More fires already for 2013 than whole of 2012

The first few months of 2013 have been busy ones for members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force Fire Brigade, who have had to deal with more fires than for the whole of 2012.{{more}}

According to Inspector Joel James of the Fire Department, the number of fires that have been reported in the first two and a half months of 2013, is 15 more than the total number of fires reported last year.

“Up to the 11th March we had 50 reported fires. For this month alone, 29 reported fires. In eleven days, we had 29 reported fires,” James told SEARCHLIGHT last week, at his office at police headquarters.

One week later, James informed SEARCHLIGHT that 15 more fires have been recorded as of yesterday, March 18, bringing the total for the year to 73.

Breaking down the numbers and types of fires, James compared the number of fires that his men were called out to last year to the first 69 days of this year.

“For 2012, we had 58 fires overall: 27 house fires, 20 bush fires, four building fires, six vehicle fires, one boat fire.

“Of these, two persons were injured and one person was killed.

“For January of 2012, we had two house fires, five bush fires and one building fire. For January of 2013 we had four house fires, three bush fires, one boat fire and one (electrical) pole fire.

“For February of 2012, we have had two house fires, five bush fires, one building fire and one electrical fire.

“For this year February, we had 21 reported fires: two house fires, 17 bush fires, one garbage fire, one vehicle fire.”

Last week Monday, SEARCHLIGHT witnessed members of the brigade in action, bringing under control a bush fire which threatened property, and possibly lives, in the Cane Garden residential district.

The fire swept through a parcel of uninhabited land between the Crystal Heights guesthouse, and the former home of former Speaker of the House of Assembly Monty Maule, which is under renovation.

Sparks from the fire ignited debris that was on the premises, as well as the parts of the wooden fence, at the front of the residence.

Some sparks made their way to the other side of the street, and started causing havoc, while some men working on renovation, along with residents of the area, did their best to contain the blaze, until the fire brigade arrived.

James told SEARCHLIGHT that fires like these are, in most cases, intentionally started by individuals whom he described as lawless and reckless persons in the community. He used the opportunity to issue a warning to the perpetrators.

“99 per cent of these fires are being set by these persons….. Some persons just like to see fires. Others would light fires for animals like reptiles and so forth to come out of their holes, like iguanas and so forth, especially on mountainsides….

“These fires can go right up, because fires always rise, as long as the area is hilly, the fires will climb these areas and cause destruction.

“What I can say to them is to desist from these practices, because when you light dry shrubs, especially in a neighbourhood, especially as in Cane Garden, you have houses in close proximity to these fires and most of the times, in these areas, are where people have gone to work….”

James indicated that setting bush fires cost taxpayers, and can prevent the brigade from being in an area where they might be more needed.

“And they don’t know that when they are lighting these fires, when it would be their turn; because somebody else can go and light a fire close to their house and burn it down.”

He pointed out that the maximum penalty for a person convicted of arson is life imprisonment, and while there is usually a strong case for suspected arson, investigators are usually unable to come up with the suspects.

The inspector also offered some words of advice for homeowners, suggesting ways and means of decreasing the risk of their property being damaged or destroyed by bush fires.

“If there is a bush fire in the immediate proximity, and you have a garden hose, you can wet around your house,” James advised.

“But before that, it is always better to call the fire department, so that we can respond at once.

“If you have dry shrubs around your houses, it is advisable that you trim them as flat as possible, so that in the event of a nearby fire, it will not encroach onto your property, so that there would not be any fuel to sustain the life of a fire, which would be approaching your property.”