Working
on Fire
History
Who we are
Working on fire is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) aimed at providing work opportunities to young men and women.
First
OF ITS KIND
IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Kishugu Group (formerly known as the FFA Group of Companies) was awarded a tender by National Government in 2003 to implement an aerial and ground resource plan for fighting veld fires.
This was the first of its kind in South Africa and it took much research, both locally and internationally, to come up with a strategy which could be practically applied in the unique South African landscape. The result was – Working on Fire, officially launched in September 2003.
20
Years'
WILDFIRE FIGHTING EXPERIENCE
The Programme was initially funded by the government and the commercial forestry sector. Embedded in the Expanded Public Works Programme, the project combined sound land management principles, and best practice wildland firefighting expertise, with the need to create jobs and develop skills.
Given the impact of annual fires across the countryside and in the urban areas, there was a need for an agency that could train a firefighting hand-crew, and could base these teams locally but deployed nationally when necessary.
The overall strategy was to apply the principles of integrated fire management, in order to reduce the frequency and impact of uncontrolled veld fires.
Since 2003, the Kishugu Group has been re-awarded the Project WP9191 tender and the project has grown by 30% per annum. In 2013, Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary company within the Kishugu Group, was awarded the seven year contract to implement the Working on Fire programme on behalf of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental (DFFE).
