Only one fire engine for the entire city of Pietermaritzburg?

It has been revealed that all the city of Pietermaritzburg has at its disposal to fight fires in the area that Msunduzi Fire Department serves, is one fire engine.

Despite the municipality denying claims that the fire services were in a terrible condition, this is the alarming reality faced by the city.

The situation came to light this week when firefighters said the department was forced to fill up buckets of water to put out a house fire in Caluza.

One of the bedrooms was completely gutted when the two-bedroom house caught alight after fire-fighters ran out of water.

Numerous despondent fire-fighters who asked not to be named, said the lack of resources had crippled the city’s fire department.

A firefighter said the fire engine ran out of water and when they called for a backup water truck, they were told to make a plan.

The firefighter said they had to resort to filling buckets up from communal taps nearby and running up the driveway with them.

Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson Thobeka Mafumbatha, confirmed that fire-fighters used buckets to fight the fire but said it was because the fire engine had difficulty gaining access to the fire.

She said the buckets were only used until the fire engine found an alternate route to the house.

A firefighter said should a major fire occur, the city’s fire-fighting department would not able to attend with their full capacity.

He said with the lack of resources and only one fire engine servicing the community, assistance from the district would be needed.