It was embarrassing to hear about a fire tender that was burnt to a cinder after answering a call to control a wild fire at Canefield, Locust Hall, St George. There should be a sense of confidence that the Barbados Fire Service always demonstrate the required competence in the service of “providing effective and efficient fire prevention, fire suppression, disaster management, emergency medical care and other essential services to save lives and protect …“.
On cue, Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams advised yesterday he had requested a report on the unusual occurrence. By the way, the official explanation from BFS Henderson Patrick was, “in an attempt to bring the fire under control, met the conditions where the wind would have taken a lot of the trash and blew it in the direction of the fire truck which would have resulted in the situation that we have right now.”
A 1.5 million dollar fire tender gone up in smoke!
The unfortunate accident alarming though it was piqued the interest of the blogmaster when coupled with another tragic event that occurred at Wellington Street, Bridgetown on the 5 May 2024. Nearly 50 individuals were displaced because six houses were razed and others significantly damaged. Notwithstanding denials from BFS officials, eyewitness reports from onlookers ‘claim’ fire tenders arrived on the scene without an adequate supply of water. Compromising the response of the BFS the public was told of difficulty accessing fire hydrants by fire service personnel because the road was newly paved.
There is a lot to unpack, so much to speculate about, enough for Minister Abrahams to have commissioned a Wellington Report?
It is important to shore up public trust in essential agencies like the fire, police if serious accusations are levelled by members of the public. The government must promptly and thoroughly respond to citizen concerns. If trust in public institutions and agencies continue to slide chaos and conspiratorial notions will take root, they have already started.
Why would ordinary citizens narrate blatant untruths about fire tenders on the scene at Wellington Street not having water? Why would trained fire officials park a 1.5 million dollar fire appliance in a grass piece unaware of the potential hazard posed by change of wind direction?
The blogmaster will not elaborate on the other allegation making the rounds as it relates to the name of owner of the land where many of the houses destroyed are located and the connection.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.