WOF PROGRAMME: A NATIONAL RESOURCE FOR INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT IN SA by Mmaphaka Tau NDMC & Co-chair: WoF

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTAITON History and mandate of the WoF programme Resources available WoF Departments Distribution of WoF teams WoF teams and partners WoF training WoF commercial operations WoF aviation WoF corporate services WoF dispatch and coordination WoF fire statistics: Dec 2007 – July 2008 WoF financial department and Budget Concluding statement

ABOUT THE WOF PROGRAMME

ABOUT THE WOF PROGRAMME WoF is a South African, government-funded, multi-partner programme established and officially launched in September 2003 to focus on integrated fire management and veld and forest fires fighting The phenomenally effective programme (WoF) was originally inspired by officials from the United States Forestry Services who shared their expertise and knowledge with visiting South African firefighters. Imbedded in government’s Expanded Public Works Program (EPWP), the project combines sound land management principles and best practice veld and forest fire fighting expertise with the need to create jobs and develop skills The programme is managed in terms of a three year tender (i.e. WP 9191: 2007 – 2010) between government represented by the DWAF & dplg and the FFA Group. The Executive chairpersonship of the WoF programme is a shared responsibility between DWAF and dplg.

WOF RESOURCES AVAILABLE  WoF Aerial and Ground Resources available to Local, Provincial and National Disaster Management centres.  User is responsible for variable costs.

WOF DEPARTMENTS  WoF Programme  Transport  Training  Commercial Operations  Aviation  Corporate Services  Dispatch & Coordination  Financial Department

Distribution of WoF teams Province Extended attackHeli crewsStructural Initial attack Strike teams Total teams Western Province Eastern Province KwaZulu Natal Free State Northern Cluster Gauteng /North West Total Fire fighters current

WoF Teams and Partners BASE PARTNERS Funded by DWAF forest s Sanpar ks GDA CE MCPB WCP B Mun FPA' S Sasol Ezemv elo KZN WoF NWP B ECP B Airfor ce Priva te TOTAL Current Extended Attack Teams DWAF GDACE 3 3 SASOL 1 1 KZN Projects 6 6 New Teams 0 DWAF Total Heli Attack Teams DWAF Structural Teams DWAF 6 6 Initial Attack Teams DWAF Strike Teams DWAF TOTAL

SAMIL 50’S

WoF Transport Fleet FleetCurrentadd 2008Total Samils26 Samils ROP10818 Busses 21 seater5 5 Busses 28 seater 55 3 ton trailers7512 Corsas 1600 LDV7 7 Strike units 4x4DC (WoF) 66 Strike units 4x4DC (Comms) 44 Initial attack (WoF) 66 Initial attack (Comms) 44 IA Trailers 10 Fire Trailers 33 Fuso HSV426 Samil Bowzer liter watertanker 11 TOTAL

TRAINING The WoF Training Academy was formally launched in June 2008 due to an urgent need for an urgency that could train hand-crew fire fighting resources where teams are based but could be deployed nationally

Commercial  Any fire breaks, prescribed burning or fuel reduction activities done against payment for landowners.

Aviation

AERIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE AERIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE  19 Cessna Spotter Aircraft  10 UH-1 Huey Helicopter Aircraft  Second Call on 22 Bomber Aircraft  15 Airbases Nationally

CORPORATE SERVICES  Human Resources  Logistics  Statistics  Legal

DISPATCH & COORDINATION  1 National Coordinator (NDMC)  6 Provincial Coordinators (WC, GAU, MPU & LIMP, FS, EC, KZN)  15 Dispatch Centres  Limpopo  Mpumalanga  Piet Retief  Warburton  Tempe Airbase  Vryheid  Shafton  Kwambonambi  Weza  Stellenbosch  Newlands  Fisantekraal  Tulbach  Stutterheim  George

DISPATCH & COORDINATION  CALL OUT PROCEDURES LOCAL DISASTER MNGT. CENTRE Provincial Disaster Mngt. Centre NDMC WOF DISPATCH CENTRE WOF PROVINCIAL COORD CENTRE NATIONAL COORDINATOR REQ ASST REQ ASST REQ ASST REQ ASST REFER FOR PAYMENT Can approve if payment is guaranteed

Working on Fire Statistics Dec July 2008 Total Fires 156 Spotter Deployed 85 Bomber Deployed 81 Helicopter Deployed 94 WoF Teams Deployed 198 Estimated Ha lost Unconfirmed Total Hours Flown 896.7

 Financial Manager  Group Accountant  4 Bookkeepers  1 Debtors Clerk  1 Creditors Clerk  1 Payroll Administrator  The 2008/09 WoF budget stands at R105 m and financial records are audited annually by renowned auditing companies FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT

Concluding Statement In line with its mandate, the WoF programme will always strive to enhance the sustainability and protection of life, livelihoods, ecosystem services and natural processes through integrated fire management in order to contribute to the enhancement of Broad Based Economic Empowerment, skills development, social equity and accelerated service delivery.

Concluding statement While the focus of WoF will always be integrated fire management, the WoF’s underlying motivation is social upliftment and skills development designed to build self esteem and help beneficiaries to fulfill their true potential.

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