 | Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Services ready for action
16 April 2025 | Press Releases |
15 April 2025
Drakenstein Municipality's Fire and Rescue Services operate from four stations, strategically placed across the Municipality's area of jurisdiction. These stations are situated in Paarl (the main station), Mbekweni, Wellington and Saron, and are sufficiently capacitated to deal with their daily tasks and major incidents.
The Municipality's Fire and Rescue Services have an impeccable firefighting record and remain geared to continue fighting fires successfully and protecting the community of Drakenstein.
The Fire and Rescue Services' fleet consists of six fire pumpers and five bush fire vehicles, and it has access to specialised equipment such as hazmat equipment and a tabletop ladder with a hydraulic platform unit, fitted with a major pump, to engage in high-rise building fires and rescues.
The Fire and Rescue Services personnel are fully trained in accordance with the South African National Standards, the Municipal Staffing Regulations, and the National Fire Codes, NFPA 1001. The Services also adhere to the NFPA 1500 Safety Regulations for personnel, and boast a South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) accredited training centre, ensuring that its staff is capacitated for their function.
The Municipality's Fire and Rescue Services is the legally mandated authority to provide fire and rescue services in the Drakenstein municipal area in terms of the Fire Brigade Services Act, which is further underscored by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Municipal Structures Act.
The Municipality's firefighting function, as designated by the Constitution, is one of the most regulated functions performed by local government in South Africa. It is guided by the level of danger and risks associated with this function, to the public and community as well as fire services' officials. For this reason, specific rules and regulations are in place to guide training levels, safety requirements, and stipulate the fiduciary powers assigned to the Chief Fire Officer. These measures are designed and enacted to promote and create a safe environment in hazardous situations and surroundings.
Furthermore, Drakenstein Municipality, in terms of presiding legislation and guiding agreements have existing arrangements in place to supplement initial response actions and turnout capabilities. In terms of these agreements, neighbouring municipalities are available to supplement first turnouts (i.e. the first firefighting vehicle leaving a station to go to a fire scene) and responses.
Drakenstein Municipality can during emergency operations source the following resources from the nine different stations of the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) (which also has a fully equipped station inside the Drakenstein municipal area), Stellenbosch Municipality and the Breede Valley Municipality:
- Nine fire pumpers;
- Five light firefighting vehicles;
- A water tanker;
- A tabletop ladder unit; and
A rescue truck with all varieties of technical rescue equipment as well as urban search and rescue equipment.
The CWDM can also request the City of Cape Town to assist in Drakenstein if a need arises. These are all legally mandated local authority fire services in terms of the Fire Brigade Services Act, with all the legislated training and requirements, and regulated powers to perform the function as mandated by the Act. This in turn ensures that proper operational procedures and safety aspects are adhered too - for the safety and benefit of the public.
It is further important to note that, as the mandated authority at fire scenes, Drakenstein Municipality is the only institution that can communicate officially to the public about them, communicate with victims or take pictures. When other organisations start to post on social media about fires that are not under their control, it opens up the possibility for miscommunication. E.g. reporting that two people instead of one person died in the recent fire in Newrest, Wellington; or that this fire could have been extinguished sooner by fire services arriving earlier on the scene, while in fact it was density and a howling Southeaster that prevented an earlier quenching of the fire.
By issuing social media posts based on hearsay and local anecdotes, such organisations spread lies, perpetuate rumours, and misinform an already vulnerable community. This is plain irresponsible, and it is clear that these organisations have another agenda.
In conclusion, Drakenstein Municipality's Fire and Rescue Services are able, capable and willing to perform its function and serve the community with pride and distinction as they have done for many years.
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
