Fire Bugs

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Lawlessness and deliberate burning have been given as reasons for the record-breaking number of grass and cane fires for the year. Up to Thursday, there were over 749 such fires: 646 grass fires and 103 cane fires.

Acting Chief Fire Officer Randolph Cox told the SUNDAY SUN yesterday that based on investigations and reports from his officers, there was reason to believe that some of the fires could have been the result of lawless behaviour by wayward youth.

". . . I don't want to put any blame on the youth in general for lighting these fires. However, there maybe some who are misguided and resort to such," Cox said.

The acting fire chief also spoke of occasions where firefighters had discovered "certain devices designed to ignite a particular area".

"Included is an implement that would cause a delay action; and hence persons can set these fires, go home and go to sleep before the effects of these fires are realised," he added.

The acting fire chief said while the theory was that these fires could be the result of spontaneous combustion, there was clear evidence this was not the case, especially when blazes occurred at night.

"In a pasture I cannot see anything preventing any heat that might accumulate from reaching the atmosphere. If it does occur, it would be very seldom," he noted.

Cox held suspicion about certain areas that were keeping the Fire Department busy: repeated spots particularly in the parish of St Philip.

Some spots identified were Foul Bay, Kirtons, Ram Goat Hill and an area near the St Martin's Anglican Rectory - and the bushy section of The Belle in St Michael.

He urged Barbadians not to burn their rubbish or attempt to burn areas to get rid of cow-itch.

"There is a proliferation of cow-itch and it is adversely affecting the members of the public. The Ministry of Health can be contacted for assistance in that area and the Sanitation Service Authority is willing and ready to assist persons to get rid of rubbish.

"I would like to appeal to the public to desist from burning, or from lighting anything which would cause flames to spread and [cause] destruction in the open atmosphere," Cox said.

Source: www.nationnews.com

Comments

Maria_Rilke said…
I'm looking for an affordable hotel in Barbados to stay this coming summer.
February 21, 2010 at 9:20 PM
Bajan Fire Fighters Charity said…
Maria, sorry for the delay in reply but we are very busy with the current surge in brush fires at the moment. However, you should try these sites for guidance with your travel query regarding Barbados.

http://www.visitbarbados.org
http://www.intimatehotelsbarbados.com
February 25, 2010 at 9:17 AM
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