They died in vain: little has changed since 2018 Bank of Lisbon blaze

The third anniversary of the death of three Johannesburg firefighters in the Bank of Lisbon blaze has opened old wounds with emergency personnel decrying a shortage of equipment.

Simphiwe Moropane, Mduduzi Ndlovu and Khathutshelo Muedi died in 2018 while battling the fire that engulfed the building housing the Gauteng health department.

Reports from four investigations into the fire have never been made public.

The provincial government’s apparent lack of transparency has called into question the ability of the fire brigades.

The Johannesburg fire department, according to provincial and independent firefighters, is in a state of disrepair, with the city lacking engines and basic fire fighting equipment.

The city should have a minimum of 30 fire engines for its 30 stations. It has just 12.

Johannesburg firefighters, speaking on condition of anonymity, say their hands are tied when it comes to fighting fires.

Our fire chief, who is highly competent, is still acting. He is hampered by politicians who seem to be deliberately trying to stop him from making Joburg’s fire brigade effective.

—  Anonymous fire officer

“We want to work, but there’s nothing we can do if we don’t have the fire engines and basic equipment. There is hardly any inspection of fire hydrants, with continuous water cuts hampering our operations.

“Our fire chief, who is highly competent, is still acting. He is hampered by politicians who seem to be deliberately trying to stop him from making Joburg’s fire brigade effective,” said one officer.

Another, who was involved in fighting the Bank of Lisbon fire, said her colleagues had died in vain.

“We prayed things would change, but they have not really. We got some new equipment, but not enough for everyone. We have been promised this month more will come but we are doubtful.”

Wynand Engelbrecht of Fire Ops SA, a private fire fighting company, said Gauteng’s best run fire brigades were Midvaal, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.

“They have equipped their firemen, know the importance of service delivery and don’t let politics get in the way of doing their jobs.”

Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi confirmed that equipment shortages continued and that the city only had 12 fire engines.

“But, they are strategically placed in high-risk areas. They are our first turn out vehicles. Before there used to be 30 fire engines operating daily.”

He said they had received a budget to procure new vehicles.

“The process is at an advanced stage. Our procurement plan will see 15 vehicles, including tankers, rescue vehicles and telescopic and hydraulic platforms, bought this financial year and an additional five fire and rescue vehicles and two telescopic aerial ladder and hydraulic platforms the next financial year.”

He said as an interim measure the city had a memorandum of understanding for support in major fires with the cities of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

Mulaudzi denied that water cuts in Johannesburg affected them.

“Sometimes when we respond to fires we come across damaged fire hydrants, but we always have water tankers to supplement us.”

He said hydrant inspections formed part of their daily duties.

Ekurhuleni disaster and emergency management services spokesperson William Ntladi said their 29 fire stations were fully functional and they did not experience equipment or manpower shortages.

“The stations are issued with fire engines according to the risks in their area. All our vehicles transport water. Specialised fire engines are strategically placed with regards to a risk analysis.”

He said they also had five vehicles with hydraulic ladder platforms, which could reach to a height of 37 metres.

Midvaal municipality spokesperson Simon Ratlhagane said they had 56 operational firefighters and 13 specialised firefighting and rescue vehicles.

“We await delivery of two new rescue vehicles and are procuring a ladder vehicle.”

He said they had one fire station with another opening at the Vaal Marina on October 15.

Ratlhagane confirmed they had some equipment shortages, such as fire hoses, which they were addressing.

“We are also purchasing additional specialised rescue equipment.”

He said they had to conduct 30 high-risk fire safety inspections every quarter, which included old age homes, schools and flammable storage facilities at high-risk industries.

“Of the industrial plants and warehouses, about 85% are compliant. We are assisting five police stations to be compliant.”

Tshwane emergency services department spokesperson Thabo Mabaso said there were 20 fire stations in the metro, with another due to be opened at Mamelodi in October.

“A study conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2018 revealed that the metro should have 30 fire stations.”

Mabaso said the city had 70 operational firefighting vehicles, with 69 undergoing maintenance and two being repaired after accidents.

He said the City of Tshwane had 467 operational firefighting personnel within the fire and rescue operations division, which excluded management and administrative personnel.

“According to the department’s approved organigram, the division should have 771 operational firefighting personnel. Sixty additional operational firefighters are to be appointed by the end of September.”

He said the department had no equipment shortages, with R22.3m spent in the past three years on fire and rescue equipment.