Firefighters at training camp

The Department of Environmental Affairs’ Working on Fire (WoF) in Limpopo has been hard at work during the last few months preparing for the 2019 Winter Fire Season, which will start on Saturday 1 June 2019.

More than 600 firefighters stationed at 25 bases throughout the province will take part in the Limpopo Yellow Card Training Camp (YCTC) which commenced on Thursday 25 April.

Wof Provincial spokesperson Matema Gwangwa said the firefighters will also take part in various assessments as they prepare themselves for the upcoming winter fire season. She said the YCTC
aims to ensure that all firefighters are fit and ready to be able to be on active duty during the fire season.

“During the YCTC, personal safety plays a major role at WoF and all firefighters will be taken through the personal safety measures, where they will be taught on how to react when they are
trapped by the wildfires,” she said.

Only firefighters who are professionally trained to suppress veld fires qualify to attend the YCTC. The firefighters will also be assessed on their fitness level and their readiness for
deployment.

“All firefighters who are issued with the yellow cards will be eligible to be deployed to the fire line across the province as and when needed,” Gwangwa added.

The YCTC is taking place at Vaalwater Airstrip in the Waterberg District and will run until Saturday 4 May. The camp is open to the public for viewing.

— The BEAT