City boosts its firefighting capacity with reservists The Fire - TopicsExpress

City boosts its firefighting capacity with reservists The Fire and Rescue Services training academy is currently in the process of training 53 reservists and will, in due course, advertise a further 27 vacancies for this year. The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services section will be expanding its reservist complement by another 27 members. It is envisioned that, at the start of fire season in December, a total of 80 reservists will be available to complement the permanent firefighting staff. All those who meet the minimum requirements (see below), and who have a desire to contribute to the safety of their community, are invited to apply. Reservist firefighters volunteer their time and services to assist the permanent staff. These firefighters will, over time, receive full training to assist the permanent firefighters during incidents such as fires and motor vehicle accidents. They will also receive full personal protective clothing in order to carry out their functions. In order to apply for the post, the following requirements must be met. Candidates must: Have a Grade 12 qualification; Be 18 years or older; Not suffer from fear of confined spaces or heights; Be able to work in a team and cope with stressful situations; Live in the vicinity of their local fire station; Pass a physical assessment comprising shuttle runs, bench press, sit-ups, firefighters lift, ladder climb and a claustrophobia test; Previous experience in a fire-related industry would be advantageous. Candidates must also undergo a medical evaluation prior to appointment. The reservists will not be remunerated and candidates must volunteer their services for at least one 24-hour or two 12-hour shifts per month, and must be available at short notice (in case of emergency). When on duty, they will form part of the permanent staff complement and will man any of the operational emergency vehicles that are available for dispatch at any of the City’s 30 fire stations. “This reservist training affords ordinary citizens the opportunity to benefit their communities. Because they will be performing the work in their own communities, they will be perfectly placed to educate their neighbours about fire safety. This harnessing of existing volunteer interest has the added benefit of making education about fire safety easier – which is a huge issue in many of our communities,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman J.P. Smith.