Gwanda Municipality Speaks Out After Video Showing Firefighter Using a Small Dish to Extinguish Fire From Burning Car Sparks Criticism
Gwanda Municipality has finally come forward to set the record straight after a video showing a firefighter using a small dish to extinguish a fire from a burning car triggered criticism.
Fire Brigade Uses Small Dish in Attempt to Contain Blaze After Car Catches Fire
The incident happened on Monday afternoon near the NSSA complex, just outside Gwanda town centre, along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road.
A Toyota Runx which was travelling from Beitbridge to Gwanda caught fire after developing a mechanical fault.
The driver had sought help from a mechanic, but the fire erupted whilst he was repairing it.
In a video of the incident, one of the Gwanda Fire Brigade firefighters can be seen using a small dish to try to control the blaze. Despite their efforts, the fire brigade was unable to stop the car from being completely consumed by the flames.
Gwanda Municipality Releases Statement to Clarify Burning Car Incident
Taking to their X account, Gwanda Municipality issued a statement to clarify the events surrounding the incident.
The Gwanda Municipality explained that on Monday, November 18, 2024, the Municipality received a distress call about a car that had caught fire.
“On Monday 18th of November 2024, the Municipality of Gwanda received a distress call of a motor vehicle that had caught fire. The fire team responded to the call timeously.”
Firefighting Team Faces Mechanical Challenges During Incident; No Fault Found After Investigation
The Gwanda Municipality highlighted challenges faced by the firefighting team during the incident. They explained that the lead fireman reported a mechanical issue with the vehicle, which was unable to engage the necessary gears for optimal operation.
As a result, the team had to resort to an improvised firefighting strategy, which was less than ideal and posed potential risks.
“However, the leading fireman reported that the vehicle could not engage the required gears for correct operations.
This led them to improvise on the firefighting strategy, which is not ideal for such incidents and also posed a risk to the personnel.”
However, following a thorough investigation into the incident, it was determined that there was no technical fault with the fire brigade vehicle.
“After a thorough investigation on the incident, it was noted that there was no technical fault with regards to the vehicle.”
Municipality Stresses Importance of SOPs Following Fire Incident
The Gwanda Municipality emphasized the importance of adhering to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within the Fire Section to avoid any issues during emergencies.
They reiterated their commitment to the safety and well-being of the community, stressing the importance of transparency and accuracy in their communications.
The Municipality expressed regret over the incident, assuring the public that corrective measures have been implemented to prevent a similar occurrence in the future
“There is a need for Fire Section of the Municipality to follow Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that there are no hiccups when duty calls.
Our priority is the safety and well being of our community and we are committed to transparency and accuracy in our communications.
Our Municipality regrets this unfortunate incident and corrective measures have been taken to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.
Our Fire Section will always be ready to respond when duty calls.”
Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates
The post Gwanda Municipality Speaks Out After Video Showing Firefighter Using a Small Dish to Extinguish Fire From Burning Car Sparks Criticism appeared first on iHarare News.
Zim Instantly via Simplex Solutions