The Sandton Fire Department

In 1966 Mr John Pryce, a Sandown resident who had battled for years for ambulance and fire brigade services for the area, heard that Johannesburg City Council had an outmoded fire engine for sale. Mr Pryce paid R200 for the fire engine which was in bits and pieces. From this modest beginning, the then Sandton Emergency Services evolved.   

Mr John Pryce.

Before amalgamation the Sandton Emergency Services had 2 fire stations - in Lonehill and Sandown. These 2 stations were responsible for supplying emergency medical care and fire & rescue services to the approximate 1 million people living in Sandton and Alexandra. A temporary sub-fire station was later established in Alexandra. The Alexandra fire station has now moved into permanent premises in the centre of Alex.

Stations 15, 16 and 23 (Sandown, Lonehill and Alexandra) continue to serve it's residents with the highest level of professionalism possible at the present time.

The old Sandton Emergency Services were always forerunners in the field of emergency care and services, as the following newspaper articles reflect. Sandton was always looked upon with envy and respect for the innovative and bold steps they took in protecting it's citizens and their property. Although things have undeniably changed since amalgamation into the GJMC; station 15 continues to maintain a pace far ahead of the pack. 

 The volunteers working out of station 15 form an integral part of the emergency services provided in the Sandton-Alex area. With present permanent staff shortages and other budgetary constraints the volunteers are often relied on to ensure effective emergency medical and fire-fighting/rescue services are available to residents.

Approximately 60 men and woman presently make up our volunteer force - far exceeding the other volunteer forces working in the central Johannesburg, Randburg and Roodepoort areas.

These volunteers are all professionally trained and receive absolutely no remuneration or rewards whatsoever. In fact volunteers are required to provide much of their training and equipment at their own cost (!!).

Many are often surprised to find out that our volunteers are ordinary men and woman from the community; seldom professionally involved in the medical or rescue fields. Our force is made up of students, engineers, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, financial managers, IT consultants, amongst many other professions.

Volunteers perform exactly the same function as permanent force members - they're not there as a secondary service but are involved in providing front line functions. We man ambulances, fire engines and rescue vehicles with complete volunteer crews. The level of professionalism and competence is outstanding - as one would expect.