TUFTONAndrea Downer and Adrian Frater, Gleaner Writers
THE JUNCTION Fire Department is appealing for help to battle several bush fires in St. Elizabeth, some of which have been raging for eight days.
There have also been reports that the fires have caused at least five families to flee their homes.
Assistant Superintendent Anthony Jones of the Black River Fire Department explained that only two of the three fire trucks assigned to the parish are working. He said the 14 firefighters under his command are unable to cope with the heavy workload and that shortage of water is making matters worse. He said fire trucks, which hold 400 gallons each, have to travel sometimes up to five miles to the fire stations to refill water.
OVER FIFTEEN ACRES
Mr. Jones said all the firefighters on duty and the two fire trucks were in Woodside where a bush fire that began last week Wednesday had spread to over 15 acres. As a result, three bush fires in Bromington Hall in Nain, Yardley Chase close to Lover's Leap, and Seaview were burning out of control, as no trucks or firefighters were available to send to those areas. The fires were said to be threatening several houses.
He said it was difficult to say when the large fire in Woodside would be put out as fire trucks were being hard-pressed to access the hilly areas.
Earlier this week, a senior fire official disclosed that the parish's fire service was not in good shape. According to him, the parish's three fire units, which are stationed one each in Santa Cruz, Junction and Black River, are constantly in need of repairs.
"The units break down quite frequently so we are constantly doing repairs," he said, while noting that they are cautiously optimistic that the fires will burn themselves out. "We are just hoping that they will not be put to the test."
And Jamaica Labour Party caretaker for South West St. Elizabeth, Chris Tufton, says the Ministries of Water and Local Government should combine their efforts and seek assistance from the Jamaica Defence Force in an attempt to control these fires before lives are lost and more properties are destroyed.
