ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, October 4th, 2011 -- The Fire and Rescue Services Department kicked off their silver anniversary celebrations of Fire Safety Awareness Week during a luncheon held on Sunday 2nd October on Tortola.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs. Arlene Smith Thompson delivered the feature address on behalf of the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Julian Fraser RA.In her remarks she gave a brief history of the Fire Department since its inception in 1986.
She noted that initial operations commenced on Tortola and was subsequently expanded to the sister islands. She even recalled the department’s first vehicle.
“I can distinctly recall the era when the department had to rely on a British built Land Rover which could not hold sufficient water to extinguish a coal-pot fire or a Bedford Tanker-Truck that was unable to negotiate the terrain at Slaney Hill,” she said.
“Now we are finally at the stage where we can proudly show off our brand new Ford 550 fire engines and can also be proud of our rescue equipment which includes the Jaws of Life, two light portable pumps, six breathing apparatus sets and a 100kW standby generator.” Mrs. Thompson emphasised.
She also highlighted the department’s many achievements. “I am proud of the training of 20 officers as Basic Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), 14 officers in the Junior Officer Leadership Academy (JOLA) and the launching of the department’s website.”
In closing Mrs. Smith-Thompson advocated for more preventative measures to be put in place to prevent the potentially catastrophic effects caused by fires. “I urge you to engage in preventative measures such as the installation of smoke detectors, and fire escapes in your homes; attaining proper authorisation for burning of open fires, and refraining from storing goods in corridors and stairwells.”
Acting Chief Fire Officer, Mr. William Penn, who replaced retired Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Leando Stoutt also gave remarks during the ceremony. In his remarks he focused on the elevation of the department and spoke of plans to achieve strategic goals.
“We have a management framework in place which will focus on the competencies for each rank within the department and will clearly outline job functions which will ultimately be used for the development of officers and succession planning.
Our Human Resources Unit is strengthening the training development road map to ensure professional, competence and knowledge development which will prepare officers for the next rank,” he noted.
Mr. Penn also stated that they are working to ensure the diversification of services which includes having, Emergency Medical Technicians, an emergency call handling management centre, Incident Command System, the formation of a special hazmat response team and the implementation of a Fire Investigation Unit.
Fire Safety Awareness Week is being celebrated from October 2-9 under the theme “Celebrating 25 Years of Educating, Preventing, and Protection for a Safer Community” and will continue with a host of activities including fire suppression training, open house activities, and free child passenger seat installation at the Road Town Fire Headquarters.
The public is invited to come out and celebrate with the Fire and Rescue Services Department as they continue educating , preventing and protecting for a safer community during their silver anniversary.
The Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services Department became a separate entity from the Police Department in 1986. The Unit started with a cohort of 16 fire officers, two used Bedford fire trucks from England and one Land Rover pump.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
British Virgin Islands News