NATIONAL STATE OF FIRE SERVICES NAME OF PRESENTER

1. NATIONAL STATE OF FIRE SERVICES NAME OF PRESENTER DATE, TBC 11

2. OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION • Purpose & Background • Legislative framework • Fire risks • Problem statement of fire & Fire Services • National state of fire services • State of Fire Brigade Board • Functions of the Board • Updating of Infrastructure • Conclusion 22

3. PURPOSE & BACKGROUND • The purpose of this presentation is to provide a comprehensive account of the fire services function, risks available, the Fire Brigade Board (FBB) activities, Problem statement of fire and fire services & updating of infrastructure. • The Portfolio Committee requested the NDMC to prepare a presentation for engagement with the Portfolio Committee on fire services. 33

4. LEGISLATIVE BASIS (continue) • The Constitution of South Africa, Section 156(1)(a) confers the right on Municipalities to exclusively administer Fire Fighting Services in terms of Schedule 4, Part B. HOWEVER Schedule 4, Part B curtail exclusive administration to extent afforded by Section 155(6)(a) and (7). 44

5. LEGISLATIVE BASIS (continue) • b) Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998) Section 84 (j) divides powers between the District and Local municipalities sphere. • “Fire fighting services serving the area of a district municipality as a whole, which includes:- • Planning, co-ordination and regulation of fire services; • Specialized fire fighting services such as mountain, veld and chemical fire services; • Co-ordination of the standardization of infrastructure, vehicles, equipment and procedures; and • Training of fire fighters” 55

6. LEGISLATIVE BASIS (continue) • c) The Fire Brigade Services Act, 1987 (Act No. 99 of 1987) • Provides for the establishment, maintenance, employment, coordination and standardization of fire brigade services and matters connected therewith. • Government Gazette No. R 153, 1994 assigned the administration of the whole Fire Brigade Services Act, 1987 (Act 99 of 1987) to the Provinces except Section 2 (Fire Brigade Board) and Section 15 (Regulations). 66

7. FIRE RISKS IN RSA • Risk of fires varies across areas. • Urban metropolitan areas fire risk highly concentrated incl industrial, informal settlements & veldfires in rural-urban interface. • Informal settlement fires result in loss of lives & disruption of livelihoods. • A recent study indicated that 30.6% of the country has an extreme veldfire risk, 31.3% is high,11.7% is medium and 26.4% is low (CSIR 2010). • In areas having high to extreme veldfire risk it is necessary to take precautions to safeguard lives, livelihoods, property and the environment. 77

8. NATIONAL VELDFIRE RISK CLASSIFICATION 22 19 12 16 58 18 14 Total number of Fire Protection Associations (FPAs) = 219 37 23 FPAs ± 49% (600 000 km2 or 58 mil ha) of RSA (1 219 090 km2)

9. Problem statement of Fire & Fire Services (SAIA study 1999) • Previous assessment of fire and rescue services done by the SA Insurance Association (SAIA) in 1999. • Study was precipitated by growing statistics in the preceding 8 years which indicated a dramatic increase in value of fire claims. • Claims of R400 m in 1990 increased to R1.4 b in 8 years. • Most insurers suffered significant losses on fire accounts. • Further in-depth analysis showed that number of claims had not increased per annum but in fact decreased since 1990. • SAIA in its analysis of fire assessors reports noted a significant trend which indicated that a major contributory factor for this increase in value per loss was a decline in ability of fire services to fight fires and contain losses. 99

10. Problem statement of fire & Fire Services (SAIA study 1999) (continue) • g) The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Disaster Management requested an assessment of identified Fire Brigade Services to determine extent of problem at its meeting in February 1999. • h) A project team comprising of the Department, SAIA, South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Institute of Loss Adjusters, Fire Protection Association of South Africa (FPASA) was established to oversee the project. • i) Summary of the investigation/ root causes of problems within the Fire Services were identified as follows: • Lack of compulsory national standards hinders objective evaluation • Employment practices often overlooked objective criteria due to political expediency and trade union action. 1010

11. Problem statement of Fire & Fire Services (SAIA study 1999) (continue) • Council responsibility and accountability as vast areas throughout the country still have no service at all. • Lack of maintenance plans result in critical shortage of equipment. • Widespread employment of fire safety personnel as consultants in building design compromise their objectivity. • Increasing fire safety challenges due to decay in urban environment, use of open flames for cooking and heating increases risk of fires. Synergy between fire safety divisions and building control units lacking. Fire safety needs to be involved during construction and prior to occupancy approval to ensure compliance with minimum fire safety requirements. 1111

12. Problem statement of fire & Fire Services (SAIA study 1999) • Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)- Imposition of new labour legislation impact negatively on shift based fire services. Changes to accommodate the BCEA meant doubling up on manpower and a concomitant huge increase in costs. • Most fire services not taking risk management into account. Example is an industrial area which may be a higher risk during working hours and less at night whilst an informal settlement may present opposite risk dynamics. • Councils must prioritize funding from the equitable share for the function. Funding is mostly diverted to create infrastructure rather than for essential services. • Fire Brigade Board- was dormant at the time to the detriment of the function. 1212

