08/02/2016
Firstcare volunteers do it again
What was supposed to be a relaxing day socialising with the Firstcare fire fighter volunteers in Plettenberg Bay turned into a busy day assisting the local fire services in fighting a wildfire in Wittedrift just outside Plettenberg Bay on Sunday 7 February.
The South Plett Fire Protection Agency were called in to assist and the Firstcare volunteers responded to the scene with them. On arrival we found that the fire was rapidly spreading to houses in Wittedrift. Together with crews from Plett Fire, Eden Fire Department and community volunteers we immediately started fighting the fire to stop it from reaching the houses. The Working on Fire chopper based in George was also called in as in some places the terrain was very inaccessible for ground crews.
Through amazing teamwork between air and ground crews the fire was brought under control and extinguished in approximately 4 hours without any damage to property and no serious injuries. Some crews stayed on scene to monitor the area in case of any flare ups.
Once again I would just like to expressed my deepest gratitude to the community who brought us cold refreshments on the fire line to ensure that we stay hydrated. Without this assistance from the community our jobs will be so much more difficult.
A special word of thanks go to my teammates, Ian Barnard, Steve Myburgh, Eric and Bradley. It was great working with you guys and with you by my side I will tackle any inferno.
I would also just like to ask the public to be extremely careful when making open fires. Please ensure that the fire is extinguished properly when you are finished. It takes just one coal to start a fire that can burn for days. Also report any smoke immediately to your local fire department. The plantations and fynbos areas in the Garden Route is very dry and the risk of an out of control wildfire is very real. Together we can make a difference.