Basic Fire Fighting Training
Basic Fire Fighting Training
Basic fire fighting training at your home, school or workplace in Pretoria & Johannesburg. This is fire fighting training for employees and workplaces, not a career firefighter course.
Course Information
Course Details
- Duration: 4 hours (half a day).
- Venue: We offer onsite training for groups. Individuals can attend our public classes in Centurion (contact us for dates).
- Pricing: R890 per person for a public class in Centurion, or onsite from R605 per person (excl. VAT) for groups of 20 or more (R790 for 5 to 9). Contact us for a quote for your group and location. More detail in Basic Fire Fighting course prices explained.
- Course content: see the full Basic Fire Fighting course content.
Why Basic Fire Fighting Training?
Basic Fire Fighting is about learning the fundamentals of how fires act, and how one should react. Your staff will be prepared to manage and extinguish workplace fires with the correct protocols and skills.
Benefits of Basic Fire Fighting Training
- Needed for compliance to the Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Act.
- Having employees with the know-how and confidence on how to effectively fight workplace fires to protect co-workers and company property.
Why your employees need fire fighting training
Fire can strike at any time, and without the proper training it can have devastating consequences. Fire spreads quickly, often leaving little time to react. When employees are trained in basic fire fighting techniques, they can respond swiftly and effectively. Not only can this save lives, it can also minimise damage to property, so the business remains operational.
The training is reactive and pro-active. Besides fighting a fire, it focuses on preventing fires and identifying possible risks that could be reduced or even eliminated.
What employees learn
- How fires start: fire needs three elements, heat, fuel and oxygen, often called the “fire triangle”. Fire fighting means disrupting the triangle by removing one or more of them.
- How to extinguish a fire: by cooling the heat, cutting off the oxygen supply or eliminating the fuel source. Water can cool a fire but is not suitable for all fire types, and the wrong technique can make the situation worse.
- Classes of fire and the right extinguishing agent:
| Class | Fuel | Extinguishing agent |
|---|---|---|
| A | Solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles | Water, foam, dry chemical powder or wet chemicals |
| B | Liquids like petrol, oils or paints, and flammable gases such as propane or butane | Gaseous suppressants (like CO₂), foam or dry chemical powder |
| C | Electrical equipment like computers, wiring and machinery | Non-conductive agents like CO₂ or dry chemical powder |
| D | Metals like magnesium and aluminium | Specialised dry chemical powders |
| K | Cooking oils and fats | Wet chemical extinguishers |
- Fire prevention, the best defence: regular maintenance of electrical equipment, safe handling of flammable substances, keeping workplaces clean and free from fire hazards, and proper storage of combustible materials.
- Fire equipment: smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire hoses and sprinkler systems, and how to care for and inspect them so they work when needed most.
- Safety signs: exit markers, fire extinguisher locations and assembly points, so employees can follow them without panic or confusion.
- How to operate fire equipment: hands-on practice, from pulling the pin on a fire extinguisher (the PASS method) to using a fire hose.
- Evacuation procedures: the quickest and safest escape routes, assembly points with a roll call to account for everyone, and how to assist others, including those with disabilities or injuries.
- Planning for fire emergencies: clear evacuation procedures, regular fire drills (how to run a fire drill and how often) and designated fire marshals.
Fire safety legislation: Act 85 of 1993 and regulation 13J
In South Africa, fire fighting training is not just good practice. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act (Act 85 of 1993) requires employers to ensure their employees are trained to deal with fire hazards, and the General Safety Regulations, regulation 13J (2025), further specify the fire equipment and safety measures required in workplaces. Training your employees helps your business comply with these laws, protecting both your people and your organisation. Read more on fire prevention vs fire fighting training.
Who is this course for?
- Businesses
- Schools, colleges and universities
- Event organisers
