Dear members, sponsors and friends of the DFW Fire & Rescue Non-Profit driven and Public Benefit registered Company/Organisation.

Enormous Fire Season Challenges

We are facing a very tough fire season, despite our previous efforts and investments to get enough resources and build the right vehicles and pumps, and train enough firefighters, which turned out to be right.

We are experiencing the most expensive fire season ever, with 22,000 hectares already lost in our area and great damage to buildings, businesses, and wildlife. The local authorities are asking the National Government to declare a state of emergency and provide extra funding. In this situation, we hope everyone appreciates being able to use the resources and response capabilities of the Paarl Based Private DFW Fire & Rescue NPC.

Over the past 4 months, the DFW NPC has already spent an additional R 1,460,000 to prevent disasters in our area. Our first responders have handled hundreds of initial fires, sometimes with the help of the authorities. Our specially rebuilt 4×4 tanker/pumper trucks with designed water cannon bays and our 18,000-liter combined trucks have been extremely effective in firefighting.

We believe in responding as quickly and as forcefully as possible to suppress fires, even though it’s expensive. The success lies in what has been saved and prevented, not just in the firefight itself.

Now we are facing a major financial problem as we often need to stop fires in areas that are not members of our group and have no insurance. This puts a huge strain on our resources.

When we started the DFW Fire response group NPC in 2017, we chose a funding option that includes a low monthly fee and a performance fee for fire suppression. Our efforts to get the Municipality or district on board have been unsuccessful.

We have upgraded our fleet and capabilities each year, investing heavily in training and equipment. To tap into insurance payouts, we need to offer a cutting-edge solution and perfect performance, reducing insurance costs.

We now frequently encounter situations where members call for assistance, but do not have insurance or the right cover in place. This is especially costly for field and forest fires on farms.

We have requested assistance from the authorities, as often we fight fires before they reach our clients, but nobody picks up the tab for that.

It’s concerning to see how few members have firefighting equipment in place. We are running on financial fumes and have asked for financial assistance many times on social media.

We have fought hundreds of successful fires but need everyone on board to keep our community safe, including the local fire brigade management. We hope those who have been served by our DFW teams will pay their bill and forward the claim to insurers.

For those who need to pay income tax, any donation to the DFW can be deducted from your tax amount.

Let’s remain vigilant, as the fire season is not over, and we need everyone’s help to make it work.

Daan van Leeuwen Boomkamp
General commander DFW NPC
Chairperson of the Board

Despite the relentless efforts of the DFW Fire & Rescue NPC in Paarl, we continue to face a daunting challenge without the much-needed financial support.

Our dedicated team, armed with an impressive fleet of 4×4 heavy-duty fire trucks and cruisers, has been battling multiple fires daily for months, day and night, leveraging our reengineered water bowsers and potent water cannons to unleash a massive 6-9000 litre water over a large distance, killing most fires in the bud.

Despite our best efforts, we have yet to receive the any crucial financial aid by the authorities required to sustain our tireless firefighting endeavours even on non DFW member lands.

It is disheartening to see the lack of recognition and support from local authorities, despite our numerous appeals for collaboration and communication. Even as we face another major catastrophe on the horizon, ( and we already saw a lot ) we urge all capable individuals to prepare themselves for the (un)expected.

Over the past four months, our highly mechanized and well-trained private group has spent an additional 1.36 million rand on pro bono firefighting to safeguard our areas from devastating incidents. We are now in urgent need of funds for fuel, equipment repairs, protective gear, and more.

Despite the commendable efforts of municipal and district fire brigades, we must never rely solely on the authorities for our security and fire safety.

The recent destructive fires serve as a stark warning, what happens if the authorities wait too long with a full response or with the right equipment or simply do not have the correct pre-warning mechanism in place, and we implore the community, business and landowners, to join us in this crucial fight.

DFW Fire & Rescue NPC seeks your support as we strive to build the strongest non profit driven firefighting force to protect our area and its residents.

Your additional assistance will enable us to continue our vital mission and ensure the safety and well-being of our community.

Website: www.dfwfireandrescue.com

Email: drakensteinfw@gmail.com

Office: 0847528120

Introducing the High Pressure and Volume Portable Fire Fighting Water Pump

Remote areas or thats roof property owners should pay attention.

