Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

The first tropical depression of the north Atlantic's hurricane season formed Thursday and forecasters said it would likely reach tropical storm strength before petering out over open seas. "The depression is forecast to become a tropical storm over the next day or so, but then is expected to weaken or dissipate over colder waters by Saturday," the National Hurricane Center said. At 1500 GMT the depression was located about 500 km (311 miles) south of Providence, Rhode Island or 1,020 kilometers (634 miles) southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The depression formed even before the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which stretches though November 30.

USGS, USA: Seismometers of the US Geological Survey recorded an earthquake of magnitude 4.7 on the Richter Scale at a depth of 12 miles approximately 55 miles ENE of Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, early Sunday morning (01:13 A.M. Local - 05:13 UTC). http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009haau.php

Sunday 17 May marks the 26th anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is among the world’s oldest movements for HIV/AIDS remembrance, awareness and community action. The first International AIDS Candlelight Memorial was held in 1983, when the cause of AIDS was unknown and no more than a few thousand AIDS deaths had been recorded. The organisers wished to honour the memory of those lost to AIDS and to demonstrate support for those living with AIDS. That remains the focus of the event today. The Candlelight Memorial is more than just a memorial. It is an opportunity to educate about AIDS, advocate for policy change, foster partnerships and community dialogue, and improve skills for community mobilization. With 33 million people estimated to be infected worldwide, the Memorial serves as an important uniting intervention among civil society and their governments, breaking down social barriers, and giving hope to future generati...

Health officials have given the all clear at the Bridgetown port after a scare Wednesday morning involving a crew member from the cruise ship, Carnival Victory. A female crew member was quarantined after discovering that she was exhibiting signs of influenza. Lisa Brome says the ship has already left on its journey around the Caribbean with the affected crew member on board. For a few hours the Bridgetown Port was on high alert as reports emerged that as many as three people who sailed in on the Carnival Victory were suspected to carrying the deadly H1N1 virus. But health authorities quickly mobilized, boarding the ship and carrying out the necessary assessments of the passengers. Health Minister, Donville Inniss, during a media briefing confirmed that it was only one crew member who was quarantined onboard the vessel. In a brief timeline of how the events occurred, Minister Inniss said local health authorities were alerted late yesterday that the vessel left Dominica with one person w...

The Caribbean Fire Service fraternity will gather tomorrow on the island of Dominica in a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Julien Baptiste former Chief Fire Officer of the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service. The Dominican Fire Service family was in a state of mourning after being informed of Baptiste’s death on April 18, 2009. Baptiste reportedly died in Cuba where he was receiving medical treatment for an ailing kidney condition. We take this opportunity to extend our sincere condolences and prayers to the family of Fire Chief Baptiste and the entire Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service.

Take a moment to stop and thank a firefighter, their family or their colleagues in the fire organisation today. If you're a firefighter take time to thank a fellow firey, one or more of your mentors (perhaps they have retired or moved on from your fire organisation) or even a firey from a different organisation, service or country. Today with modern communication we can touch the lives of people on the other side of the world so why don't you send a greeting card or forward this message and thank them for their dedication? Firefighters the world over may wear different uniforms and utilise different equipment however we all have some common traits - we put our lives on the line in the protection of life and property and to protect our communities. Being a firey means that you are part of a very close brotherhood - and an amazing family. To all firefighters the world-over - THANKYOU! Please take care of yourself and your crew in your battle against fire and in the protection of ...