Trainee firefighters showcase skills during night drill
A group of 50 trainee firefighters, part of the Ekurhuleni Municipality Fire and Rescue Operations Learnership programme, completed the first half of their training course with an important night drill.
The drill was held at the Ekurhuleni Emergency Services Training Academy at Leon Ferreira Fire Station, Boksburg, on September 1 and 2.
This group was part of the first intake (of a total of 200 students), which will be followed by three intakes of 50 each.
The objective of the programme is to empower and motivate young people through quality education.
The programme will result in 200 unemployed youngsters being trained in the area of fire and rescue operation at NQF Level 4.
This qualification is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.
Upon completion of the learnership, it will improve their chances of employment in the trade of fire and rescue.
For the first six months (from February) these young people, aged between 18 to 35 years, received theoretical lessons on the standards of firefighting set by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) unit.
The remaining six months will focus on practical firefighting and rescue training at various fire stations in Ekurhuleni, to where they will be dispatched.
This group’s tough training will come to an end at the end of January next year.
Under the supervision of their instructors, the trainees battled highly-flammable jet fuel fires from several fuel storage tanks during the drill and successfully extinguished them all.
Different scenarios were played out so that they could be equipped to handle any situation, even when the temperatures are reaching maximum degrees Celsius.
“This learnership is the most challenging,” said Gerald Moswathupa, Ekurhuleni district manager fire and rescue training.
“It is more difficult to fight a fire at night than in daylight, therefore it is important to work together in keeping everyone safe.”
The night drill also allows family members and friends to see the students in action.
“The successful completion of this group’s first six months of training is all due to teamwork between me, the training instructors and the operational instructors,” said Moswathupa.
He told the Advertiser that he is very proud of this group of trainees, as they joined the learnership programme without knowing what to expect.
“This is one of the best groups I have had to take through night drill. Their hard work and dedication is evidence of their love for the (fire) department.
“Good firefighters will come from this group.”
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