Special procession held

Gallery Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - International Firefighter's Day (IFFD) is observed each year on 4 May. On this date the public are invited to remember the past firefighters who have died while serving our community.

At the same time, we can show our support and appreciation to the firefighters worldwide who continue to render an excellent service throughout the year.

PHOTO GALLERY: Internasionale Brandbestrydersdag

Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services engaged in a motorcade procession on Thursday, 4 May, from the fire station to the Point area, where a moment of silence was held for colleagues who lost their lives.

Facts about the local fire station

Mossel Bay Fire Rescue and Disaster Management Services employs 50 firefighters and has a fleet of 25 vehicles. Fourteen staffers and three dedicated control centre staff cover a shift.
In South Africa, women were only allowed into active service as firefighters in the 1980s. The first female fire fighter employed in Mossel Bay and the Southern Cape Region is Ann Supra-Vertue, who is currently station commander: operations, logistics and control. She joined Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services in September 1997. The second is Annelize Lamprecht-Vertue, who was appointed in March 1998. She is currently the fire chief at Witzenberg Municipality.
The local fire station serves an area of 2007 square kilometers, comprising the Mossel Bay Municipal area.
A 24-hour emergency service is provided to all residents and visitors within the municipal area.
A firefighter has, from when a distress call is received, one minute to get dressed in the necessary protective gear and another minute to get into the response vehicle.

How it started

IFFD was instituted after a proposal was made on January 4, 1999, following the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bush fire in Australia.

The date chosen for International Firefighter's Day was linked to the feast day of St Florian (the patron saint of all firefighters). St Florian was the first known commander of one firefighting squad in the Roman Empire. He and colleagues died, protecting the same humane ideas which firefighters all over the world share even today.

VIDEO - Internasionale brandbestrydersdag in Mosselbaai herdenk

Jovan Roach (4) from Johannesburg was visiting Mossel Bay at the time the firefighters had their procession to the Point. Firefighter Bertus Vermeulen posed for a photo with Jovan.