Are you a resident living in a remote area with limited access to fire fighting resources? The DFW Fire and Rescue NPC is proud to introduce our latest innovation – a brand new High Pressure and Volume Portable Fire Fighting Water Pump. This specially imported pump is designed to assist residents like you in effectively protecting your property in case of a fire emergency.

Unmatched Power and Reliability

The High Pressure and Volume Portable Fire Fighting Water Pump is engineered to deliver exceptional performance when it matters most up to a 1000 litre per minute. With its high-pressure capabilities and impressive water volume, it provides an efficient solution for combating fires and minimizing potential damage to your valuable assets.

Key Features and Benefits

1. Portability and Ease of Use: This pump is lightweight and designed for easy transportation, allowing you to quickly bring it to the desired location. Whether it’s your own pool, or a neighboring property in need, the pump is readily available to assist you.
2. Pool-Friendly Design: The pump is specifically designed to be easily fed by your pool. Utilizing the existing water source, the pump quickly converts your pool into an invaluable asset during fire emergencies. This feature is particularly useful for remote areas where access to water sources may be limited.
3. High Pressure Performance: Boasting a powerful engine, the pump provides high-pressure water flow, enabling effective fire suppression over a considerable distance. This feature helps ensure that fires are swiftly addressed and controlled, minimizing potential damage.
4. High Volume Output: The pump delivers an impressive water volume of delivering 1000 litre water per minute at a throw length of at least 40 meters, allowing for efficient coverage of a larger area. This capability is crucial in tackling fires in remote locations, where water access may be scarce or distant fire hydrants are unavailable.
5. Reliable and Durable: Built to withstand demanding conditions, this fire fighting water pump is constructed with high-quality materials like a stady Honda 390 petrol engine that ensure its durability and longevity. Count on it to perform reliably during critical situations.
6. Extensive Outreach: The DFW Fire and Rescue NPC is committed to reaching residents in remote areas. Our program aims to make this specialized pump accessible to those who may face increased risk due to limited fire fighting resources. Contact us to inquire about availability and assistance in your area.

Training and Support

To ensure optimal utilization of this fire fighting water pump, the DFW Fire and Rescue NPC offers training and support sessions. Our team will provide guidance on pump operation, maintenance, and safety protocols. We are dedicated to empowering residents with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively utilize this valuable tool.

Act Now to Protect Your Property

The High Pressure and Volume Portable Fire Fighting Water Pump offers residents in remote areas a vital resource to combat fires and protect their properties. Don’t wait until disaster strikes – take a proactive step toward enhancing your preparedness by investing in this innovative pump. Contact the DFW Fire and Rescue NPC to learn more about availability and how you can obtain your own high-pressure, high-volume fire fighting water pump today.

Disclaimer: Ensure you comply with local regulations, receive necessary training, and exercise caution when operating the high-pressure and volume portable fire fighting water pump. Safety should always be the top priority in any fire-fighting effort.

ANCO/DFW CFP 7.1 CENTRIFUGAL FIRE PUMP

Engine Specification:

Type: Four-stroke, air-cooled, petrol engine Displacement: 390cc Output Power: 13HP(9.6kW)

Tank Capacity: 6.5L Fuel System: Carburetor-manual choke Lubrication system: Splash lubrication Engine oil capacity: 0.90L Starter: Recoil & Electric start (12V battery required) Ignition method: Transistor electronic ignition Fuel consumption: 3.5L/h

 Pump Specification:

Type: Single stage centrifugal water pump Inlet Diameter: 2.5″ (65mm) Outlet Diameter: 2.5″ (65mm) Number of outlets: 1 Outlet valve type: Ball Valve Priming method: Rotary vane vacuum pump water diversion Suction time Maximum: 15s Maximum suction depth: 9m Maximum Water Lift / head: 75m Rated Flow: 400L/min @ 6.5 bar up to 1 000 L/min @ 3.5 Bar

The ALL in One package: supplied with 30 mtr 65mm Flatline and nozzle and 65mm suction line and dirty water filter.

price inclusive of 15% VAT and Transport costs to Paarl R 37.150

come and see us for a demonstration and you will be blown away.

For now it is all quiet on our side of the mountain. We hope and pray that it stays that way so that our firefighters and rescue teams can recuperate and regain some energy.

The main message behind all these events should be that we should not give up. We keep going and we do not lose hope. Please report any flare up as quick as you can. We want to prevent anything like this from happening again.

