12 February 2011 - A brand new multi-million rand fire station in Evaton will cut response times to emergencies in the area to just seven minutes – saving costs, and more importantly; precious lives.

This was the word from the Executive Mayor of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Assistance Mshudulu, who officially handed over the state-of-the-art R22-million facility to the Vaal community on Saturday, 12 February.

The station will provide much-needed fire and rescue services to the people of the entire north-west parts of the municipality, including Sebokeng, Palm Springs and Boitumelo.

“We did not (just) wake up and decide to erect a fire station here,” the Executive Mayor said.

“We were instructed by the community that the people of Evaton and the surrounding areas need a fire station. We listened,” Mayor Mshudulu said.
Another reason for the establishment of a fire station in the area included the dire need to bring this critical service closer to the people, especially in the light of recent devastating floods which ravaged the area.

“We have one fire station in Vereeniging, one in Vanderbijlpark and a satellite in Sebokeng. (With the opening of the Evaton Fire Station, we are saying) gone are the days that massive infrastructure development and investment is concentrated in the cities (alone). Our services should be next to where people live,” the Executive Mayor added.

The fire station will also ensure the improvement in service delivery and response times – especially to the residents of Evaton.

“Among others, this station will respond to dire situations of fire. Its services will be discharged by dedicated women and men who will ensure that a call of fire is responded to within seven (7) minutes. The response time in other areas outside Evaton will be twenty minutes,” said Mshudulu.
The station has a total staff component of 32 firefighters who are equipped with two big fire engines, two Land Cruisers (for small fires and veld fires) and a rescue vehicle.

It is ideally situated along the accident-heavy Golden Highway, Evaton Mall, and close to the N1 which transports hazardous material. It is also not far from informal settlements dotted along the Golden Highway.

Members of the public can contact the fire station directly at 016 430 1829/1871/1800.

Issued by the Communication Unit
Enquiries: Stanley Gaba
Spokesperson: Emfuleni Local Municipality
Contact: 016 – 950 5384 / 083 501 7818
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