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State of Fire Brigade Services in the Western Cape

State of Fire Brigade Services in the Western Cape. Report to Premier’s Co-ordinating Forum 18-19 November 2009. Purpose. To present the findings and recommendations of an investigation into Fire Services in the Western Cape. CAPS Fire Investigation.

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State of Fire Brigade Services in the Western Cape

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  1. State of Fire Brigade Servicesin the Western Cape Report to Premier’s Co-ordinating Forum 18-19 November 2009

  2. Purpose To present the findings and recommendations of an investigation into Fire Services in the Western Cape

  3. CAPS Fire Investigation • The Minister of Local Government in the Province has an Advisory Committee of Fire Services Experts called “CAPS” (Category of Authorised Persons) • The CAPS Advisory Committee advises the Minister and oversees fire services investigations • Investigation of Fire Services in the Province commissioned in 2008 and completed in May 2009 • Investigation into 5 Districts (City not included) • Presented to Minister Bredell in October 2009

  4. General Findings • Fire brigade services in the Province generally in a poor state (with some exceptions) • Unqualified firefighters / fire officers being appointed • Municipalities not prioritising fire brigade services in their budgets or IDPs • Very few municipalities have Master Fire Plans • Public fire safety not receiving attention • Confusion as to roles: district (veld) and local (structural)

  5. Audit Findings • Cape Winelands: • Weight and speed of response does not meet requirements SANS 10090 standards • Call receipt and processing adequate within larger municipal areas • Incident management not fully implemented • Pre-fire planning is not conducted • Building plans are scrutinised by FBS in Cape Winelands • Note: Well-trained officers and fire-fighters and professionally managed services in Drakenstein, Breede Valley, and Stellenbosch

  6. Audit Findings • Central Karoo: • Weight and speed of response does not meet requirements SANS 10090 standards • Call receipt and processing is rudimentary • Vehicles and equipment are inadequate for the risks in the region • Incident management not implemented • Pre-fire planning is not conducted • Training of officers and fire-fighters is generally inadequate for the risks encountered

  7. Audit Findings • Eden: • Risk profile not mapped for use by FBS • Weight and speed of response does not meet requirements SANS 10090 standards • Call receipt and processing is rudimentary • Vehicles and equipment are inadequate for the risks in the region • Incident management not fully implemented • Pre-fire planning is not conducted (except in Mossel Bay) • Training of officers and fire-fighters is generally inadequate for the risks encountered

  8. Audit Findings • West Coast: • Risk profile not mapped for use by FBS • Weight and speed of response does not meet requirements SANS 10090 standards • Call receipt and processing is rudimentary • Vehicles and equipment are inadequate for the risks in the region • District fleet of vehicles generally adequately maintained • Incident management not fully implemented • Pre-fire planning is not conducted • Training of officers and fire-fighters is generally inadequate for the risks encountered

  9. Audit Findings • Overberg: • Risk profile not mapped for use by FBS • Weight and speed of response does not meet requirements SANS 10090 standards • Pre-fire planning is not conducted • Fleet of vehicles is well maintained • Overberg DM makes use of Fire Brigade Reservists

  10. Recommendations: Location of the Service • Should fire services be centralised at C (District) level? • Uncertainty regarding the future of district municipalities, so centralisation not advisable • Recommended: • Fire brigade services to be provided by one authority (veld & structural) • District and Local Municipalities to enter into service-level agreements regarding who should deliver the combined service • Locals must contribute to fire services rendered by the District (or vice versa), and should increase this contribution, given the findings of the report

  11. Other Recommendations • Regulations to be drawn up to implement a standardised incident command system • Training on the system to be provided • Firefighter / fire officer training to be co-ordinated throughout the Province • System should be developed to collect and evaluate statistics on fire incidents • Performance review system to be developed and promulgated in regulations • Provincial co-ordination capacity to be improved

  12. Way Forward • Minister has sent circular sent to all municipalities requiring: • Adequate provision for Fire Brigade Services in municipal budgets • Development of Master Plan for Fire Brigade & Rescue Services and integration of these plans into IDPs • Appointment of qualified Chief Fire Officers • Professional Firefighters must meet minimum entry requirements • Certification to be conducted at an accredited Fire Training Academy or Centre

  13. Way Forward Cont’d • CAPs Advisory Committee in process of drawing up draft regulations (incident command & performance review) • Provincial Disaster Management Centre in process of increasing fire brigade services capacity

  14. DANKIE NDIYABULELATHANK YOU

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