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View Fire Fighting Level 1
Fire Fighting Level 1
Workplace first responders who need to use a fire extinguisher correctly and get everyone out safely.
Duration2 days
FeeR1 034
What you need to know about fire fighting training
Fire rules for South African workplaces sit in the General Safety Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993, and in the Construction Regulations for building sites.
13J
Equipment is required
General Safety Regulation 13J (March 2025) requires an adequate supply of suitable fire-fighting equipment, kept in working order, plus clear escape routes and means of egress.
8 & 13
Training is a duty
Sections 8 and 13 of the OHS Act require employers to give employees the information, instruction and training they need to work safely, which includes using the equipment provided.
29
Construction sites
Construction Regulation 29 adds fire precautions on building sites, on top of the general rules.
The law does not set a fixed number of trained fire fighters per employee. How many people you train comes from your fire risk assessment: the size of the site, what is stored there, the shifts worked and how long the fire service takes to arrive.
Fire Fighting Level 1 and Level 2 compared
Both fire fighting courses take 2 days and are assessed in writing and on live fire practicals. Level 2 builds on Level 1.
| Fire Fighting Level 1 | Fire Fighting Level 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 days | 2 days |
| Fee | R1 034 | R1 562 |
| Who it suits | Workplace first responders: the people nearest the extinguisher when a fire starts | Fire team members who work together on a fire that has already taken hold |
| Equipment | Portable fire extinguishers, matched to the class of fire | Hose reels and larger fire-fighting equipment, worked as a team |
| What you learn | The fire tetrahedron, common causes of fires, detection and reporting, classes of fire, which extinguisher suits which fire, evacuation procedures, fire warden duties, fire risk assessment, emergency patient carries and scene preservation | Fire behaviour and classification, containing and extinguishing a developed fire, working as part of a fire team, and the procedures that go with it |
| Assessment | Written, plus live fire practicals | Written, plus live fire practicals |
Which fire fighting course should you do?
Pick the fire fighting course by the job you are expected to do when a fire starts.
IF
You are the person nearest the extinguisher
Start with Fire Fighting Level 1: raise the alarm, pick the right extinguisher and put out a small fire.
Fire Fighting Level 1 →IF
You are on the site fire team
Build on Level 1 with Fire Fighting Level 2, for hose reels, larger equipment and working as a team.
Fire Fighting Level 2 →IF
You are training a team
Book a group and we train on your site. Group size and travel are quoted per booking.
Ask for a group quote →IF
You also need first aid
Most employers book fire fighting and first aid together, because both appointments sit in the same safety plan.
First aid courses →A typical fire training route
Most site fire teams move through fire training in this order, usually alongside first aid.
1
Fire Fighting Level 1
Extinguishers, evacuation and fire warden duties.
2
Fire Fighting Level 2
Hose reels, larger equipment and fire team work.
+
First aid courses
Booked with fire training for the same safety plan.
Training outside Limpopo?
Individual learners train at our Mokopane centre, 11 Van Riebeeck Street. We don't provide accommodation. Companies can book a group and we train on site anywhere in South Africa: we have trained teams as far as Cape Town, for mines, construction companies and municipalities.
Book fire training for your team
Group size and travel are quoted per booking.
Ask for a group quote Or call 087 630 2506Fire fighting course FAQs
Can't find your answer? Talk to us about your team.
How much does a fire fighting course cost at Fundza?
Fire Fighting Level 1 costs R1 034 and Fire Fighting Level 2 costs R1 562 at Fundza. Each course runs over 2 days, and the fee includes training, assessment and certification, with a certificate you can download. Group bookings for on-site training are quoted per booking.
Does the law require fire fighting training?
The law requires the equipment: General Safety Regulation 13J says an employer must provide an adequate supply of suitable fire-fighting equipment and keep escape routes clear. Sections 8 and 13 of the OHS Act then require the employer to train employees to work safely, which covers using that equipment. There is no fixed ratio of trained fire fighters to employees; your fire risk assessment decides how many people to train.
What is the difference between Fire Fighting Level 1 and Level 2?
Fire Fighting Level 1 covers first response: the classes of fire, which extinguisher to use, evacuation, fire warden duties and a fire risk assessment. Fire Fighting Level 2 covers fire behaviour, hose reels and larger equipment, and containing a fire that has taken hold while working as part of a fire team. Both take 2 days and both include live fire practicals.
Can you train our staff at our workplace?
Yes. Fundza trains fire fighting groups on site anywhere in South Africa, for mines, construction companies, municipalities and other employers. Group size and travel costs are quoted per booking. Individual learners train at our Mokopane centre.
