Strengthening Fire Readiness Across Four High-Risk Settlements

Atlantic Fire & Rescue hosted a focused and impactful training day in Beter Life, where community leadership and volunteer commitment came together to strengthen fire preparedness across some of the area’s highest-risk informal settlements.

The event was attended by Cllr. Sopazi (Ward 33), community representatives, and 40 newly recruited volunteers. Fire response teams have now been formally established across the four surrounding informal settlements: Phola Park, Never Never, Kosovo, and Pantsi Kocingo.

To support these new teams, AFR issued essential fire-response equipment:
• 30 x 9kg DCP fire extinguishers
• 12 first aid kits

“We are here in Phola Park, Beter Life, with the councillor, community leaders and the community, new volunteers for the Volunteer Community Firefighting Program,” said AFR Commander Paul Krüger. “We’re doing fire training on fire extinguishers. This area is flanked by four very high-risk informal settlements, and we are donating 30 9kg DCP fire extinguishers, as well as 16 first aid kits, to be used by the teams that the community has already formed to protect these high-risk areas.”

Councillor Sopazi expressed appreciation for the initiative and the collective effort now underway:
“So, I think it’s a good opportunity for us and the councillors to have good leadership. But now, this is a community. It’s not just one community, but four or five communities. Thank you, AFR.”

Through hands-on training and critical equipment support, Atlantic Fire & Rescue continues to empower communities to prevent fires, respond faster, and protect the lives and homes of their neighbours.

Building a stronger, safer community together.
Salute.

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