Community Fire Pumps
The First 5–10 Minutes Matter
In a densely populated informal settlement, a small fire can become a major disaster within minutes.
Atlantic Fire Services established its Community Fire Pump Programme to place firefighting water, equipment and trained community members directly inside areas at extreme risk of fire — giving communities the ability to act immediately while professional emergency services are responding.
Each installation combines a 2,500-litre water tank, petrol-driven fire pump and 100 metres of firefighting hose, supported by trained community members who know how to operate the equipment during an emergency.
Because when access is difficult and homes are metres apart, every minute matters.
When a Fire Engine Cannot Reach the Fire
Informal settlements present some of the most difficult firefighting environments.
Homes can be built extremely close together. Pathways can be narrow. Emergency vehicle access may be limited or impossible in certain sections.
A fire that begins in one structure can therefore threaten neighbouring homes very quickly.
Limited Vehicle Access
Large firefighting vehicles cannot always reach fires deep inside densely populated settlements.
Difficult Access on Foot
Narrow pathways, steep terrain, smoke, evacuating residents and densely packed structures can make reaching a fire on foot difficult and dangerous.
Rapid Fire Spread
When structures stand close together, fire can move from one home to another before sufficient firefighting resources arrive.
Distance to Water
Having water available is not enough. It needs to be accessible and capable of being delivered to the fire.
Response Time
In these environments, the first few minutes can dramatically affect how large an incident becomes.
A Local Firefighting Resource Ready for Immediate Use
Our Community Fire Pumps place an independent water supply and firefighting equipment closer to where the risk exists
Each installation combines:
2,500-LITRE WATER TANK
Dedicated water tank
PETROL-DRIVEN FIRE PUMP
Independent pumping capability
100-METRE FIREFIGHTING HOSE
Firefighting hose
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Trained to operate and use the system
From Risk to Readiness
01 — IDENTIFY
We identify extreme high-risk communities where emergency access and response present significant challenges.
02 — EQUIP
A 2,500-litre tank, petrol-driven pump and 100 metres of firefighting hose are strategically positioned within the community.
03 — TRAIN
Approximately 40 community members are trained to operate and use the equipment in an emergency.
04 — RESPOND
When a fire starts, trained community members can take early action while professional emergency services are responding.
Protect the Infrastructure That Helps Protect Us
Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay
Our Community Fire Pumps were first established in Imizamo Yethu, one of Cape Town’s most densely populated informal settlements and an area facing an exceptionally high fire risk.
Dense development, narrow pathways and difficult terrain create serious challenges for emergency access.
Instead of waiting for all firefighting capability to reach the community from outside, we asked:
“What firefighting capability can we safely put inside the community before the fire starts?”
The Community Fire Pump Programme is our practical response.
5–10
MINUTES
A Critical Window
In a densely populated settlement, the first few minutes of a fire can dramatically influence how large the incident becomes.
Early intervention may help contain a developing fire before it spreads through a much larger section of the community.
Community Fire Pumps are not a replacement for professional firefighters or emergency services.
They provide an additional layer of community response during those critical first minutes.
Equipment Needs Trained People
The most important part of a Community Fire Pump isn’t only the tank, pump or hose.
It is the people trained to use it.
Atlantic Fire Services trains approximately 40 community members per installation, creating a local network of trained people who understand how to mobilise and operate the equipment safely during an emergency.
They are already within the community. They know the pathways, access challenges and vulnerable areas
Equipment creates capacity. Training makes that capacity usable.
Put Firefighting Capability Where It Is Needed Most
A Community Fire Pump is more than a water tank.
Funding enables Atlantic Fire Services to place water, pumping capability, firefighting hose and trained community members directly inside extreme high-risk areas.
Your support can help fund:
2,500L Water Tanks • Petrol-Driven Pumps • Firefighting Hoses • Community Training • Equipment Maintenance • Transport & Logistics • Expansion Into More High-Risk Communities
Every additional Community Fire Pump strengthens the ability of a community to take action during the critical first minutes of a fire.
We cannot always change the access. But we can change how prepared a community is when fire starts.