Parapara Makgahlela
Working on Fire Gauteng Province has recently conducted a yellow card training assessment camp with purpose of testing the fitness of the fire fighters for upcoming fire season.
The yellow card training assessment was held in Roodeplaat Youth Centre east of Pretoria.
Thirteen Working on Fire teams in Gauteng Province were assessed during the training camp as part of the preparations of upcoming fire season.
Tumelo Mokwape of Dinokeng team in Hammanskraal is one of the firefighters that participated in the training assessment.
’The purpose of the yellow card training assessment is to qualify us to go to the fire line. If you fail it means chances of fighting veld and forest fires during the fire season are slim’’ said Tumelo Mokwape.
‘’Since the beginning of the year I have been training hard and consistently prior to the yellow card assessment. I have just passed my fitness test’’ said enthusiastic Tumelo.
He said that he finished 2,4 kilometers run on 10 minutes:21 seconds
When asked what was his secret to succeed is, he said that he told himself that he will make it and plus earn extra cash for overtime during fire season.
‘’If you are not fit it means you don’t meet the requirements of a veld and forest fire fighter. We did sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups, fire suppression to mention but a few’’ he said.
He further said that he also completed writing an advance firefighting course which entailed basic rules of veld and forest firefighting.
‘’My team will also pass the assessment. I am very optimistic. Though the assessment was intense we motivated each other”, said Tumelo
‘’I have passion to fight veld and forest fires, because we conserve our heritage which is the environment. I am optimistic that I will get yellow card which is a license to the fire line in the upcoming fire season’’ he said
Winnie Ngube a structural firefighter from the Midvaal team said that yellow card was interesting because it is the survival of the fittest. ‘’ If you are not fit you can’t survive’’ she said.
She explained that the training will help them to work long hours and to avoid heat stroke on the fire lines.
Working on Fire’s General Manager in Gauteng Province Avhasei Maswime said that yellow card assessment training ensures that firefighters are ready for the fire season.
‘’Assessing the firefighters is part of observing and implementing occupational and health safety rules’’ he said.
He explained that, despite rainy conditions the province has successfully managed to pull through the yellow card training assessment.
