Wildland firefighting is not for the fainthearted. It takes skill, endurance, guts, savvy, passion and a “want” to make a difference.
If firefighters are not in tip-top shape, comfortable with their equipment, acquainted with the local landscape and vegetation, understand what they are fighting against and what they are fighting for, function well as a team and know how to calmly, yet wisely, act in unexpected situations – like a sudden flare-up or a change in wind conditions – it could lead to disastrous consequences.Working on Fire, an award-winning, Government funded, skills development programme, takes the safety of its participants very seriously. After completing a comprehensive initial firefighting training course, these young recruits receive a Yellow Card as part of their qualification. This card grants a firefighter permission to be deployed to a fireline.Thereafter, these firefighting men and women are required to attend annual Yellow Card Training Camps where each individual and team’s “readiness to go to the fireline” is assessed. Only if and when they comply with all of WOF’s requirements are they issued with a new – valid for another year – Yellow Card.In preparation for the upcoming winter fire season, which covers most of northern parts of South Africa, and runs from May to October, close to 4,000 firefighters are attending these two-day camps – either at Kishugu Training in Nelspruit, or at selected venues in other provinces. Yellow Cards show how serious Working on Fire is about safety. It is vitally important that Working on Fire’s brave men and women, who work tirelessly to protect lives, properties and the environment from unwanted wildfires, know what they are doing.During the Yellow Card Training Camps the following assessments are conducted:Fitness test- 2.4 kilometre run: under 12 minutes for men and under 14 minutes for women
- Sit-ups: 40 in one minute
- Push-ups: 40 in one minute
- Pull-ups: 10 per minute for men and 7 per minute for women
“I want to congratulate all our firefighters who have already successfully completed their training camps thus far,” says Working on Fire MD, Trevor Abrahams. “And, on behalf of the Executive Committee and Management, I wish to extend our best wishes to you all for a safe fire season.”
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