Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) South Peninsula Station (SPS) is growing and is urgently looking for new volunteers to join their firefighting family.
“Although South Peninsula is currently one of the smaller stations we are right in the heart of a vast natural area where wildfires are extremely common,” said Dean Harrison, SPS Station Manager.
Information sessions will be hosted in March and April for anyone interested in learning more about becoming a new recruit. Interested persons from the South Peninsula (anywhere south of Tokai) are invited to attend.
Members are men and women of various ages and diverse backgrounds. Future firefighters need to be over 18 years of age, have a reasonable level of fitness, as well as a cell phone, email and own transport.
Training starts in April and continues throughout the winter months, preparing new and existing members for the next fire season (November 2016 to April 2017). Volunteers should be able to commit to a minimum of two training sessions a month between April and October. These sessions are scheduled for weekend days or weekday evenings.
Karin Arbuthnot, a SPS member who has just completed her sixth year with VWS explains why she does it, “it is a chance to learn new skills, to push my own personal boundaries, and to meet and work with people from all walks of life. It gives me a sense of purpose and pride, having the opportunity to help care for a very important corner of the natural world and to have fun while doing it.”
“We are able to help battle wildfires because our members – all volunteers – give freely of their time,” says Patrick Ryan, former VWS Marketing & Communications Director. “VWS volunteers are ordinary people who sacrifice time and energy to protect our natural heritage. Most have day jobs, some are students, others run their own companies – but all are dedicated, motivated and highly trained to ensure the ultimate goal of wildfire suppression is taken care of.”
For recruitment details go to http://bit.ly/VWSRecruitment or follow VWS on Facebook @VolunteerWildfireServices, Twitter @vwsfires or email recruitment@vws.org.za.
SPS information sessions will be held on the following dates:
- Tuesday 22nd March – 19h00 – Monkey Valley Resort, Mountain Road, Noordhoek
- Wednesday 30th March – 19h00 – Monkey Valley Resort, Mountain Road, Noordhoek
- Sun 3rd April – 09h00 – Calders Hotel & Conference Centre, Beach Road, Fish Hoek
