The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service (CTFRS) is a professional fire brigade that dates back to 1845.

It aims to provide an efficient, cost effective, unprejudiced and equitable fire and rescue service to all of Cape Town's residents and visitors.

Today the CTFRS consists of 29 fire stations serving a population of 3.5 million people and covering an area of over 2 561 km2.

The service is divided into three divisions or districts, with almost 1 000 staff members, including professional fire-fighters, fire and life safety staff, command and control staff, trainers and support staff.

CTFRS deals with all types of fires, ranging from structural fires, informal settlement fires, mountain and veld fires, small vessel and motor vehicle fires. The service extends its work to medical emergencies and rescues including urban search and rescue, diving, motor vehicle extrications and high angle incidents, as well as hazardous material emergencies.

The CTFR’s emergency dispatchers at its Command & Control Centre in Goodwood handle all emergency calls and mobilise resources. They also maintain continuous communication links with emergency vehicles and crews at incidents, providing dynamic support and information as required to assist in delivering a successful conclusion to all emergency incidents.

In order to prevent the loss of life, the destruction of property and protect the environment from the adverse effects of fire and other threatening dangers, the CTFRS strives to provide a safer environment for the inhabitants and visitors to the city by:

• Creating awareness of the dangers associated with fire in all communities 
  
• Educating Cape Town's residents, visitors and City staff in how to reduce fire threats
  
• Developing and training City staff and residents to as to increase their knowledge and skills in combatting fires
  
• Procuring resources for all sections within the brigade to carry out their functions efficiently 
  
• Ensuring that assets and resources provided are managed and maintained at the highest state of readiness 
  
• Responding to emergencies within the City's ambit within the shortest possible time 
  
• Recording, documenting and researching all emergencies and incidences attended
  
  

How to report fires

Report all fires by dialling 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. Alternatively you can contact Fire Control directly on 021 590 1900.

Report anyone starting fires to Law Enforcement on 021 596 1999.