UNDER the chimes of the bell ringing 15 times to honour the firefighters who lost their lives over the past five decades and the loud siren of the fire engine sounding, several firefighters at the Sidwell Fire Station could only be grateful that their lives have been spared.
Not only did they get to return to their families but they also lived to see this station celebrate its 50-year-existence. Although the fire station achieved this milestone during the first week of this month, it was only recently celebrated.
Speaking at the celebrations, the proud acting senior director, who has been in service for more than 40 years, Wayne Hendricks, reminisced about “the good old” days, when those in charge were extremely strict.
He told the audience about the time their late station commander’s wife had been brought to the station for a visit and how they had just started doing a drill on that Sunday afternoon, one that lasted for hours, leaving their visitor in awe.
“I remember the winter nights when it was raining and we had just come back from an incident. We were then told to clean the fire engine, knowing well that we would be heading out to another incident in just a few minutes. Every time we came back, we had to clean and dry the fire engine. It did not matter how many times.
“That is how we were taught discipline and diligence,” Hendricks explained.
Focusing on the lighter notes, he said that he just had to mention how someone’s meat and cooldrink would vanish from the fridge, not because it was stealing, but just because the firefighters liked to make jokes among each other.
“It was never an easy task but a great one. Every single firefighter at this station persevered and this is why we can celebrate 50 years today. This was known for being one of the busiest stations in South Africa and certainly in the Eastern Cape, but after difficult years, we came out stronger,” he added.
Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Retief Odendaal, said that as a boy driving around with his mother, he would always be in awe of the bright red fire engines he saw from the car’s window.
“Whenever I thought about fire stations, I would think about this one. You are all truly the unsung heroes of our community,” he said.
Apart from thanking them, Odendaal also apologised to the firefighters and said that the metro has failed them in previous years by not investing in them enough and promised that they would do better.
“You have not been treated with the dignity and respect that you deserve. You have done an amazing job and put your lives in danger with a lack of resources. You take dedication and selflessness to a new level and we want to applaud and thank you for that.
MMC for safety and security in the metro, Lawrence Troon, commended the firefighters on their “noble” career.
“Many have lost their lives because of this job. Fifty years is a long time. Those who established this firehouse had a purpose because only something with a purpose can last this long in life.
“I commend you for keeping this place up and running for 50 years,” he concluded.
Following the formal celebrations, Odendaal and Troon shook the hands of the firefighters who have served the community for 40 years and more.
