Fighting fire through prevention
MULDERSDRIFT – Local resident, Milton Mzobe, speaks on his future plans to prevent fires in informal settlements.
Milton Mzobe, founder of Akunamlilo Fire Fighters, and his team have been responsible for getting fire extinguishers to 2 000 households in informal settlements in two years.
However, Mzobe has bigger plans in mind and wants teams of people to teach residents of informal settlements about the basics of fire safety and create a safety manual. He also wishes to approach schools about fire safety and even create a story book about the dangers of fire for children in crèches. “I will not stop until there are no more shack fires,” he said.
Mzobe developed a sense of community when he was in school and became the centre manager of Seeds of Africa, a community upliftment organisation. Then over two years ago, Mzobe drove past Kya Sand Pipeline informal settlement and saw a fire burn down 500 shacks and leave 2 000 people homeless. Since the roads of the Pipeline settlement are narrow, the firetrucks were unable to get closer to the fire to put it out and reduce the damage done.
This made Mzobe think there had to be a way to prevent fires breaking out in informal settlements. He knew the government would not be able to give everyone Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses over night, and he latched on to how companies and other households put out fires.
Thus, his foundation was born, and Mzobe has received sponsors and recognition from the likes of Dischem, Radio 702 and Kaya FM. For R350, Mzobe and his team buy 2.5l fire extinguishers, install the extinguisher and train the members of the household how to use the extinguisher.
“A fire extinguisher should be like water, every household should have it.”
Mzobe wants to give 100 000 fire extinguishers in the next two to five years. To support their present and future initiatives, contact Mzobe on 079 269 6144 or milton@akunamlilo.co.za
