Nuisance fires are draining the resources of the Barbados Fire Service and sparking concern by Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Chief Fire Officer Chesterfield Mayers.
Already for the first eight months of this year, there was a 30 per cent increase in fires when compared to all of last year. Up until the end of August, 1 948 fires had been reported, surpassing the 1 589 fires for 2004.
Mottley, speaking at the launch of a special stamp issue to commemorate the Fire Service's 50th anniversary at its Probyn Street headquarters in The City yesterday, said 75 per cent of the fires was from burning grass, canes and rubbish.
"A large percentage of the grass fires are house lots which simply have not been kept low and clean, and therefore every time a response comes into the Fire Service, it is the time of the men, it is the risk of the men and women, it is the cost of so deploying. Things that we could otherwise be . . . doing in relation to prevention are now being diverted to treat to what can only be described as reckless behaviour," she said.
At the end of August, fire officers had responded to 998 bush fires compared to 527 for all of last year; 206 cane fires compared to 124 for 2004, and 27 trash fires compared to 12 for all last year.
Mottley, who is also Attorney-General, stressed that there needed to be an individual and community effort because once a fire started and got out of hand, there was risk to limb, life and property.
Mayers, in expressing his frustration about repeating the same warnings, said the resources of the service were being drained.
"In most cases it is just a lot of carelessness. All we really require is for persons to understand they have to be careful. Take the necessary care when they are building, when they are leaving home or if fire has to be used to get rid of rubbish," he said.
He said they had taken to the streets and planned to go door-to-door in order to personalise the message, while specific recommendations would be given to some householders and business owners.
"I can tell you that this initiative has already begun, and in St John alone, fire officers have already gone to over 100 homes to get home the message. This programme will spread across the island in time," Mayers said. |