State of Fire Brigade Servicesin the Western Cape

Report to Premier’s Co-ordinating Forum18-19 November 2009

Purpose

To present the findings and recommendations of an investigation into Fire Services in the

Western Cape

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DANKIE NDIYABULELA

THANK YOU