aviation and consist of 12 Hueys, 16 Control and Com- mand Spotter planes and 4 AT-802 fixed-wing water bombers. Aerial resources assist ground teams in putting out fires, but dowsing large flames, enabling Depending on The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, the fire season, these aircraft operate from 16 aerial bases sent a message of support to the WOF firefighters. across the country. Support crew include ASV Drivers (Fuel “I salute the bravery of teams fighting the fearsome blaze for over 24 trucks), bomber loaders, helitack teams, Helicopter Safety hours in the face of searing heat and strong winds. We urge them to Leaders and a very proficient aircraft maintenance team. continue to give every eort as the battle is not over yet!”, Minister Creecy said. In the 2020/21 financial year, Working on Fire assisted in the suppression of 2084 fires across South Africa, saving countless lives, properties and treasured environment. The Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. - Barbara Creecy. forestry, fisheries & the environment Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.