BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - IT was a packed day for members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services Department with them extricating two individuals from two vehicles involved in a head-on collision, extinguishing a vehicular fire and rescuing someone who had fainted while on the roof of a building.
These were part of a Drills and Demonstration Exercise held yesterday (Jan. 9) by the Department as part of its Week of Activities to commemorate its 15th year of existence as an independent body.
The exercise took place on the Bay Road opposite RAMS Supermarket, where a large crowd, including pre-school children, had gathered for the spectacle.
With the stage set, one of the fire trucks, fully fitted with equipment, fire-extinguishing agents and personnel, rushed to the scene along with equipped ambulances.
When they got there, the officers quickly assessed the situation and jumped into action.
One individual was easily removed from the vehicle and appeared not to have serious injuries. However, a woman who was trapped in one of the vehicles had to be extricated with the use of the Jaws of Life, which is a hydraulic apparatus used to cut metal.
The woman, whose clothes were blood-soaked, was successfully removed, loaded into an ambulance and rushed to the hospital.
A man was removed from the other vehicle and he appeared not to be as seriously injured as the woman but he too was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to the hospital.
Shortly after the extrication exercise, one of the vehicles caught fire and two fire officers, who stood ready in the event of such occurring, sprang into action and extinguished the flames.
No sooner than that was completed, word came that someone had collapsed while on the roof of a nearby building.
In response, a couple of officers, with the use of a ladder, went to the top of the building, secured the individual onto a stretcher. They then connected it to a rope, which was attached to another building on one end and one of the fire vehicles on the other end, and lowered the person to safety in a rappelling-like fashion.
The exercise ended with two drill competitions, the One Man Drill and the Target Drill.
In the former, a fire officer was required to throw out a length of hose that was attached to the tender, run back to the starting point, turn on the water source, run to the end of the hose and attach a nozzle before the water could have reached to that point.
That exercise was won by Fire Officer Dennis Morris who did it in less than 22 seconds.
The Target Drill was a competition among the various Fire Stations on the island and was similar to the One Man Drill; one of the main differences being that the officer(s) at the end of the hose was required to down a target with the water blast.
Basseterre Fire Station took bragging rights from last year’s champion, Sandy Point Fire Station, finishing their task in less than 48 seconds. That team consisted of Fire Officer (FO) Morris, FO Alexis Richards, FO Myrtle Charles, FO Trevor Matthew and PEP Officer Javion Smith.
Following the exercise, Fire Chief (Ag) Everette O’Garro expressed his belief that it was successful in achieving its goal, which is to sensitise the public while strengthening the relationship it has with the service.
“While these were staged, they mirror real-life situations that we have faced and would continue to face because of the nature of our job. And I am glad that even the smallest of children could have seen and received a good understanding and appreciation for what we do and the danger we put even ourselves in to ensure the safety and security of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
