Ma Feature
Andrew Hagen spends a lot of time in the mountains and on trails , because when he ’ s not running , he is often ‘ on the line ’ with his fellow volunteer fire-fighters as more and more wild fires rampage through the Cape region . – BY RACHEL PIENAAR
In the last few years news reports in the summer months have been dominated by runaway wild fires in the Cape , with the combination of hot , dry and windy conditions turning the Western Cape into a tinderbox . This has seen fire-fighting services stretched to breaking point , including the Volunteer Wildfire Service ( VWS ) fire-fighters . These unpaid men and women put their lives on hold when a fire breaks out , don their protective gear and head up mountains and ravines to fight the fires , and amongst them is Andrew Hagen , a 33-year-old Stellenbosch-based photographer and technician . He ’ s also an elite-level trail runner when not working or fighting fires , and thrives on tough mountainous courses .
Amongst Andrew ’ s running accolades are four wins in the Three Peaks Challenge in Cape Town , which summits Devils Peak , Table Mountain and Lions Head . He first won it in 2007 , then again in 2009 , and set a new course record as he claimed a third win in 2010 . His record has since fallen , but in 2016 he posted an unprecedented fourth win . In between that he also won the 2013 Lesotho Ultra Trail Run , and placed second in the 2014 Ultra Trail Cape Town , which in turn saw him selected for the SA team for the 2015 Ultra Trail World Champs in France . “ I ’ ve always run . At school I was never good at the shorter distances , but I took part in quite a few cross country events ,” says Andrew . “ It was the numerous hikes up Table
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Mountain that took me down the path of trail running , and I feel at home amongst the mountains .”
HEAT OF THE MOMENT
It was a close encounter with a forest fire seven years ago that led to Andrew volunteering his services as a fire-fighter . “ The 2009 Jonkershoek fires burnt right to the walls of the place where we lived , and did tremendous damage while burning across the mountains for a month . My wife to be at the time , Hayley , founded the Jonkershoek Station of VWS and I was one of the first to sign up . We not only fight to protect lives , homes , trees and pretty flowers , but we ’ re fighting against the degradation of our mountain water catchments by repeated burning of unnatural causes .”
As a VWS crew leader , Andrew and his team are often exposed to extreme heat , steep and rugged terrain , smoke inhalation , and back-breaking work , but he says trail running has primed him for the challenge . “ The mountain environment with its steep gradients and uneven terrain is already a comfort zone , my cardio fitness is better than average , and being self-sufficient is already a habit . It ’ s just the act of having to beat flames , dig out coals or cut a fire break all day that can sometimes wear your upper body out ,” he says .
FIRE SEASON
During the winter months the VWS recruits are put through a thorough training programme , learning the tools for fire-fighting as well as a good working knowledge of the warning signs of trouble and the behaviour of wild fires . When ‘ Fire Season ’ starts , the volunteers go on high alert . “ There is a large firefighting community which includes municipal fire departments , conservation professionals , contract fire-fighting crews , Working on Fire crews and pilots , and other smaller volunteer groups , all putting in long hours to see the fires brought under control .”
As volunteers , the VWS fire-fighters take turns to be on standby on the weekends , and this past January they were once again called into emergency action as fires swept through the Grabouw and Helderberg areas . “ We had to dispatch 18 crews of volunteers in less than two weeks !” says Andrew , who adds that fortunately there are more and more volunteers signing up each year . “ The other great thing is the public support that VWS receives . In the time I ’ ve been involved , I don ’ t remember ever having as much public support as we do now , and it makes a big difference .”
Even when not on the line , Andrew and Hayley continue to work to promote and grow the VWS Boland branch . “ We both want to make a meaningful difference in the preservation of our environment , which directly affects our water supply . We hope to create greater awareness of fire risks , and ultimately , we ’ d really like to see fewer fires ,” says Andrew . Meanwhile , he still has running goals in mind as well : “ I ’ d like to do some of the iconic 100 mile races overseas , such as the UTMB or Hardrock , but the major goal is to just to keep enjoying it as a healthy part of my life for years to come .”
For more info on the VWS , go to www . vws . org . za .
Images : Hayley Hagen