Volunteers become certified firemen

THE N/a’an ku se Guest Lodge & Wildlife Sanctuary outside Windhoek has received a fire truck from the United Kingdom.

The truck was donated by the International Fire & Rescue Association, which helps charity organisations all over the world to become voluntary firefighters in order to aid conservation of land and wildlife. The lodge paid the costs of shipping the 1956 Bedford fire truck to Walvis Bay.It also accommodated two officials of the London Fire Brigade who visited Namibia for a week to train volunteer firefighters.David Kay, the Director of the London Fire Brigade, and colleague James MacDonald trained three San lodge workers and two volunteers from the N/a’an ku sê wildlife volunteer programme.The five Namibians are now certified to offer their assistance to any fire brigade across the world.The N/a’an ku sê Voluntary Fire Brigade will not only be safeguarding the lodge’s land and wildlife, but will also help farmers in the area to fight veld fires.Continued training drills once a week will ensure that the volunteer fire-fighting unit can be extended.The lodge paid the costs of shipping the 1956 Bedford fire truck to Walvis Bay.It also accommodated two officials of the London Fire Brigade who visited Namibia for a week to train volunteer firefighters.David Kay, the Director of the London Fire Brigade, and colleague James MacDonald trained three San lodge workers and two volunteers from the N/a’an ku sê wildlife volunteer programme.The five Namibians are now certified to offer their assistance to any fire brigade across the world.The N/a’an ku sê Voluntary Fire Brigade will not only be safeguarding the lodge’s land and wildlife, but will also help farmers in the area to fight veld fires.Continued training drills once a week will ensure that the volunteer fire-fighting unit can be extended.