We thank all of you have been so generous in all different ways. Your donations go to great use and your support and kind words are extremely motivating.

CAPE TOWN – Firefighters say they haven’t lost hope as they continue to battle a devastating blaze in Paarl.

At least 200 firefighters struggled to contain the fire on Tuesday.

They’ve been assisted by two helicopters as well as two helicopters from the Defence Force.

The blaze started on Monday on the slopes of the Du Toitskloof pass.

Drakenstein Farm Watch secretary Tessa van Leeuwen Boomkamp says it has been an exhausting couple of days.

“If we lose hope then we must all go home and sleep. It is something I would love to do, but I haven’t lost hope.”

She has commended efforts by firefighters and locals in the community.

“All people helped to evacuate animals. People came from all over to help. The security company has also shown immense support.”

According to the Winelands Fire Protection Association’s Dale Nortje, one house has been engulfed by the flames and four other houses have been damaged.

Another hot and windy day has been forecast in the valley, which could fan flames and hamper firefighting efforts.

Yesterday afternoon, the 16th January 2017

Drakenstein Farm watch, were first responders to anothyer firefight starting around 14.00 hrs at the old pass road in the du touit kloof pass mountain ridge in Paarl. The heavy wind made helicopter operations impossible but the fire was relatively under control till 24.00 hr as it then jumped to the lower section and into the farming area. around 01.30 on the 17th the drakenstein farm watch called all field commanders and active members to the task and the teams with their commanders from “dal Josafat, Simondium, klein Drakenstein, Val de Vie, and wemmershoek” responded with their fire-trucks and resque teams. A joint radio-network and command centre was set-up and our controllers took the joint operation at hand.

The first priority was to get the local farmers and their staff ” farm-workers” out of the area and evacuation centre was set up at Calais Wine Farm. (This farm later, got hit the worst and is totally destroyed ). Hundreds of people were brought by our farm-watch resque teams to this spot, handed comfort and then handled by Paarl police. Our fire-trucks fought bravely to get the flames under control and only a miricle prevented many other dwellings to go up in smoke as well. The drakenstein Farm watch teams pulled back at around 13.00 on the 17th . Our farmwatch was assisted by various security companies, who all helped greatly to overcome gross loss of life. Thanks to especially ADT and Vestus Scola and Paarl police for a massive and well co-ordinated response together with our JOC (joint operations Centre).

The drakenstein Farm watch is fully privately funded, well organised and equipped with fire-trucks, skit-units and evacuation vehicles and runs its own 24/7 control-centre for general emergencies, medical issues and specializes in fire-fighting. For donations to help us fund our fire fighting and search and resque operations and animal evacuation efforts, we kindly ask the public to donate to the drakenstein Farm watch: Nedbank Current account

Nedbank Branch 102905
Account Number 1088514472

16 January 2017 – Drakenstein Farm Watch Rescue teams.

At 01h30 a red glow re-appeared on the Du Toitskloof pass which was sweeping through the Cape Pine forestry towards various Wine Estates and Gueshouses.

The Drakenstein Farm watch deployed multiple teams which responded to alarming calls for assistance to evacuate Animals, People and to cry-outs to protect the properties that were threatened by the fires.

Video of the Fire

After a flare-up yesterday in the du toit kloof mountains in Paarl, the drakenstein farm watch assisted with a big team, trucks and trailers, high up in the mountains. Some farmer dwellings were saved and would have been taken by the intens fire if not for our groups effort.

At least 5 helicopters, a massive deployment of cape winelands fire brigade and our own farm-watch teams were succesfull. As we were nearly finished, we got a call regarding a wemershoek fire and more than 160 kids possibly trapped by flames. All teams rushed to wemershoek and took on the fire and our teams also took care of the evacuation of the childeren. The call for help with that, was positive and many responded, taken all to safety. Again, the drakenstein farm-watch, cape winelands fire and helicopters were succesfull and got the fires out.

Due to expected high winds and possible fire flair-ups,  we all thought it was too risky to return the childeren to the wooden chalets and they were taken elswhere. Great team-work and the radio network proved again it great potential. The biggest concern is the fact, that we are sure we are dealing ( also according the other commanders of cape winelands) with arsinest who deliberately set the fires on. We persue our route, to get the legality in place, to empower the farm-watch commanders in being able to write a fine for starting a fire, for whatever reason so whatso ever, and go after people who find themselves illigialy in the forrests.