General Safety Tips:

• Keep matches out of the reach of children.
• Do not overload electrical sockets or run electrical cords under carpets.
• Install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in your home – don’t forget to check them at least annually.
• Take care with portable heat generating appliances such as irons, kettles and heaters.
• Develop and practice an escape plan - plan two ways out of every bedroom.
• Never use flammable liquids for starting braai fires or to remove stains from clothing.

What to do if a fire occurs:

• Display your local Fire Department telephone number near the phone then learn it.
• Crawl low in smoke.Never open a door that is hot to the touch.
• Wake everybody in the house.If your clothing catches fire - STOP, DROP, ROLL.
• Have a safe place to meet out of the house.
• Never re-enter the house for pets or personal belongings.
• Tackle the fire if it is safe to do so. 

The Securadoor Fire Blanket

The Securadoor Fire Blanket is an essential must-have safety device for every home and business. Made from 100% glass fibre, it is used to smother incipient (starting) fires, depriving it of oxygen and ultimately stopping it in its tracks. 

The Fire Blanket is folded into a quick release fire retardant mechanism, making it easy for use for beginners.  It can be installed for ease of access in accident prone areas in your home such as the kitchen and is also an essential in every business such as workshops and garages etc. as well as for your car. 

The Securadoor Fire Blanket is available in the following sizes:

• 1m x 1m
• 2m x 1.2m
• 5m x 1.5m
• 2m x 2m 

Order yours today from Makro Online and stop fires before they start!

For more information about our range of security products visit www.securadoor.co.za or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Just over 200 delegates attended the official opening of the Western Cape Wildfire Season at the Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West, today, 28 November 2018 which was held under the auspices of the Western Cape Umbrella Fire Protection Association (Representing all five Fire Protection Associations).

Anton Bredell, the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, reminded the audience that wildfires this year have already led to nine fatalities. 

“Every year the fire season seems to be getting worse. Conditions across the province are hazardous following the devastating three-year drought that has seen lots of brush and veld die. If the veld catches alight and the wind takes the flames, the results can be devastating.

”To showcase some of the resources that are available in the upcoming fire season, Working on Fire (WOF) ground and aerial crews (One fixed Wing Spotter Plane, two Huey Helicopters and two Air Tractor 802 water bombers) supported by NCC and City of Cape Town firefighters participated in a firefighting demonstration. 

This fire demonstration highlighted the interaction between ground and aerial firefighting teams and clearly demonstrated how an integrated response is needed when dealing with a wildfire, especially in its initial stages.

“We have access to eight helicopters, four water bombers and eight spotter command and control aircraft that can be deployed to incidents across the province. There are 36 runways available and prepared for these aircraft to utilize in case of need”, Bredell said.

“These aerial resources will be complemented by 1550 municipal firefighters across the province, bolstered by approximately 1020 seasonal firefighters (municipal and other organisations). There are also 27 WOF teams with about 700 firefighters in the Western Cape, and an additional 500 firefighters in other provinces who can be called upon if required”.

The official opening of the fire season also coincided with the hosting of the first major Wildfire Ready Convention in the Western Cape at the same venue, from 28-29 November 2018. 

Key partners at the launch and Widfire Ready Convention included amongst other Working on Fire, Kishugu, SANParks, CapeNature, Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre and City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue.

This two-day convention is focussing on the future of targeting wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and several international (USA and Europe) speakers and local fire authorities and fire protection associations are in attendance.  

Both the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) will also make contributions on how fire authorities can prevent and prepare for fire disasters.

The key focus will be on how, through Integrated Fire Management and its four operational components - reduction, readiness, response and recovery - linked to the Wildland-Urban Interface as the distinct focus, fire authorities can concentrate not only on how to fight these fires, but also share best practices for the prevention and mitigation of wildfire events.

One of the main sponsors of the #WildfireReady Convention, Santam, applauded the organisers and those attending for being proactive in making sure that everyone involved in wildfire management, including communities and landowners, are working towards the same objectives.

John Lomberg, Stakeholder Relationship Manager at Santam said, “It is becoming harder to ignore the fact that climate change has become the “new normal” and that this demands a new response from businesses – and the communities in which they operate. It is for that reason that we support initiatives like the Wildfire Convention. We have to respond with the urgency for transformative collaboration to address the challenges brought about by climate change”.

“The sustainability of our organisations and resilience of our communities is dependent on our ability to cooperate and partner with each other to achieve our respective business and societal objectives’, Lomberg said. 

Listeners to Algoa FM donated R 815 592 in sums of money ranging from between R50 and a R100 000, in response to an appeal made by Algoa Cares Rescue to support survivors of the devastating fires which recently blazed through the Garden Route and parts of the Kouga District.

In addition, scores of blankets, clothing and food parcels were also donated. In Port Elizabeth the food parcels, clothing and blankets were donated at the South End Fire Station, which acts as a relief centre during times of disaster, according to Dohné Damons PR and CSI Manager at Algoa FM.

This relief centre managed the distribution of all collected donations to the affected areas. In the Garden Route, the Eden Lions created a collection centre for all donations collected in Port Elizabeth and along the Garden Route. These donations were packaged and distributed to the areas affected in Knysna and along the Garden Route.

The cash donations were split between the Kouga Municipality and the Knysna Municipality Fire Relief Funds, after a portion of the donation was used to assist the learners of three schools in the Garden Route.

Steppingstones Pre-primary has been refunded after the school purchased uniforms for its learners who were affected by the fire.

Learners from Chris Nissan Primary School and Percy Mdala High School, who were unable to source funding to purchase school uniforms, have received funding thanks to the generous donations made by those who responded to the call to action by Algoa Cares Rescue, according to Damons.

“The school and the entire community would like to express its gratitude for the donation made” says N.J. Myo, principal of Chris Nissen Primary School. “Your donation has left a positive impact on the learners.”

“The reach of our call to action through Algoa Cares Rescue exceeded our expectations,” says Dave Tiltmann, Managing Director of Algoa FM.

“We received a national response from listeners who made selfless donations in aid of those affected by the fires and we can’t thank everyone enough.”