A major upgrade to KwaZulu Private Ambulance’s key support vehicle is set to improve emergency response in the region, giving first responders and patients crucial protection during some of the most dangerous moments on provincial roads. On Tuesday, the service officially unveiled its newly enhanced Pietermaritzburg Scene Safety unit at the J&A Brokers offices — a moment staff described as a major step forward in preventing tragedy before it strikes. For those who arrive first at crash scenes, danger does not only come from mangled metal or speeding traffic.
Fires can erupt suddenly, trapping victims and placing rescuers at risk. Company spokesperson Craig Botha recalled a devastating incident on the N3 that has stayed with the team. After a horrific incident on the N3 — where a bus driver perished in a vehicle fire while being trapped, leaving our staff to watch this tragic and horrific scene unfold — the idea and introduction of this scene safety and fire suppression unit was essential.
“We can now offer an unprecedented level of protection against one of the most unpredictable hazards like fire,” said Botha. He said the upgraded unit was designed specifically to manage hazardous scenes, particularly vehicle fires that can erupt in the minutes after a collision. At its core is a high-performance fire suppression system featuring an ML22 High Pressure Piston Pump powered by a Honda HX 160 four-stroke motor, a 40-metre high-pressure hose, and a 250-litre water tank.
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Botha said this high-pressure, low-volume setup allows paramedics to launch a rapid attack on a fire, buying minutes until firefighters arrive. Those minutes can mean the difference between life and death for trapped patients, and for the responders trying to reach them.
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