With fires continuing to destroy informal settlements and kill many people, Masikhathalelaneni, a non-profit organisation established to deal with integrated disaster management in the Kouga region, recently launched its Fire Ball Outreach Project to empower communities to use the round-shaped “fireball” device to put out a fire within seconds.
Masikhathalelaneni was initially established in 2017 by Freddie van Rooyen to assist community members who have been affected by fires, floods, and other related disasters.
To address the growing concern of rapid-spreading shack fires in the region, the organisation has launched the Fire Ball Outreach Project, joined by Sarah Baartman District Municipality Executive Mayor, Deon de Vos.
This project seeks to empower the community with the tools and skills needed to combat fires effectively.
According to Van Rooyen, the spread of shack fires is a formidable challenge, with no proven preventative measures to slow its rapid progression.
Unfortunately, he said, firefighters often arrive to find that the fire has already engulfed multiple shacks, complicating efforts to bring the blaze under control.
In addition, Van Rooyen said the water restrictions placed in the region create additional challenges for the community to access water when fires start.
Thankfully, with the first 50 fireballs, sponsored by Amandla Omoya Trust, at least 50 active community members were identified and handed a fireball.
These “community champions” were also given the necessary training needed to handle and correctly use the fireballs.
Van Rooyen said the fireball, powered by safe and reliable lithium, is designed to be activated when it encounters open flames.
Upon activation, the fireball rapidly disperses the fire, effectively acting as a fire extinguisher that can suppress and contain the blaze within seconds.
“The community is familiar with the recipients and will contact them if there is a fire nearby. Once they are contacted, they will need to rush to the scene to quickly disperse the fire with the fireball,” said Van Rooyen.
“When the fireball is thrown into the fire, the powder covers a five-metre area. We encourage people to throw the fireball as high as possible and to aim for an object such as a cupboard.”
Further elaborating on the fireball, Van Rooyen said that it offers an additional layer of protection, as it can be mounted on a wall in a house or informal settlement, providing an automated fire response system.
He said in the event of a fire breaking out when no one is present, the fireball will automatically activate, releasing its lithium-based fire-suppressing agent to quickly contain and extinguish the blaze, minimising potential damage and risk.
Referring to the recent devastating fire in Sea Vista, St Francis Bay, which resulted in the death of a teenager and 11 shacks burning down, Van Rooyen said the fireballs would have assisted greatly in stopping the fire from spreading, and potentially saving the young victim’s life.
“I would encourage the community to invest in purchasing a fireball instead of losing everything they own in a fire,” said Van Rooyen.
He said the fireball is a more accessible and affordable fire safety solution for disadvantaged communities, who often struggle to purchase and maintain traditional fire extinguishers.
With its 10-year lifespan and price ranging from R370 to R1 200 each, depending on the quality, Van Rooyen said the fireball provides a reliable and cost-effective alternative, helping to bridge the fire safety gap for those who are most vulnerable.
He further said that the fireball can be purchased at Solar Electric in Jeffreys Bay.
Since their recent distributions were at specific locations in Loerie, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Sea Vista, Hankey, and Patensie, Van Rooyen shared that the next phase of the project involves securing additional fireballs for distribution throughout the region.
“Our aim is to distribute 240 fireballs throughout the Kouga region by the end of this year,” he said.
Thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, he said the organisation has received valuable support from the municipality on numerous occasions.
Van Rooyen further said they appreciate the relationship that they have with the district municipality.
He also highlighted Masikhathalelaneni’s dedication to assisting vulnerable individuals and appealed for clothing donations specifically for men and children, to help sustain their efforts in making a positive impact in the community.
Community member Sabelo Mathole, from the Golf Course in Humansdorp, was a recipient of the Fire Ball Outreach Project.
In a remarkable turn of events, he was able to put the fireballs to good use shortly after receiving two devices from Masikhathalelaneni, successfully deploying the devices to extinguish two separate fires on two different occasions, a testament to the fireball’s effectiveness in preventing devastating blazes.
“When the first fire occurred, I heard the community screaming for help, and when I rushed to the scene people were trying to disperse a shack fire with water, but the fire continued to burn. I quickly threw the fireball into the shack and within seconds the fire stopped,” said Mathole.
He further said that during the second fire, which occurred a few days later, he was also able to quickly stop the shack fire by using the fireball.
“Thankfully, in both these incidents, no lives were lost and some of their furniture could be saved. It was also good that both fires were contained before they spread to neighbouring shacks,” said Mathole.
He highlighted the challenge faced by informal settlement residents, who often must travel long distances to access water points, only then having to rush back to contain fires.
Mathole said this reality underscores the critical need for a fireball to be strategically located at every corner of informal settlements, providing swift and accessible fire suppression capabilities to mitigate the risk of devastating blazes.
“With the fireball, we do not waste time running for water; instead, we can quickly throw it into the fire to stop it,” said Mathole.
“The fireball is a quick way to kill a fire.”
Mathole said it is important that the local municipality assist Masikhathalelaneni, enabling the organisation to sustain its valuable contributions to the community.
Since the organisation is familiar with the needs of the community, he said it is vital that they receive the necessary funding to purchase additional fireballs to be distributed to the rest of the Kouga region.
“We have lost many lives due to shack fires. If we had these fireballs earlier, we could have saved so many lives,” said Mathole.
For more information, or to contribute to Masikhathalelaneni, contact Freddie van Rooyen at 071 825 4840.
