From Buckets to Brigades: A Journey Through Joburg’s Firefighting History

Step aboard and journey back in time. Uncover the fiery story of Johannesburg’s intrepid inferno fighters — where courage, determination, and innovation saved the day, and the city.

From humanity’s earliest relationship with fire in the Cradle of Humankind, to the rise of a gold rush town constantly under threat, this tour traces the remarkable evolution of firefighting in Johannesburg. What began as a desperate struggle with rudimentary tools, grew into one of the largest fire departments on the African continent by 1962. It also became the country’s greatest transport concern outside of the South African Railways and Harbours.

The story ignites in December 1897, when a single blaze - a stable fire behind a novelty bar in Sauer Street - marked Johannesburg’s first recorded fire. The city was barely a year old. That moment sparked an urgent and relentless effort to protect the rapidly growing mining settlement from the ever-present threat of destruction. Just three years later, the Fire Department was officially established - born out of necessity, courage, and resilience.

Join your guide, Antoinette Morgan, for a fascinating bus tour to some of Joburg’s most important fire stations. Along the way, you’ll hear gripping accounts of famous and forgotten fires, dramatic explosions, and the men and machines that battled them. These are stories of chaos and courage, of lessons learned in smoke and ash, and of a service forged in the heat of crisis.

So, sit back, relax, and let us take you on a compelling journey through Johannesburg’s blazing past - where every spark tells a story.

The bus departs from the Sunnyside Park Hotel, where secure parking is available. You are welcome to bring refreshments on the bus (no alcohol allowed) or enjoy lunch at the hotel’s restaurant and bar after the tour.