Yip, fire-fighters has soft hearts, that much I do know. If it is remotely possible for them to help you, then they will do it! Politicians and municipal employees will go out of their way to work you over. The trouble is it always boils down to money. If they help, who is going to pay for fuel and water and the people there? If they get injured who is going to cover those costs, etc. This is the root of all the problems. It is the main reason I no longer work at the fire station.
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Cape Town Fire/Smoke Alert Thread
- Thread starter Shake&Bake
- Start date
medicnick83
Paramedic
samisty
Well-Known Member
OK so next time I bring cooldrinks etc I want them to go to you guys specifically - how do I do that? I don't hold it against the regular fire fighters that politics (MONEY) gets in the way - but I really think you guys are amazing!!!
Oh and I will get this to Carte Blanche and get a whole group of others to do so as well so perhaps it will get noticed.
Oh and I will get this to Carte Blanche and get a whole group of others to do so as well so perhaps it will get noticed.
No, samisty! The guys on the ground do a great job! Every person at a fire needs food and drinks. These guys are worse off than we are. The municipalities does not buy them food or drinks, they rely like we do on donations. I have worked with them, and felt so bad regarding their food, or should I say, lack of food, that I excused myself from the fire line, drove to McDonalds and bought 60 burgers and brought it back to the fire line. Remember these guys are on 24hour shifts. It sometimes means they get nothing to eat or drink for most of the day if they stay at a major fire. I have seen these firemen go without food or drink for 16hours. I dare any other person to do their physical job without food or drink! This is really a sad state of affairs!!
Oh yes, and before anyone says but there is an Incident command and donations are delivered. There are certain firetrucks that don't move from dangerous areas in big fires. It is normally these guys and girls, that are left to fend for themselves. Nobody drives around and delivers food to these folks, or at least no one used to. At least I know Delta Search and rescue in the Helderberg area has stepped up to the plate. I have seen them deliver musch appreciated food and drinks to the fire truck out in the field. Maybe they are the best place to contact in order to get food and drinks to the correct place where needed!?
And while I am on a roll, when we have major fires on table mountain the general public delivers food to Newlands. We then prepare the food and normally we deliver it to areas needed. I have been on kitchen duty during a major fire in the past and had to prepare 700 sandwitches for all fire personel. I did this while I was waiting for transport to take me to the fire.
samisty
Well-Known Member
OK so who do we contact - details please SFX as I would like to ensure the goodies go to the right places.
It seemed weird to me this week delivering stuff to Vergelegen when the guys were just accross the road from me at Sir Lowry's Pass - I would have liked to get it to them directly (and less driving to the other side!).
samisty
Well-Known Member
My mouth is hanging open in amazement....I have just been reading a thread on another forum - this is sad and disgusting to read....
Quote:
Re: Somerset West Fire 23 February 2009
Postby Snoopy on Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:37 pm
My wife and her staff decided put some money together to take the fire fighters some food a refreshments out here today...
These guys have been working 10 hour shifts around the clock...When her team got to the chaps, the fireman in charge burst out in tears saying that they are ready to start eating leaves (and there's not much of that left around here anymore)...and was very grateful for receiving this for his team.
Now this is how weird the world has become.
This town we live in has some of the most wealthy people in SA living here, many are foreigners...and it was many of their 5 million Ront homes, imported luxury 4x4s and estates that where saved from an inferno... :roll:
At about 6pm tonight the fire had run right over Verkykerskop...and what's worse is that the SE wind has picked up again this evening...
This was posted yesterday evening.
Quote:
Re: Somerset West Fire 23 February 2009
Postby Snoopy on Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:37 pm
My wife and her staff decided put some money together to take the fire fighters some food a refreshments out here today...
These guys have been working 10 hour shifts around the clock...When her team got to the chaps, the fireman in charge burst out in tears saying that they are ready to start eating leaves (and there's not much of that left around here anymore)...and was very grateful for receiving this for his team.
Now this is how weird the world has become.
This town we live in has some of the most wealthy people in SA living here, many are foreigners...and it was many of their 5 million Ront homes, imported luxury 4x4s and estates that where saved from an inferno... :roll:
At about 6pm tonight the fire had run right over Verkykerskop...and what's worse is that the SE wind has picked up again this evening...
This was posted yesterday evening.
medicnick83
Paramedic
My waterbottles are filled from waterbottles I keep in the fridge. And then on the fire line I give them flavouring from packets of game I carry in my backpack! Mmmmm! I must admit I must refill my backpack. I am all out!
medicnick83
Paramedic
I don't take enough stuff to the fireline, especially with regards to ice cold water... I hated ice cold water before I joined VWS... now I have like 8 water bottles that are semi frozen at home... ice cold water is like... the most amazing thing ever on a fire line.
When it comes to water, I started with a 2 x 1l bottles. Then moved over to 1x2L and 1x1L bottle. This was still not enough. I now carry the 2x2L bottles in my battle jacket. Only on major fires when I am there the whole day does this run out, or when other people, lend some.
When it comes to water, I started with a 2 x 1l bottles. Then moved over to 1x2L and 1x1L bottle. This was still not enough. I now carry the 2x2L bottles in my battle jacket. Only on major fires when I am there the whole day does this run out, or when other people, lend some.
I reckon on keeping a minimum of 5 litres. More is possibly needed when dealing with really hot fires.