Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
THE PORT Antonio Fire Department, in celebrating Fire Awareness Week, held a ceremony at its local headquarters to sensitise and educate students and other local residents, yesterday.
Deputy Superintendent (DSP) in charge of the Port Antonio Fire Department, Louiston Gooden, said that fire safety awareness should be a joint effort between the fire brigade and the general public. He said that the responsibility of the fire brigade falls under two broad headings - fire prevention and operation.
"Fire prevention is a triangle of education, engineering and enforcement," he said. "This includes the teaching of fire safety practices, the conducting of building inspection and also to ensure and enforce fire safety regulations."
The parish fire fighters, for some time now, have been plagued by a lack of resources. Only a few months ago, an additional fire truck was acquired and has since been dispatched to the town of Buff Bay, which had been without a unit for more than two years.
CONSTANT PLAGUE
But, despite the shortage of resources, both human and otherwise, the firemen say they are plagued by prank fire calls on a monthly basis.
District officer in charge of the parish, George Borne, said that between the period October 2004 and September 2005, a total of 213 fire calls were received and, of that number, 117 were genuine fire calls.
"This has created some strain on us, as not only are we under-staffed, but there is also a shortage of firefighting equipment, along with a defective fire truck, the situation is made worse each time we respond to these illegal calls," said Mr. Borne.
According to DSP Gooden, 250 emergency calls were sent to the brigade in Portland, of which 186 were genuine calls, over the past 12 months. He said that the estimated loss of property amounted to $57,760,900 and that an estimated amount of what was saved amounted to $9,528,194,900.
"Sixty people have become homeless and eight persons were injured during the outbreak of fires. And, two persons died as a result of fires," he revealed.
The theme for Fire Awareness Week is 'Fire Prevention - A Collective Effort', and will climax on October 29.
