Nabeel Christian (47) was in primary school when he had his first experience with a life-threatening fire and since then he decided to pursue a career in firefighting.
“I was about 12 years old, so my friends and I decided to have a braai. It was raining that day, so the wood was wet. We decided to add petrol to the fire. Someone suffered third-degree burns and the garage burnt down.”
Christian describes this incident as one he will always regret, but says it also led him to follow a career that fulfils him each day. This year he celebrates 18 years in the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue service. He is based at the Roeland Street fire station.
To acknowledge all the work carried out by the firefighters, on Wednesday 4 May the City held an open day at some of its fire stations, giving residents an opportunity to learn more about the service and what they do. The day marked International Firefighters’ Day.
The Western Cape has 1 650 professional firefighters and about 450 volunteers who serve at 96 fire stations in the province.
The City says firefighters responded to 8 202 vegetation fires between November last year and April this year.
This is in addition to the thousands of emergency calls the fire and rescue service responds to throughout the year. According to the City they responded to 22 632 calls between Saturday 1 May last year and Thursday 28 April this year.
Christian explains that for the past 18 years he has never looked back and describes it as the “best job ever”.
“Whenever kids come here, the first thing I tell them is ‘don’t play with matches’. Every morning while we do roll call, I ask God to protect me and my colleagues.”
Christian says his colleagues are like his family because they spend 24 hours per shift in one another’s company.
“When you go to a fire scene you have to trust your partner. We call it the brotherhood.”
Christian says the job comes with many challenges. “I lost a colleague at a fire scene, that same day we still responded to another fire. When I close my eyes, I can still see the first guy where I literally picked up his body parts and that was 18 years ago.”
He thanked people who provide them with water and snacks when they tend to fires.
“When people bring us food, we really appreciate it. Sometimes you would be out on the road the entire day without eating.”
Christian says when he leaves his home there is no guarantee that he will return.
He recalls one particular incident a few years ago where he was part of a crew who was called out to tend to a vegetation fire in Cape Point.
“There was one house that we were protecting, we saw the snakes coming out, everything was coming out, there were four of us and one fire engine. From left to right all we saw is fire coming towards us. I stood there praying. I think we all probably prayed, and the fire went to the side.
“Many times, in the firing line, I pray for safety.”
Raymond Linderoth has been serving at Roeland Street for the past 29 years.
“It was something that I’ve always wanted to do,” he says.
Linderoth says what keeps him motivated is that he is rendering a humanitarian service.
“It’s not every day you win the battle, but often times we do and when we do that is what makes it worth it. There is nothing more satisfying than to see someone make it, even if it’s an animal.”
He says often he does not share with this family all the traumatic things he sees out in the field, those experiences they as fire fighters share among themselves.
Linderoth says after more than two decades he still has a passion for what he does.
“I could have had a rank many years ago, I am qualified to have a rank. But I want to be a firefighter.”
He has a message to young people who want to pursue this career.
“You need to have a passion for this and a willingness to help people. Some firefighters only do it to pay the bills. But the vast majority are people who are willing to lay their lives down.”
