Barbados Fire Service Reports Success in Preventative Strategies, With Decrease in Structural Fires

The Barbados Fire Service (BFS) is recording successes in its preventative strategies being employed across the country.

Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard disclosed that the number of structural fires officers responded to for the period January 1 to November 3, 2023, stood at 54, compared with 66 for the same period last year.

“This achievement is a testimony to the hard work, perseverance, and collaboration of our firefighters, senior officers and support staff,” he said.

Speaking during the recent 41st Passing Out Parade for recruits at the Barbados Fire Academy, Maynard noted that prevention and mitigation had become the cornerstone of the BFS’s approach under its transformation and rebranding efforts.

“We understand while responding swiftly and effectively to an emergency and crisis, our true strength lies in the proactive measures that we put in place – prevention and mitigation,” the fire chief stated.

However, he noted that grass and rubbish fires continue to pose a problem, but stated that the BFS was on a trajectory to also reduce those numbers.

“We are driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence. We will continue to strengthen our preventative measures, enhance our training programmes, and embrace cutting-edge technology to ensure that we are always one step ahead of the challenges we face,” Maynard affirmed.

He urged the public to make safety a central part of what they do daily, including driving to stay alive.

(BGIS)