CITY
OF CAPE TOWN EMERGENCY SERVICES FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN
MILNERTON
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one
The City of Cape Town has launched the second phase of its ambitious five-year business plan to help relieve the threat of fires – causing unacceptable loss of life and damage to private and public property – and improve the level of fire protection within the city, with the launch of an integrated education and awareness programme at the Milnerton Fire Station.
The larger plan for the Fire Services (which
involves the regulation of fire services across the Unicity) includes provision
for an increase in the number of fire fighters and fire officers, the
replacement of aged emergency vehicles and equipment, the establishment of a
single Fire Service Control Centre.
An important element of this is the use of
emergency services staff in an outreach and training programme in Cape Town’s
many informal settlements where annually, preventable fires cause havoc to both
communities and the environment and strain the resources of the city’s
existing fire fighting services.
This entails the development of life skills among
especially at risk communities. The
initial target groups will be the youth and will aim to equip youngsters with
the knowledge and ability to take the correct action to reduce the likelihood of
fires and also mitigate the effects, should such incidents occur.
The
life safety training will include all life safety aspects and will cover the
total spectrum of hazards vulnerable communities are exposed to on a daily
basis.
“Ultimately, what we’re going to do is create a
safer city, but also specifically a safer environment for each of our
communities to live in,” said Councillor David Erleigh, Mayoral Committee
Member for Safety and Security.
“With time, we aim to engender a new culture of
fire and life safety awareness that will be sustainable within each community
and which is, in essence, proactive rather than reactive and preventative rather
than curative in nature.
“The creation of a safer environment is based
upon three very important factors, each supporting the other, namely, education,
enforcement of codes and
regulations such as the creation of fire lanes around informal settlements, and
engineering – the provision of a safer environment through design and
development; smoke alarms and fire
retardant furnishings.” said Councillor Erleigh.
CITY
OF CAPE TOWN EMERGENCY SERVICES FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN
MILNERTON
Page
two
During an emergency, make the right call by calling
the City of Cape Town’s Public Emergency Communication Centre at 107 or visit
www.capetown.gov.za/107 and from cellphones use 021 480 7700
Issued
by
Rosemary Hare, Mitchell, Wicomb Public Relations cc
P O Box 12521
8010
On
behalf of
The City of Cape Town
Safety and Security Services
1st Floor, 44 Wale Street
CAPE TOWN
8000
For
further information contact Lesley-Ann Erasmus at Rosemary Hare, Mitchell,
Wicomb Public Relations on 021 465 1166 or 082 579 3793
All
news releases produced by Rosemary Hare Public Relations are available on the
website www.rosehare.co.za