AfriForum Brandweer: 10 out of 10 for the first 100 days (and that in just 6 minutes)

Since AfriForum Brandweer, the civil rights organisation’s fire service, moved its fire truck into Bloemfontein, exactly 100 days ago today, this private fire service has maintained an average response time of just over six minutes to the 30 emergencies that were responded to in that period. This success means that the quick response to the 13 house fires, 13 veldfires, three automobile fires and one rescue operation handled in Bloemfontein in the past more than three months has helped ensure that damage is significantly limited.

According to Tarien Cooks, Disaster Management Specialist at AfriForum, these are minutes that play a critical role in the protection of human lives and assets, “because every minute can make the difference between life and death,” she explains.

“Research shows that there is a clear correlation between fire services’ response times and the extent of fire damage. It is precisely because of this that it is essential for AfriForum Brandweer to build on the response time standard that was already maintained within the first 100 days of this private service’s existence,” emphasises Cooks.

Every minute can make the difference between life and death.

AfriForum Brandweer’s standard shows, according to Cooks, that this fire service’s response times compare well with those reported in first-world countries and even exceed them in many cases. Although several aspects must be considered to determine the success of a fire service, response time is a critical element. Comparable statistics show that in 2022/2023, fire services in England maintained an average response time of just over nine minutes to primary fires (the most serious type). Furthermore, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an international organisation that sets standards for firefighting, recommends a response time of 560 seconds – or 9 minutes and 20 seconds – for firefighting agencies.

In the meantime, response times from municipal fire services appear to be a serious problem locally. A White Paper on South Africa’s fire services published in August 2020 points to the lack of timely response of municipal emergency services, which includes fire services. Problems that have also been identified include, among other things: insufficient accountability at certain municipalities, a lack of efficient management and poor maintenance of equipment.

Cooks explains that research done in 2010 in New Zealand shows that the cost of structural damage due to fires increases by almost NZ$4 000 per minute of response time. If these findings are applied to South Africa, it can be calculated that every minute that a fire service arrives earlier at, for example, house fires, the ultimate cost of the fire damage is cut by more than R44 000 – and this was calculated on outdated data.

“These figures clearly show that every minute is not only critical in terms of human lives but also to limit the damage. In this respect, AfriForum Brandweer already, in its first 100 days, brought residents of Bloemfontein exceptional protection of life and assets. We look forward to building on this protection of Bloemfontein and its people,” concludes Cooks.

Visit www.afriforumbrandweer.co.za for more information about AfriForum’s own private fire service.