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MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - Firefighters, many of them from Mossel Bay, commemorated International Firefighters' Day in George this past weekend.
Firefighting units from the entire Western and Southern Cape congregated in the Eden district, where the sacrifices firefighters make to ensure their communities and environment are as safe as possible, were recognised.
International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed on 4 May.
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It was instituted after a proposal was emailed across the world on January 4, 1999, following the deaths of five firefighters in a bushfire in Australia.
While International Firefighters' Day focuses on the camaraderie among the men and women who serve to protect, it also allows the public the opportunity to celebrate and recognise the selfless sacrifices firefighters have to make in the line of duty.
For many, it was both a time to reflect and to pay tribute to the eight firefighters who lost their lives during the recent fire season on the Garden Route.
Memories of the recent devastating fires, with the most horrific being the Knysna fires, will forever be etched on the collective consciousness of the community.
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Race to save lives
"We serve our communities; we aim to protect people, pets, and property. When the bell sounds, we do not care about the status of the person whose life is at stake; we race to save lives," Fire Chief Geldenhuys of the Overberg Municipality said in his opening remarks on day two of the festival that was held at the Garden Route Mall in George on Saturday.
In a moving ceremony, firefighters gathered for a moment of silence as they remembered Ashley Kruger (City of Cape Town), Gert Wilskut (Working on Fire), Cedric Makalepi (Working on Fire), Roland Olifant (City of Cape Town), Heinrich Oosthuizen (Cape Winelands Municipality), John Blaauw (MTO Knysna), Bradley Richard (Bitou - reservist) and Hein Dornbrack (Drakenstein Municipality).
"They never died, they moved on to live in the hearts and minds of all firefighters here today, and everywhere," Geldenhuys said.
Firefighters demonstrated their skill at saving lives in a simulated accident at the Garden Route Mall. Photo: Wynand Small - Oakhurst Insurance
Honourable and noble
Normally when the bell is rung, it signals the end of an emergency, it indicates that it is safe for the crew to return to quarters.
"This is our chosen profession; it is an honourable and noble vocation."
Part of the proceedings included the presence of many young children with dreams in their eyes of one day becoming firefighters like their moms, dads, or the brave teams of participants who took up the challenge to compete in several events that tested their strength.
To these young ones and the young firefighters in active service, Chief Geldenhuys emphasised that firefighters are known for their decorum, dignity and tradition.
The teams had to participate in several items that tested their endurance and strength.Photo: Wynand Small - Oakhurst Insurance
"Make sure that when you take over the baton, our profession benefits from your leadership."
Primary sponsor Oakhurst Insurance assisted in arranging educational firefighting demonstrations, performed by the Mossel Bay Fire and Disaster Management Services at Erika Primary School in Mossel Bay, making the learners aware of fire prevention practices.
Read a related article: Heroes honoured for helping others
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