Often our firefighters are attacked while trying to undertake their duties, or they may have their equipment seized by desperate community members who want to rather try and protect their own belongings.
Firefighting is a very complex qualification that requires the firefighter to make, sometimes difficult decisions. At times, it may be needed to leave a fire that has already consumed a structure, but rather to get ahead of it and prevent the further spread and destruction.
When the youth of Hangberg gathered to watch the firefighters attack the fire which started yesterday, the firefighters used the opportunity to engage with the you, teaching them about the art of firefighting and explaining some of the reasoning used.
When the need came to couple additional hose lines, the youth were only to ready to lend a hand towards firefighting efforts.
Some of the youth gathered behind the firefighters and demanded they wanted to assist, helping to drag additional hosing across the mountain side as firefighters advanced.
Once the fire had been subdued, firefighters needed to damped down on the area, to prevent smouldering vegetation from reigniting.
The youth themselves were again only to happy to assist, by themselves being given a smaller jet and having to dampen down the area.
Firefighters are trained and have specific skills and qualifications. More than this, they are 'friends' and there to assist.
Yesterday that relationship was formed in the community of Hangberg, Houtbay.