Working on Fire

What Working on Fire does

Working on Fire (WOF) is a South African government-funded Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) entity founded in 2003 and headquartered in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. It delivers Integrated Fire Management (IFM) services, including wildfire suppression, veld and forest fire management, fire awareness training, and disaster relief, through a workforce of more than 5,000 participants operating from approximately 200 bases across all nine South African provinces. WOF is structured as a joint venture between Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd and Kishugu Holdings, with sister entities providing aviation (Kishugu Aviation), accredited training (Kishugu Training Academy), fleet management (Kishugu Fleet Solutions), and environmental services (Kishugu Enviroservices).

WOF's core service stack combines ground-based firefighting crews, aerial resources, and prevention programmes such as the Fire Awareness Programme, WOF Kids outreach, and the Forestry Support Programme launched in 2019. The organization has also executed recurring international deployments, including six missions to Canada since 2015 under a 2019 MOU with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), a record 861-person deployment to Canada in 2023, and prior missions to Malawi and Indonesia. It is recognized internationally through partnerships with the FAO and participation in fora such as AFAC 2025.

The funding model rests on annual appropriations from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) under the EPWP, supplemented by reimbursement for international deployments through foreign agency partners. WOF operates as a non-profit implementing agent rather than a commercial contractor, and revenue/financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Programmatic diversification into forestry support, disaster relief, and aviation-enabled services represents the primary avenue for incremental scope, while single-funder concentration remains the defining commercial characteristic.

Name

Working on Fire

Legal name

Working on Fire (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://workingonfire.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Working on Fire is a South African government-funded Expanded Public Works Programme that delivers Integrated Fire Management and wildfire response, training 5,000+ firefighters across 200 bases in all 9 provinces, with recurring international deployments to Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildfire Management Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE), Wildfire Fuel Reduction & Prescribed Burning (AFAMAAAF), Integrated Forest Health & Fire Management Planning (AFAMAEAK), Forest Fire Management & Fuels Reduction Services (IMAMAAAH)

Keywords

• Integrated fire management
• Wildfire suppression services
• Firefighter training programs
• Disaster relief services
• Forest fire protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Nelspruit

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government EPWP Funding: Working on Fire is funded through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The programme receives government funding to provide work opportunities and train young men and women in fire management skills.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Working on Fire is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) that delivers Integrated Fire Management (IFM) services through the WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture for the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The programme recruits, trains and deploys more than 5,000 firefighters across 200+ bases in all nine South African provinces, providing fire prevention, detection, suppression, prescribed burning, fire awareness and post-fire rehabilitation services. It also conducts international wildfire deployment missions under bilateral agreements (notably with Canada through CIFFC) and operates ancillary programmes including fire awareness education, forestry plantation maintenance, disaster relief and youth/child welfare support.

Product overview

Working on Fire is an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) implemented by the WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture for the South African government's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The programme operates as a portfolio of integrated services rather than a single product, centered on Integrated Fire Management (IFM) which encompasses fire awareness, prevention, prescribed burning, detection, suppression, and post-fire rehabilitation. The core offering includes the Working on Fire EPWP Programme deploying over 5000 firefighters across 200 bases, supported by specialized service units including Kishugu Training Academy, Kishugu Aviation, and Kishugu Fleet Solutions. Supporting social initiatives comprise WOF Kids, the Disaster Relief Programme, and the Fire Awareness Programme. The portfolio extends internationally through Canadian Wildfire Deployments and includes a Fire Management Research Network platform for knowledge sharing. The Forestry Support Programme maintains 19 government plantations across five provinces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WOF Kids: Child welfare and socio-economic support programme for children of WOF EPWP participants and other vulnerable groups
• Fire Awareness Programme
• Forestry Support Programme
• WOF EPWP
• Mzanzi Hotshots

