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Spread the word and put out the fires

FIRED UP: Elginan Ndhlovu. Pic. Elvis Ntombela. 01/11/2009. © Sunday World.
FIRED UP: Elginan Ndhlovu. Pic. Elvis Ntombela. 01/11/2009. © Sunday World.

A COMMUNITY that has been devastated by fires now has an opportunity to prevent them.

A COMMUNITY that has been devastated by fires now has an opportunity to prevent them.

In the past few months the Princess informal settlement in Johannesburg has suffered two major fires. The majority of residents lost most of their belongings in the fires.

Last week 150 volunteers, who completed training for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), were given their certificates and fire safety kits.

The CERT programme was launched a few years ago by Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) and FleetAfrica.

Last year 300 volunteers from the Alexandra area in Johannesburg graduated in the same project.

Mayoral committee on public safety member Elgina Ndhlovu said: "You must spread the word, no more fires.

"We cannot only put out fires, we need to learn to prevent them."

The public information and education relations unit's Synock Matobako encouraged the volunteers to use the skills they learnt in the programme.

"We cannot only come to you when there is a problem or a fire. We have to teach you that to be safe is your responsibility.

"Teach people who are not here so they can reduce fire deaths and injuries by knowing what to do."

FleetAfrica chief executive Mokgele Motlana said: "At the centre of our relationship with EMS is our being human. We have a desire to save lives."

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