Former Springbok's green fire engines hit Cape Town streets
If you've spotted a green fire engine in Cape Town recently, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you – and it's not a new colour scheme for the City's firefighting fleet.
The green fire trucks belong to ADT Fidelity's SecureFire, a private firefighting service launched as a rapid-response alternative to complement municipal firefighting operations.
Since its inception two years ago, SecureFire has responded to over 850 fires, offering what it describes as speedy, strategic support where every second counts.
Former Springbok loose forward Wahl Bartmann, who these days is CEO of Fidelity, says the service uses a tiered model to maximise response efficiency: First responders : ADT's existing armed response officers have been trained and equipped with large fire extinguishers , ready to intervene within 5 to 6 minutes of a callout
: ADT's existing armed response officers have been trained and equipped with , ready to intervene within of a callout Second responders : Specialised teams in smaller firefighting vehicles are dispatched, staffed with firefighters trained to international standards
: Specialised teams in are dispatched, staffed with firefighters trained to Third-tier units: Full-size fire trucks, easily recognisable in their green livery, provide additional backup and suppression capability
'We've got more than 200 ADT armed response vehicles in the Cape Town area,' says Bartmann.
'We've trained the officers as first responders.'
The SecureFire service is subscription-based, with a price tag that Bartmann calls 'affordable for everyday households.'
'It costs R35 a month – about the price of a cappuccino – and we're providing that service to all our current customers as well as any new customer,' he says.
Bartmann insists that SecureFire is not meant to replace the City's public fire services, but rather enhance community response times in areas where coverage may be delayed or overextended.
'Definitely, there is a need… our strategy is national, and in some areas, the fire systems are much better,' he notes.
'This is about saving lives and property where minutes matter.'
As demand for more agile fire response grows – especially in densely populated or fire-prone urban areas like Cape Town – SecureFire could signal a shift in how private security and emergency services support traditional firefighting infrastructure.
Wahl Bartmann played eight Tests for South Africa between 1986 and 1992, winning four and losing four.
He also represented Transvaal in 93 games, scoring 18 tries, before moving to Durban where he played 79 matches (scoring 21 tries) for Natal. Full names: Wahl Justice Bartmann Date of birth: 13 June 1963 Place of birth: Florida School: Florida Springbok # 545 Current age: 62 Test summary: Tests: 8 Tries: 0 First Test: 10 May 1986 – Flank against NZ Cavaliers at Newlands, Cape Town Last Test: 24 October 1992 – Flank against France at Parc des Princes, Paris
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