Fire and Rescue Services, which form part of Buffalo City Municipality's Public Safety Department, is made up of three main arms:

The Operations Division. This division responds to incidents and is responsible for:

• extinguishing fires;
• rescuing people involved in motor vehicle accidents, high-angle rescues, diving and white water incidents;
• providing special services, such as pumping, fuel leakages; and
• controlling and cleaning up hazardous materials.

Fire Prevention deals with:

• inspection of buildings;
• public education;
• fire and arson investigations;
• emergency evacuations;
• basic fire-fighting training for industry;
• liaison with architects and fire engineers in respect of building plans;
• enforcement in respect of non-compliance with municipal by-laws, SABS regulations and the National Code of Practice;
• inspection and registration of flammable liquid installations within area of jurisdiction of Buffalo City Municipality; and
• maintaining of fire water supply equipment.

The Training Division which conducts all internal training courses as well as external training.

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Do you fill swimming pools?
No, the Fire Department does not fill swimming pools.

Does the Fire Department offer training in first aid?
No. You can, however contact St John's Ambulance, the Red Cross, Aldersons Ambulances or Netcare 911.

What are the requirements to become a fire-fighter?
The minimum requirement is

• Grade 12 with Maths and Science
• Code EB (08) driving licence
• To be agile, mentally and physically fit

Who pays for the service when the Fire Department is called out?
There are no charges when the Fire Department responds to fire calls in respect of dwellings, businesses, etc, as a monthly fee is levied in respect of all property owners within Buffalo City. This levy, however, does not cover vehicle fires, vehicle accidents, special service calls or calls outside the area of Buffalo City. See the schedule of tariffs for detailed charges.