Calls for fire emergencies can now be made to a toll-free number says the Makana Manager of Fire Services, William Welkom.
Calls for fire emergencies can now be made to a toll-free number says the Makana Manager of Fire Services, William Welkom.
He said that the contact number for fire emergencies used to be a Telkom line which prevented many people from using the number.
According to Welkom, there has been a trend of calls for fire emergencies being made through the SAPS or ambulance services by dialling 10111 or 10177.
The SAPS or ambulance services would then have to call the fire department to report the emergency which delays the arrival time to attend to the emergency.
“This was one of my problem areas which is why I had to initiate this,” said Welkom. He said the toll-free number has been placed on the Makana Municipality website (www.makana.gov.za) and plans are in process to publicise the number through the media as well as placing the number on their vehicles.
“This is one of the things I would like to ensure that the community benefits from,” Welkom said. He added that people have started using the number, but they have recorded some prank calls made by children.
“We have started educating the kids about the number and now we will go out to inform the community,”he said.
The Fire Department is available for any fire or medical emergency on 046 622 4444 and the toll-free number is 080 111 4444.
