‘Be responsible regarding starting fires around your property’- Hon Penn
This comes as a fire last evening, June 11, 2023, gutted a home in Red Bay on the eastern end of Tortola just after 8:00 pm.
“Good day all, I would like to firstly thank Almighty God for his grace and commend Albato George - Station Officer, Samuel Lettsome - Sub Officer, Benson Thomas - Sub Officer [and] the entire team from the Fire and Rescue Department and some concerned residents who were onsite last evening,” he said in a Facebook statement today, June 12, 2023.
Hon Penn added that if it were not for their swift and heroic actions to contain and extinguish the fire, the circumstances could have been so much worst for the properties and lives of persons living in the Red Bay/Parhamtown community.
No physical injuries - Hon Penn
“Actions which I witnessed firsthand and I, therefore, give our community's collective gratitude and appreciation as a representative, for the efforts of all persons involved. I also sympathize with the family whose property sustained damage and I am happy that no one was physically harmed during last evening's unfortunate event,” he said.
While no official statement has been issued on the cause of the fire from the Fire and rescue department up to publication time, the Legislator further urged residents to be responsible regarding starting fires around their property and do so only with the consent, guidance, and supervision of the Fire and Rescue Department.
“Our territory has been going through a very warm and dry period and such unauthorized actions could prove destructive,” he added.
Our news center will bring more details as it becomes available.
Up
Follow Us On
30 Responses to “‘Be responsible regarding starting fires around your property’- Hon Penn ”
The first order of business in the fire and rescue business plan should be to establish minimum travel time and travel distances in zones to respond to incidents. Further, a mapping procedure should be employed to determine where fire stations should be located. Ideally, the desire may be to locate a fire station in every district. However , the mapping may show this may not be necessary in every district, ie, 7th and 8th districts. Fire stations should be located as noted earlier where they can provide optimal use at the least cost. The mapping strategy allude to applies to Tortola. But the VI is not a contiguous territory so different strategies would have to be employed for outlying islands. This should part of the VI fire and rescue master plan.
Moreover, the fire services should launch a robust territory- wide public outreach and education programme on fire safety and prevention, including inspection services.
Moreover, public service is a noble profession. But it is not for the ill-prepared, faint of heart, those that always want to be loved and admired or for those who think it just requires a little common sense and acumen. Why people do it?? There are a myriad of reasons. However, many do it for psychic income, ie, helping people individually and collectively .
[Lets lead like eagles, not careen off the cliffs like buffaloes]
We in the lower Great Mountain area have been INCONVENIENCED by Shabazz area for years constantly burning all before 7am at times and several times a week stinking up our homes.
DO NOT AUTHORIZE THIS HARZARD.
Someone died!!!