The Paarl-based Drakenstein Farm Watch (DFW) Fire and Rescue emergency response group (volunteers) took part in a workshop in preparation for the upcoming fire season. Watch officers shared knowledge and experience, and together discussed best possible strategies to communicate and respond in the season ahead. The DFW has its own radio control room and network with hundreds of farms and businesses connected. The partnerships with both security role-players and local authorities have hugely benefited the area, says general commander Daan van Leeuwen Boomkamp. He said for more than four months a technical team has been preparing for the coming fire season updating the trucks and adding extra features like extra pumps and reels. Three 4×4 trucks with a joint capacity of 17 400 F of water and pumping capacity can make a great difference in any fire fight or damage control situation, especially where water is scarce or not available. The many fast-response DFW cruisers, each with 700 F on board, add to the response power of the DFW.Photos: Facebook
