Monday, October 6, 2014 - The Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Service Department is one of the subjects under the portfolio of the Ministry of Communications and Works.
I am pleased to be able to share with the Officers and you, the public, as we observe Fire Safety Week 2014, under the theme: Fire Prevention and Education.
The vision of the Fire and Rescue Service Department remains to protect life, property and the environment.
Even at face value, we all recognise the importance of this, as we certainly value our lives, our property and the environment. Yet, on a daily basis, we tend to take the safety and protection of these three areas for granted.
Over the years, we continue to see an increase in the total number of calls to the Fire and Rescue Service Department for assistance.
The latest statistics from the Fire and Rescue Service Department indicate that in 2013, there were a total of 593 calls. Of that number, 97 were for fire calls and 227 were related to medical emergencies and vehicular accidents. So far for this year 2014, with three months left to go, the Department has already received 396 calls. Of that number, there were 128 fire related calls and 134 for medical emergencies.
I believe in the old saying “Prevention Is Better Than Cure” and so in keeping with the theme – Fire Prevention and Education – I want to challenge all of us to become more aware of the need to adopt better safety precautions.
We can all do more to ensure that our properties are kept free of hazardous material and our buildings outfitted with the relevant fire prevention and protection equipment and that we do not engage in unsafe and wanton burning practices.
We can also do more to ensure that our vehicles and boats are properly serviced in an effort to avoid overheating and possible combustion.
For its part, the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Service Department has improved its operation to offer, among other areas:
A National Ambulance Service
A Fire Marine Unit
Ongoing Public Education
Service exchange strategies
Training and development for succession planning and
Fire Officers/EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) who are now certified to the US National Standard of EMT level.
As we observe Fire Safety Week 2014, I want to again encourage us all to do more personally and collectively to educate ourselves about fire prevention measures.
I also encourage us to work more closely with the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Service Department to build community fire safety partnerships.
I would like to commend the Fire Officers for their dedication to the task over the years and assure them of Government’s continued support of this Department.
I invite you to participate in the scheduled activities during this important Fire Safety Awareness Week.
Thank you, and may God bless these Virgin Islands.
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