13. National state of fire & Fire Services, CAPS audit, 2007 • None of the services evaluated complies fully with SANS 10090. • Almost all services are under-staffed, some by over 50% resulting in some officials having to be permanently available on a 24 hr basis. • Introduction of BCEA led to reduction in working hours without commensurate increase in staffing levels required to maintain service delivery. • Extension of jurisdictional areas as a result of re-alignment increased work load. • Audit indicated that a one size fits all approach not applicable as services esp smaller ones have unique needs and operating conditions. 1313

14. National state of fire & Fire Services, CAPS audit, 2007 (continue) f) Inconsistent standards for service delivery. g) Unresolved accountability and financial responsibility for function between District and Local municipalities- results in duplication and inefficiency. h) Lack of a national three-digit emergency service telephone number outside existing cellular telephone networks. i) Most emergency communication and control centres do not have back-up facilities to ensure continuity of service during disasters. j) Most services (few exceptions) lack formal capital replacement policies results in excessive downtime and consequent unavailability of vehicles. k) Lack of Incident Command Systems to assist in inter-agency cooperation. 1414

15. National state of fire & Fire Services, CAPS audit, 2007 (continue) l) Shortage of technical training such as Urban Search & Rescue, Advanced level Hazmat response capabilities, & Incident Management. m) Inadequate technical competency on fire safety esp in building plan evaluation & rational designs. n) Some services appoint personnel without due regard to normative technical & physical competencies. o) Poorly coordinated workplace skills programs. p) No comprehensive safety policies & procedures. q) Some municipal water departments not complying with codes for fire fighting water supply. r) General poor maintenance of hydrants. 1515

16. National state of fire & Fire Services, CAPS audit, 2007 (continue) s) Divergent fire safety by-laws. t) Insufficient emphasis on community fire safety education. u) Fire Protection Associations (FPAs) established in terms of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998) generally well established & functional in most areas. v) Inadequate focus on Major Hazard Installation Regulations. 1616

17. Functions of the FBB • Has regulatory, advisory and consultative functions to all spheres of • government and to the Minister of Cooperative Governance on matters • connected to the:- • Establishment of committee(s) with assigned functions. • Consultation on the establishment of service(s) by local authorities. • Recognition of designated services through the activities of the CAPs. • Consultation on the maintenance of already established services by LMs and Designated Services. e) Determination of qualifications and experience of the Practitioners. 1717

18. Functions of the FBB, (continue) f) Determination of conditions for appointment of unqualified & inexperienced personnel in the service. g) Declaration by the Minister in the Gazette of a service or other institutions as Training Institutions. h) Payment of grants-in-aid by the Administrator to any local authority for the establishment or maintenance of a service. i) Declaration in the Gazette of the category of authorized persons (CAPs) by the Administrator. j) Making of Regulations pertaining to this Act by the Minister. k) Making of By-Laws by local authorities and the Administrator. 1818

19. Current status of the FBB • The FBB is a statutory body established by Section 2 (1) of the FBSA, 1987 (Act No. 99 of 1987). Section 2 (2) determine composition as follows:- • One person (Chairperson) designated by theMinister. • One person designated by each of the Administrators (MEC or Senior Officials). • Two persons designated by SALGA (Senior Officials). • One person designated by the Minister of Finance (Senior Official). • One person designated by SAESI (President of). • One person designated by the Minister to represent organized business (FPASA). • One person designated by the Minister re organized Labour and • One person at the discretion of the Minister (No appointment). 1919

20. Current status of the FBB (continue) • FBB not effectively functioning between 1999-2007. • FBB could not form quorum. • Inadequate capacity to implement FBB decisions. • Last meeting of FBB held in August 2008. • FBB resolved in its April 2008 meeting to establish a National Fire Services Advisory Committee (NAFSAC) which will be a sub-committee of the FBB. NAFSAC has since been established and is functional ( quarterly meetings) f) NAFSAC instrumental in review of Act and provision of technical inputs on key policy documents. g) Minister appointed a new FBB in April 2010 following an extensive nomination process. 2020

21. Current status of the FBB (continue) h) Newly reconstituted FBB could not form a quorum and thus no meetings could be held. i) The Department is in the process of appointing a new FBB. j) Appointment is going to be linked to the position and not to a person. k) Appointments will be made on an ex-officio basis to ensure continuity. l) In line with this principle, the Minister will remain as Chairperson and all MECs responsible for the administration of the Act will form part of the FBB. m) Other stakeholders will include representatives from SALGA, the South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) President, organized business & labour as well as two representatives from the Department. 2121

22. Current status of the FBB (continue) n) The Deputy Minister of Finance will also form part of the FBB. o) Appointments expected to be finalized in August 2011. p) First meeting planned for the 13th of October 2011. 2222

23. Updating of Infrastructure • Most municipalities are upgrading their infrastructure. • Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is also utilized by most municipalities to fund the updating of infrastructure incl fire stations. • Some municipalities update infrastructure using MIG funding and are unable to budget for operational costs (vehicles & fire houses) to run a functional service. • Infrastructure needs to be placed where the risk of fires is high such as in townships & informal settlements. 2323

24. Conclusion The NDMC will prioritize the re-constitution of the FBB. Work is in progress to develop a comprehensive national fire & rescue services framework. The NDMC will work with both provinces & municipalities to ensure that fire prevention and public education is given priority. The NDMC is also busy with a complete review of the Fire Brigade Services Act in order to introduce a comprehensive piece of legislation for the function. Stakeholder platforms such as NAFSAC will be strengthened to ensure technical advice from all role-players. 2424