Fire and Rescue International Newsletter

Minister Hlabisa to lead national commemoration of International Firefighters’ Day 2026

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, will lead the national commemoration of International Firefighters’ Day 2026, scheduled to take place on 4 to 5 May 2026 in the Bojanala Platinum District, North West Province.

International Firefighters’ Day is globally observed to honour the bravery, professionalism and sacrifice of firefighters who place their lives at risk to protect communities, property and the environment. In South Africa, firefighters serve as frontline responders to fires, floods, hazardous material incidents, road accidents and disaster‑related emergencies across urban, rural and industrial settings.

The 2026 commemoration, hosted collaboratively by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), the North West Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality Fire Services, will provide a national platform to:
• Honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty
• Celebrate the courage, discipline and professionalism of South African firefighters
• Showcase operational readiness and specialised firefighting skills and
• Promote public awareness on fire safety and emergency preparedness.

The two‑day programme will include a formal commemorative ceremony, skills demonstrations and competitive firefighter challenges designed to highlight physical fitness, technical competence and inter‑agency collaboration within the fire services sector.

Event: International Firefighters’ Day 2026 Commemoration
Dates: 4 to 5 May 2026
Time: From 09:00
Venue: Rustenburg, Bojanala Platinum District, North West Province

Source: Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Quote of the week
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On International Firefighters’ Day (St Florian’s Day), we honour all firefighters from all organisations, formal and informal, paid and volunteer for their incredible service. We remember the fallen—those who gave their lives in the line of duty. We honour those who served with courage and have since retired or passed on. And we salute all those still on the front lines, protecting lives and communities. This year Overberg District Municipality will be hosting the Western Cape International Firefighters Day at Nampo Park Bredasdorp on Saturday, 9 May 2026.

High-tech for emergencies: PPE innovations at Interschutz 2026 set new safety standards

Long since evolved from simple workwear into a highly intelligent life-saving system: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). At Interschutz 2026, to be held from 1 to 6 June 2026 in Hannover, Germany, the industry will showcase how protective clothing has adapted to new challenges. Whether shielding against carcinogenic particles, connected sensor technology in breathing apparatus or ergonomic lightweight gear for prolonged operations – the trends signal a technological turning point.

A man has been rescued after a sand bank collapsed at a construction site in Ballito. First responders say between 10 and 15 workers were on site at a house on David Place when the bank gave way on Wednesday morning, 22 April 2026. The construction workers saw the bank coming down and they were able to run from it. “Unfortunately, one worker was entrapped in the sand. They have managed to free him,” said IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick. IPSS Medical Rescue, IPSS Search and Rescue, Kwadukuza Fire Department, CERT Tongaat and SAPS Search and Rescue responded to the scene.

Major wildfire at military range prompts NL-Alert, followed by two more, Netherlands

A major wildfire erupted around midday on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, at the Artillery Shooting Range (ASK) near ’t Harde, according to the North and East Gelderland safety region. The wildfire is unusually large for the Netherlands, says Edwin Kok, National Coordinator for Wildfire Management at the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV). He warned that, depending on weather conditions, firefighting efforts could continue for several days.

Fire reported at Lower Sabie in Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga

A fire was reported early morning on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, at Lower Sabie Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, affecting the shop and restaurant. The Kruger National Park Ranger team and other staff members reacted quickly and managed to contain the fire before it could spread to other structures.

Six firefighters injured after flames burn through vacant church in New York, USA

At about 18:45 on Thursday, 24 April 2026, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded to reports of a fire at the First Reformed Church of Astoria at 27-26 12th Street in Queens. Units arrived and observed heavy fire in a vacant two-story rectory. The fire rapidly extended to the church, and units moved into both structures with multiple handlines.

Western Cape fire season shows record early intensity and significant increase in fire activity

The 2025–2026 summer fire season began with exceptional intensity for CapeNature – official statistics showed a sharp rise in fire ignitions, high temperatures, and a large expanse of burnt areas across the Western Cape. Historically, the fire season is considered to run from 1 October to 31 March. However, activity began as early as September 2025, well before the traditional high-risk period from November onwards. Between September and the end of November, CapeNature crews responded to 43 fires. Of these, 31 occurred in October and November, significantly outside historical averages.

In a recent discussion with the IMRF, Dr Paddy Morgan, Medical Director for HM Coastguard, outlined a new triage guideline to support search and rescue (SAR) crews during mass rescue operations (MROs). The Multiple Persons in Water Triage Tool is grounded in operational experience and helps responders make faster, consistent and survival evidence-based decisions when time is critical. The Multiple Persons in Water Triage Tool focuses on rapid assessment and prioritisation in resource-constrained environments.

Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) teams were called into action on Friday night, 24 April 2026, after two hikers became stranded on cliffs above the contour path on Devil’s Peak, part of the Table Mountain range in Cape Town. The pair, aged 22 and 20, had set out from Rhodes Memorial at approximately 13h00, intending to ascend First Waterfall Ravine, a steep and challenging route that climbs from the eastern slopes of the mountain toward the plateau. At some point during their ascent, the hikers decided to abandon their attempt.

This week’s featured Fire and Rescue International magazine article is: Doing the right thing written by Wayne Bailey, USA (FRI Vol 3 no 12). We will be sharing more technical/research/tactical articles from Fire and Rescue International magazine on a weekly basis with our readers to assist in technology transfer. This will hopefully create an increased awareness, providing you with hands-on advice and guidance. All our magazines are available free of charge in PDF format on our website and online at ISSUU. We also provide all technical articles as a free download in our article archive on our website.

London Road Fire Station was built to replace Nottingham’s Central Fire Station, which closed after serving Nottingham for almost eight decades. The station is ideally placed to meet the risks within the city district and support rescue operations across other risks such as the River Trent and major transport links. London Road Fire Station is in the city district and serves Nottingham City centre and its surrounding communities. The station is staffed 24-hours a day, 365-days a year by crews from four Watches (Red, White, Blue and Green) working 12-hour shifts. Also based at the station is a District Prevention Officer who facilitates community prevention.

For the first time, Ukrainian soldiers used a robot to extinguish a blaze burning through a residential neighbourhood following another Russian strike on civilians. After discovering gas canisters at the scene of the fire in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, members of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” deployed a Zmiy unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to avoid putting soldiers at increased risk. The robot was able to douse the fire and prevent it from spreading, while soldiers stayed at a safe distance, the brigade wrote on social media.

Every firefighter needs to train in full gear — here’s how. Fitness in a T-shirt doesn’t translate to performance on a fireground. Your gear changes everything: heat, breathing, movement and decision-making. In this video, I break down exactly why training in gear is essential and walk you through a simple, effective workout you can run with your crew. This is about building real capacity, delaying panic under air and making sure you’re ready when it counts. Train in the environment you work in. Find your limits before the fire does.

Source: Mitch Gourley

Fire ladder training.

Source: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Training Division

Founded in 1686, the Vienna Fire Department is the oldest organisation of its kind in the world. Its headquarters at “Am Hof” has served as the headquarters for centuries, evolving from early horse-drawn units to a fully motorised fleet by the 1930s. The station’s history is also marked by political resistance: members of the force actively resisted the Austro-fascist regime and the Nazi era, leading to the arrest and death of many. A memorial plaque at the site serves as a reminder of those who sacrificed their lives.

Source: Filmarchiv Austria