Young Helderberger Zion April was among this year’s class of new firefighters who graduated from the Fire and Rescue Service Training Academy in Epping earlier this month.
The 20-year-old from Somerset West was one of 26 to graduate at a ceremony held at the Alphen Hall in Constantia on Wednesday 5 June. It was exactly a year since the commencement of the training, which followed a rigorous selection process that involved vetting nearly 7 500 applications.
The training curriculum included several specialised courses, such as Wildland Firefighting NFPA 1051, Advanced First Responder, a Respiratory Course, Hazmat Awareness NFPA 1072, Firefighter One NFPA 1001 and Hazmat Operations NFPA 1072.
“The group also had exposure to real-time incidents under the guidance of senior staff during the inclement weather experienced at the tail-end of the previous winter, as well as the very hot and incident-prone summer that followed,” said JP Smith, Mayoral Committe member for Safety and Security.
“They were deployed to fight the devastating fires in the Overstrand area, where they were on the firing line for six days. The fact that the students all finished what they started is testament to their dedication to their chosen field, but also the quality of training on offer at our academy.
“Our new learner firefighters ought to be incredibly proud of their achievements, especially considering the initial number of applications. We are constantly reminded of just how critical a well-functioning Fire and Rescue Service is for public safety. I want to remind the new arrivals that they are about to take on a massive responsibility, and that Cape Town is counting on them.”
April’s parents expressed being immensely proud of their only son, the youngest of three children, stepping up to the plate as a public servant, who in a short period has grown in leaps and bounds.
“I am honoured my son was chosen among only 26 enrolled at the academy and successfully completing the training,” said his father, Keath. “To be in the front line of duty is not easy, but we pray for God’s protection over him.”
April said being a firefighter had actually been plan B. The avid sportsman started his schooling at Somerset West Primary School and matriculated from Parel Vallei High School. He initially wanted be an engineer and began his tertiary studies in this sphere.
The young man had enrolled at Northlink College and been in class for a mere three days before he got the life-changing call, that his application to further his training as a learner firefighter was successful.
“I was so excited,” he recalled, having made the application in February, a week before his birthday, but with a view not to leave anything to chance embarked on another study opportunity, one that meanwhile had materialised. “I immediately left class and called for a ride home.”
For the rookie, who now serves at the Kuils River Fire Station, where he started last Thursday (13 June), the 12 months leading up to realising his dream of becoming a firefighter went by quickly.
The goal now is to consolidate a much-desired career into a successful one. He has already championed his first daunting task, which was to address a group of preschoolers on fire safety.
April expressed being dedicated to the calling to serve dutifully while continuously bettering himself and climbing the ranks.
Keath expressed admiring his son for stepping to the fore, showing commendable adaptability, willingness to put in the hard work and being a team player.
