The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has upgraded its Advanced Fire Information System (Afis) to deliver information on locations of active fires in southern and east Africa in real time, it said on Monday. The satellite-based fire information tool, developed in collaboration with Eskom coupled with cellphone technology for distributing alert messages (or [...]
Continue reading " CSIR unveils fire monitor to alert to locations of fire "
On Sunday evening Aerocare emergency air evacuation services assisted in the swift evacuation of a young 21year old farmer who suffered critical burn wounds in veld fires raging in the Bethlehem area. Jaco Nortje was celebrating his 21st birthday when a fire broke out on a farm next to the Kaallaagte road between Bethlehem and [...]
A motor vehicle collision occurred this morning on the N2 direction Cape Town, just past the Vanguard turn off. It is unclear as to how the collision occurred but it involved a total of three vehicles, a light passenger vehicle and two minibus taxis. When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene it was chaotic as [...]
Continue reading " Taxi Crashes and Burns on the N2 Highway "
Fourteen veld fires were raging in the Free State on Thursday, the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said. “Five of then are rather big in size,” said departmental spokesperson Malcolm Procter. The larger fires were raging near Sasolburg, along the N1 between Kroonstad and Sasolburg, between Paul Roux and Bethlehem, north of Kestell and [...]
Continue reading " Drive with caution as veld fires rage across the Free State "
On Monday 2 August 2010 the news broke of a horrific fire at the Peter Wessels Old Age Home in Nigel. Initial reports on several electronic and print media explained that 18 elderly people died and over 80 were left stranded with only the clothes on their backs. This morning news broke that four more [...]
Continue reading " Community reaches out to Peter Wessels Old Age Home "
News broke this morning on several radio and television broadcasts of the 18 elderly people that died in a horrific fire in Nigel. The fire broke out late last night at the Peter Wessels Old Age Home and left scores of people without any food, clothes or something to keep them warm. Some of them [...]
Continue reading " Assistance Required in helping the elderly after old age home fire "
A minibus taxi burst into flames after it collided into a bakkie, at the intersection of Carl Cronje Drive and Mispel Street, in Tygervalley. Paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after the incident occurred and the taxi was already well alight. The driver, who was the only occupant of the taxi, was already out of [...]
Continue reading " Taxi Bursts Into Flames After Collision "
During winter in South Africa we experience increased risks of veld fires. Dry grass next to the roads is easily set alight by careless drivers throwing cigarettes from their vehicles. This is not only a threat to the environment and animal life, but also provides unique dangers to road users travelling in the area! The [...]
Continue reading " Pay close attention when driving near veld and forest fires!! "
The biggest fear for many motorists is not being in a vehicle accident. It is what happens during and after this accident and the fear of being immobilized inside a vehicle on fire! But what can we do to avoid this situation? How do we avoid vehicle fire and can we assist someone caught up in this [...]
Ten people were injured, two critically, when two cars collided head-on on the Watson Highway near Tongaat yesterday. It is thought that one errant party crossed into the oncoming lane and the two light motor vehicles slammed into one another, coming to rest at the roadside wedged together. The engine compartment of one of the [...]
