MEC Bredell calls for new approach to structural firefighting
Speaking at the Structural Firefighting Summit today, Anton Bredell, Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning said structural fires deserved the same strategic attention, investment and innovation increasingly being applied to wildfire management.
“Structural fires may receive less public attention than large wildfires, but they continue to impose an enormous human and economic cost on our communities,” MEC Bredell said.
South Africa's fire-related burn death rate is approximately 8.5 deaths per 100 000 people, while fires account for approximately 7% of injury-related deaths in the country. National estimates indicate that fire losses exceed R3 billion annually.
Research in the Western Cape recorded 1 370 fire-related deaths over a 13-year period, translating to more than 100 lives lost every year.
The MEC said the changing built environment was creating new challenges for fire services. Photovoltaic systems, battery energy storage, lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles introduce new risks that firefighters must understand and be equipped to manage. Lightweight construction materials can also affect how fires develop, while high-rise and increasingly complex buildings present challenges relating to access, evacuation, smoke movement and firefighter safety.
“As the built environment changes, our fire services must change with it. That includes legislation, training and the equipment we use,” he said.
MEC Bredell also stressed that firefighting must not focus only on responding to fires once they start. “The best fire is the fire that never starts. Prevention must remain at the heart of our approach.” He said government, municipalities, the private sector, researchers, engineers, insurers and firefighters all had a role to play in identifying emerging risks and improving fire safety.
MEC Bredell said the Western Cape had already demonstrated the value of collaboration through its integrated approach to wildfire management, involving municipalities, fire protection associations, volunteers, ground teams and aerial resources.
The past wildfire season demonstrated the scale of the broader fire challenge. More than 215 000 hectares were affected by wildfire incidents across the Western Cape, while more than 76 000 hectares of CapeNature-managed land were affected. The Cederberg Wilderness Area alone experienced its largest wildfire since 1997, with approximately 53 000 hectares burned.
MEC Bredell said the Western Cape Government remains committed to supporting municipalities through capacity building, improved planning, stronger partnerships and investment in modern firefighting capabilities. The Department of Local Government invested R16 million in 2025/26 and is investing R12 million in 2026/27 towards increased firefighting capacity in Western Cape municipalities.
Media Enquiries:
Wouter Kriel - Spokesperson for MEC Anton Bredell
Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
079 694 3085
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