Products and services

• Integrated Fire Management (IFM) A comprehensive series of coordinated actions covering fire awareness, prevention, prescribed burning, fire detection, fire suppression, and post-fire rehabilitation and recovery, implemented at local, provincial and national levels. Targets government, commercial forestry operations and Fire Protection Associations.
• Working on Fire EPWP Programme An Expanded Public Works Programme providing work opportunities and training in fire awareness, fire prevention, fire suppression, first aid and vocational skills to young men and women from marginalized communities. Operates with 5,000+ participants across 200 bases in South Africa.
• Fire Awareness Programme Environmental education programme combining science-based tools to promote fire and life safety, disaster risk assessment and mitigation. Includes Fire Awareness in Schools, Fire Safe Communities and Enviro Campaign Days targeting fire-prone communities and learners.
• Forestry Support Programme A programme maintaining, upgrading and improving 19 government plantations across five provinces, delivered in partnership with Fire Protection Associations (Southern Cape FPA, Cape Peninsula FPA, Lowveld Escarpment FPA, Eastern Cape Umbrella FPA).
• WOF Kids A social initiative supporting the socio-economic needs of children from WOF EPWP participants and vulnerable groups through basic educational tools, life skills, care packages and educational support.
• Disaster Relief Programme Initiative delivering essential supplies to communities affected by disasters, including lifeline care packages with lock buckets, hygiene packs, first aid kits, blankets and non-perishable food. Partners with sponsors to rebuild lives and fortify communities.
• International Wildfire Deployment Service International fire suppression missions deploying South African firefighters to assist overseas wildfire efforts. Multiple deployments since 2015, with 861 firefighters and managers deployed to Canada in 2023. Operates under a formal MOU with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
• High Altitude Team (HAT) Specialized wildfire firefighters trained for high-altitude fire operations, forming part of the broader Working on Fire Programme.
• Fire Management Research Network (FMRN) Online platform for sharing knowledge and ideas on fire management in South Africa, fostering collaboration between researchers, scientists, students and fire managers on fire in the South African landscape and integrated fire management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31% women participation - highest level in any comparable fire service in the world
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MOU signed in 2019 provides for exchange of wildland fire management resources. The MOU was put in place following earlier deployments to suppress wildfires in Alberta and Manitoba. Multiple deployments have been facilitated through CIFFC requests.
• Southern Cape FPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fire Protection Association managing government plantations in Southern Cape region as part of the Forestry Support Programme implementing partner network.
• Cape Peninsula FPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fire Protection Association managing government plantations in Cape Peninsula region as part of the Forestry Support Programme implementing partner network.
• Lowveld Escarpment FPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fire Protection Association managing government plantations in Lowveld Escarpment region as part of the Forestry Support Programme implementing partner network.
• Eastern Cape Umbrella FPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Fire Protection Association managing government plantations in Eastern Cape region as part of the Forestry Support Programme implementing partner network.
• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003The Programme resides under and is funded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. DFFE provides government funding through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to implement the Working on Fire programme nationwide.
• Kishugu HoldingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKishugu (formerly the Forest and Fire Association) is the implementing agent for the Working on Fire Programme. Kishugu developed the Integrated Fire Management model adopted by countries worldwide. The WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture implements the programme.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohan Heine serves on the FAO Aerial Firefighting Working Group. The programme participates in FAO global fire management initiatives and events.
• Nelson Mandela UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Fire Management Symposium. Organizing Committee includes Nelson Mandela University - Forestry, Wood Technology and Veldfire Management department. Tiaan Pool is a lecturer at NMU George Campus.
• Kishugu Training AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides intensive training for firefighters including three-day refresher training aligned with Canadian standards before international deployments. Also offers various skills development programmes.
• Kishugu AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary of Kishugu Group providing aerial firefighting capabilities. Over the past 19 years has invested R250m to develop aerial capacity to support Working On Fire operations.
• Kishugu Fleet SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of WOF-Kishugu Joint Venture providing fleet and logistics support for firefighting operations across South Africa.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• South African National Parks (SANParks) Fire Management Unit: Manages wildfire within South Africa's national parks (including co-hosting WOF's 20th anniversary Fire Management Symposium at Skukuza). Overlaps operationally with WOF in veldfire suppression in conservation areas.
• CapeNature: Western Cape biodiversity agency running its own wildfire teams and working alongside WOF on fire awareness and veldfire response in the Cape Floristic Region; comparable provincial-scale mandate.

Direct peers

• Kishugu Holdings: JV partner and implementing agent of Working on Fire, providing training, aviation and fleet services through a shared leadership and governance structure. Operationally intertwined with WOF and shares board members.
• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC): Counterparty that brokers WOF's deployments into Canada under the 2019 MOU. Operates a closely comparable wildland fire resource-exchange and mutual-aid model across Canadian provinces.

Broad incumbents

• INFOCA (Plan INFOCA, Junta de Andalucía): Andalusian Mediterranean wildfire management agency operating an integrated prevention-and-suppression model with seasonal workforce, directly comparable to WOF's IFM framework and a fellow member of the international wildland fire conference circuit.
• Forest Protection Service (Working on Fire equivalents in Australia — e.g., NSW Rural Fire Service): Large established state-level wildland fire management agency with comparable IFM-style mandate (prevention, suppression, community education) and international mutual-aid deployments, but operating as a permanent statutory body rather than a youth EPWP.

Emerging players

• National Rural Fire Authority (NRFA) — Kenya: African peer developing community-based wildfire management capacity; comparable to WOF's youth-employment-plus-fire-suppression model, with potential cross-border cooperation pathways through FAO.

Others

• FAO Global Fire Management Hub: United Nations body convening WOF and other national agencies on global fire management; relevant as a strategic ecosystem player WOF actively engages via Johan Heine's FAO Working Group role.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wo_fire
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WoFtvchannel01
• Facebookfacebook.com/wofire
• Instagraminstagram.com/workingonfire/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/working-on-fire-south-africa-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Working on Fire