International Fire Fighters’ Day (IFDD), celebrated annually on 4 May to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty, also marked the opening of a firestation in Hermanus.
This year it held special significance for the Overstand Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management and Security Services, as the Overstrand Municipality’s fire brigade celebrated the official opening of the Hermanus Fire Station on the same day.
Overstrand Executive Mayor Dr Annelie Rabie officially unveiled the second phase of the refurbished fire station and new vehicle hangar in Hermanus.
There to celebrate the joyous occasion were members of the Executive Mayoral Committee, officials and other stakeholders, including Etienne du Toit, the Deputy Director: Fire and Rescue Services at the Department of Local Government in the Western Cape, Overberg District Municipality Fire Chief Reinhard Geldenhuys and Louise Wessels, Manager of the Greater Overberg Fire Protection Association
Those present were also entertained by a squad-drill performance of the firefighters held before the unveiling of the plaque ceremony.
Proceedings started with welcome by Assistant Fire Chief of Operations and Training, Angelo Aplon. This was followed by an overview of the history of the fire station by Overstrand Fire Chief Lester Smith.
Hermanus, Gansbaai/Stanford and Hangklip-Kleinmond municipalities officially became Overstrand Municipality in the year 2000, when the fire services came under the Directorate of Community Services.
The service consisted of municipal reservists who had municipal jobs and responded as and when needed. Literally, they would drop whatever they were busy with, drive to the station and respond from there.
Smith recounted that at some point the fire station was also based at the Old Ambulance Station located opposite the Hermanus Primary School.
He said: “It was only after the appointment of our current Director of Protection Services, Neville Michaels, that fire services started heading towards a more professional service with the appointment of permanent staff members. At that time the service consisted of five permanent officials, contract workers appointed under EPWP and the continuation of the municipal reservist force.
“Overstrand Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management and Security Services have over the years thrived in becoming a professional service, with many of the developments occurring after 2013.
“We have since transitioned from Fire Department, to Fire and Rescue to what we are now: Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management and Security Services. The significance of this final restructuring is that more departments were created, along with the official appointment of officials at a supervisory level, specifically the Senior Firefighters, Platoon Commander and Station Commanders.”
Smith pointed out that the fire station building took more than ten years to establish.
“The idea to establish a fire station came from the late Executive Mayor, Rudolph Smith, who was, like our current Executive Mayor, very much involved and wanted to understand more about the fire service.
“It was during one of the Hawston fires that this concept was discussed with him. R6 000 000 was requested [2017-’18 Draft Capital Budget] for the entire project however Council decided to split the funds across a three-year financial period.”
In 2018-’19, R2 480 000 was received for the upgrading of facilities, which went towards the construction of a vehicle hangar. The funds were rolled over to 2019-’20 due to tender processes that were incomplete.
The ground breaking, or sod turning ceremony, was officially held on these premises in Mussel Street on 29 October 2019.
In 2020-’21 another R1 million was allocated for the project, this time for upgrading the facilities and ablution block.
Again, due to tender processes, a portion of the funds allocated to the project was rolled over to 2021-’22. Over the two financial years the Fire Department received R3 480 000.
Smith stated the third, and hopefully final, phase of construction and upgrading of facilities is due.
“With this we hope to extend our appliance bay and create an office block on the second story with a lecture room, conference room and Incident Command Centre,” he said.
The Mayor not only paid tribute to the firefighters, volunteers and emergency personnel across the Overstrand, but to the whole of the Protection Services Directorate.
Between 1 January and 3 May 2022 it attended to 255 wildfires, 82 vehicle related incidents, 52 structural incidents, five hazmat incidents, nine rescues and four social distress calls.
She also thanked Reinhard Geldenhuys of the Overberg District Municipality Fire Department and all other organisations involved for their support in responding to a fire.
Rabie applauded the 58 full-time firefighters of Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services for doing amazing work.
She advised everyone always to have a pre-packed grab bag with essentials at hand, as it is hard to think clearly when told to evacuate in the event of a fire.
“Thank you for putting your lives at risk to help others. Stay safe and stay strong,” Rabie said.
The day was concluded with the reading of the Fireman’s Prayer, followed by the Ringing of the Bell in honour and respect of those who had died.
The farewell was tinged with sadness, as all firefighters gave a final salute to two of Overstrand’s firefighters, Herald Jacobs, who lost his life while battling a fire in 2011, and Zolile Bosi, who died from Covid-19-related issues in 2020.
Smith thanked the following service providers who were part of Phase 2: Alert Development (main contractor) and Engelbrecht and Scorgie (Design and Project Management).
He also thanked MBD Joinery Hermanus, International Slab Sales (Cape Town), Natural Stone Design, CP&B Hermanus, Davidson Boards Hermanus, R Tac Hermanus and Goozi Hermanus for their “generous assistance” and Chief Fire Officer Reinard Geldenhuys of the Overberg and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Heinrich Louw of the Cape Winelands.