http://bit.ly/lJR7Li - Incompetent Fire Departments let children burn to death, leave families homeless and destitute - let shops and even bird-sanctuaries burn down
Municipal fire-fighting services show serious cracks in skills: from Lydenburg, Kempton Park to Boksburg; children have burned to death, families become homeless, businesses burn down.
Many families and property-owners are left destitute. Fire-tenders reportedly break down, fire-departments don’t answer emergency phones, many residents complain of firetenders showing up far too late; firefighters who don’t even have the most basic knowledge of handling and maintaining the equipment.
Even Johannesburg International Airport could be in serious trouble if it ever had a major air-crash disaster or a very large, life-threatening fire where it would need to call up the fire-tenders from surrounding municipalities such as Kempton Park and Boksburg. The Kempton Park Look Local newspaper publishes regular news-items indicating that there are very serious failures in firefighting skills: with homes and businesses burning down because fire-tenders don’t show up in time; with equipment breaking down; and firefighters unable to maintain the equipment in working-condition.
South Africa’s long, proud firefighting tradition is going down the drain of black-economic empowerment laws…
There has always been a traditional group of excellent, experienced, and very dedicated fire-fighters in South Africa. Many fire-departments are/were manned by dedicated volunteers such as Sandown Station 15: located on Linden Road, Sandown – and many firefighters get their training at the Brixton Firefighters’ Training School in Johannesburg. However increasingly it is now also seen, for instance on the news-items below, that municipal-controlled fire-fighting services are breaking down more and more: endangering the lives of residents because of poor training, poor maintenance and poor response times… link
Two children burn to death in Lydenburg because the only municipal fire-tender had ‘broken down’…
On April 13 in Lydenburg, Angelique, 3, and Nico van Niekerk, aged 2, were burnt to death because the only municipal firetender had ‘broken down.’ Working-class platinum-mine worker Jan van Niekerk and his wife Belinda lost their children in the fire which gutted their rental home: the children’s scorched bodies were found embracing each other, hiding behind their bed. Their mother, who suffers from leukemia, sustained burn-wounds trying frantically to rescue them. The municipality has offered neither assistance, nor apologies or any condolances to the grieving, homeless and now totally destitute Van Niekerk family.' link
‘Ekurhuleni' (Boksburg region) fire-brigade tender ‘ malfunctions ‘ - Venter family loses house at 9 Malgas Street, Birch Acres on June 18, 2011
27 June 2011 Mr Koos and Mrs Dawn Venter's house at 9 Malgas Street, Birch Acres, burnt down on June 18. They, as well as their two daughters and granddaughter, are now homeless. Their one daughter was woken up by the light of the fire that was already raging in the kitchen. She woke up her parents, her child of seven, sister, as well as an uncle and aunt that stayed with them for the weekend. The fire brigade took 45 minutes to arrive after the house caught fire shortly after 4.30am. The first tender to arrive had no water -- and a fire officer could not open the fire hydrant.They said only after a second fire truck had arrived, could the fire be extinguished- far too late. (source: Annalie Reid) http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/kempton-park/kempton-park-news-general?oid=4499779&sn=Detail&pid=490119&House-destroyed-because-of-incompetence--says-family
The official spin from department spokesman Vincent Khoza was that the ‘driver operator tried to engage the pump into pump gear so that they could get water to start with fire fighting, but unfortunately the fire engine did not respond.’ He claimed ‘a backup was on the way and arrived within 10 minutes. The fire was brought under control, was subsequently extinguished and three bedrooms were saved.” He blamed ‘a mechanical failure.’ He didn’t explain why they don’t have competent mechanics to keep the fire-engines working properly. He ‘ reminded residents to call 011-458-0911 (paid number) or 10177 (toll free) or 112 cell phones for all life threatening emergencies. link http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/kempton-park/kempton-park-news-general?oid=4499779&sn=Detail&pid=490119&House-destroyed-because-of-incompetence--says-family
Fruit-stall co-owner Steps Posramos – rushed to fetch fire-tenders from Spartan fire brigade himself…
Fruit-stall owner Steps Posramos was burnt in the fire which gutted his Pretoria Road store in Kempoton Park. He had to rush to the Spartan fire department himself to alert them - because the fire brigade was so slow to respond.(source: Bernice Maune). The fire destroyed a cafe and fresh produce shop on June 5. Mr Steps Posramos, the co-owner of the fruit shop, refuted claims that the fire department ‘had reached the scene within minutes.”On the contrary: he first was alerted by a call from Alpha Security, notifying him of the fire at about 5am. He immediately called the fire brigade and the owner of the building before rushing to the scene himself. He said he waited for 10 to 15 minutes before driving to the fire department in Spartan. "I hooted until someone came out and I told them the place was on fire. They claimed they did not get the call that the shops were burning." Fire trucks were dispatched and followed Posramos to the scene. "One of the firefighters sprayed water on the door while I tried to unlock it. The steam burnt my face. When I asked for help from the ambulance, I was told they did not have supplies. I had to drive to Arwyp (for medical care) myself," said Posramos.He further alleged that one of the fire trucks had no water and another was leaking water. "Police and forensic workers are investigating the cause of the fire. Fortunately we have insurance," said Posramos. Again, spokesman Vincent Khoza denied it happened that way. link
22 June 2011 Angela Kelly: Fire destroys another home as fire brigade problems continue
Silk family left homeless: about 10 people called the fire department but could not get through to the emergency services
------------------------------------------------------------------
30 June 2011 | Bernice Maune AS a family of six watched their home go up in flames the fire brigade battled to contain the blaze which destroyed their Glen Marais home and most of its contents. This was the fourth major fire in Kempton Park in the past few weeks. Three homes and a business have burnt down.The fire started at about 1pm on Tuesday. The Silk family, comprising four children and their parents, were left homeless. The cause of the fire is unknown.The four children and a helper who were in the house at the time said by the time they noticed the fire, it had already spread to most of the house. Miss Olecia Sibanda said she heard the hysterical screams of one of the children while she was cleaning upstairs."I heard shouts of fire, fire and ran for my life," she said.
Mrs Charlotte Redgate, a neighbour, said once she and her family were alerted to the fire, they assisted and helped to carry valuables out of the house. Redgate was furious at the service she received from the fire department."About ten people called the fire department and police but could not get through to the emergency services. I called 10177 and each time I waited for them to transfer me, the line was cut," said Redgate. Two reaction officers from MML Security came to the rescue as they managed to get hold of the fire brigade through a direct line.Mr Reinhardt Kruger and Francois Bishop said they were in the area when they saw the smoke.
"We arrived and saw the smoke coming from the thatch roof. We called the fire brigade and got through. We then rushed to the house and started pulling out valuables and the dogs," they said. The fire brigade eventually arrived but by then it was too late as the house was completely on fire.A small trck was dispatched but seemed ill-equipped to handle the extent of the blaze. Upon EXPRESS' arrival only one fireman was trying to douse the flames with a hose pipe. Pipes attached to the hose pipe were leaking profusely while the fireman struggled to restrain the fire.A neighbour assisted by standing on the roof of his house, hose pipe in hand, watering down the thatch roof.n hour and 45 minutes after the fire had started, two more fire engines were dispatched to the scene."The real heroes here were the citizens of Glen Marais. Strangers came out of nowhere to help by taking things out of the house. The fire department let us down," said Redgate.
Fire guts cafe and fruit stall: where is the fire dept?
deadly blaze destroys bird sanctuary:
Venter family destitute: house burnt down due to fire dept incompetence:
Bird sanctuary burnt down near airport:
also:
http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/2011/04/lydenburg-firetender-broke-2-toddlers.html
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.