Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

After more than 36 years of dedicated service to the Fire and Rescue profession acting Station Officer Trevor Applewhaite recently retired from the Fire Service. The Administration of the Barbados Fire Service held a luncheon in honour of Officer Applewhaite on Friday afternoon at Fire Service Headquarters, where friends and co-workers gathered to bid him a fond farewell. Applewhaite enlisted in the Service in 1973 and was promoted to Leading Fire Officer in 1993 then Sub Officer in 2003 before taking up duties as acting Station Officer.

A regional disaster mechanism, a regional training college and increased customer service are what new Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall will be working towards. Marshall made these revelations on Monday during a media conference at the Barbados Fire Service headquarters in Probyn Street, The City. “Most of our training is done internationally, and I want to see a situation where we can go to a college which would focus on situations you would find in the Caribbean and not in New York,” he said. Marshall said he also wanted to see a regional disaster mechanism established for firefighting and rescue, as well as a regional response framework for natural and unnatural events that may go beyond the capacity of the affected country. “It is my intention to work with the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs and the Caribbean Association of Fire Fighters towards the development of fire officers in this region and the attainment of these goals,” he said. As for improved customer service, Mar...

Newly appointed Chief Fire Officer, Wilfred Marshall, says that as the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) moves forward, the department’s strategic plan will be revisited and updated. While outlining a number of areas that will gain particular attention during his tenure, the Chief stated that a burning issue still affecting the BFS is the matter of appointments. Speaking to the media during a press conference held at the Fire Service’s Probyn Street headquarters yesterday, he said, “As an urgent pressing issue, I want to bring meaningful closure to an outstanding human resource matter which relates to appointments and promotions. I have to commend all those officers in service who have been impacted by this inaction which has the potential to cause a great decline in morale. “These officers have responded well, but operate in an uncertainty environment which causes them to exercise their daily function among their subordinates with caution as they may have to go back to the substantive rank ...

New fire chief calling for vacancies to be filled Government's failure to address the issue of appointments in the Barbados Fire Service could lead to a decline in morale in that critical agency. That is the warning from newly appointed Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall, who said there were 50 vacancies which were being filled by officers acting in those positions. Marshall, whose appointment was made official last Saturday, was speaking to the media yesterday at the Probyn Street, St Michael headquarters. He said there were nine positions of leading fire officer; eight sub officers; one station officer; one divisional officer; the post of deputy chief fire officer and 30 fire officer positions still to be substantively filled. Marshall explained that it was not up to the Fire Service's hierarchy to fill those posts, but it was the responsibility of the Services Commission and the Governor General. "As an urgent, pressing issue, I want to bring meaningful closure to an o...

Wilfred DeCourcey Marshall, 56, is Barbados' new Chief Fire Officer. The former station officer's appointment takes effect from today. Marshall has been in the service for 35 years and has had extensive job-specific training from West Indian and English universities, as well as other academic institutions. A graduate of the now defunct Federal High School, Marshall has certificates in international disaster management from Bournemouth University, England; in public administration from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, and in executive analysis of fire service operations in emergency management, from the United States' National Fire Academy. His almost two dozen qualifications include a certificate in occupational safety and health from the Barbados Community College; a certificate in mass casualty management from the Pan American Health Organisation, and a certificate in general management from the Training Administration Division/Barbados Institute of Managemen...

Barbadian fire fighters are effectively harnessing the power of social networking sites to share problems, ideas and expertise in an attempt to increase productivity and raise awareness. In a interview with the Barbados Advocate, Fire Officer Glyne Alleyne outlined the need to move with the times and implement popular technology to connect with the Barbadian population. “The fire department came on the Internet officially around 1998, at that time a website was created for the department that pretty much sought to address what we do and who we were, but unfortunately no provisions were made on that site for the social interaction of fire fighters here in Barbados and with our international counterparts, hence the reasons why I created the social network that we have now, which comprises of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, U Stream and podcasts. “What I have recently found happening is that the public is so very keen on learning about the inner workings of our departments that we started to ...

Mom is such a special word, The loveliest I've ever heard. A toast to you, above all the rest, Mom you're so special, You are simply the best... Happy Mother's Day!

Bayne and Holligan share their stories on World Firefighters Day The drive to save lives. That was what propelled junior officer Damian Bayne and acting sub-officer Charles Holligan to a career in the Barbados Fire Service. With more than three decades in the service between them, the two recounted their experiences in the paramilitary organisation on Tuesday at the Probyn Street headquarters in the City where celebrations for World Firefighters Day were in progress. Holligan’s career spanned 29 years, and although there were countless memories that came along the way, one stands out clearest: the 2007 Arch Cot tragedy. He was the first fire officer on the scene that Sunday morning and nearly encountered a perilous situation of his own. “When we arrived that Sunday morning, we could hear the conversation with [Donavere Codrington] and a guy on the western side of it,” the 53-year-old officer recounted. “We got close to them, and as we got closer to the cave, we were standing on a rock....

In recognition of the sacrifices made by fire fighters across the globe, officers from the Barbados fire service, came together yesterday to celebrate International Fire fighters’ day, by holding an open day at their Probyn Street Headquarters. Initially inaugurated in 1999, the day was conceptualised to honour fire officers both past and present, whilst remembering, recognising and thanking them for their dedication in saving lives and protecting Property. Speaking to his fellow colleagues, Fire officer and masters of Ceremonies Glyne Alleyne called on them all to recognise the importance of partnering with the community in order to achieve effective and timely results in their work. “Fire fighters’ day is recognised around the world and on this day we pay tribute to the fire officer, and we give thanks to those who have gone before us and to those who are now serving in the department. Where the public is concerned we actually embrace them and are thankful for their continued support...

Today, May 4th is the Feast Day of St Florian, the Patron Saint of Firefighters. It is also International Fire Fighters' Day (IFFD). As we mark this year’s IFFD, let us pay tribute to our firefighters worldwide who brave the dangers in order to save life and property. Let us also remember and offer prayers for those who perished while performing their duty. Let us also remember those who went before us, dedicating their lives through volunteering or work to not only battling fire but also to educating and mentoring the firefighters who followed. IFFD is a day we can promote fire awareness, we can promote firefighting as a volunteering or career choice and one on which we can show our support of firefighters by wearing the IFFD symbol (blue and red ribbons pinned together) on our lapels, on our car aerials, in our windows, and more. (Red & blue represent the colours of the elements firefighters deal with on a daily basis - fire and water) It is a day when people across the globe...

International Fire Fighters’ Day (IFFD) will be held on Tuesday, 4th May, and for the second time in our history the members of the Barbados Fire Service plan to observe and celebrate this special day. In recognition of this auspicious occasion a number of events are planned. 10:00 a.m. Open Day: All Fire Stations – except the Airport Fire Station. 10:00 a.m. Prayer Service: Official start at Fire Service Headquarters. 10:30 a.m. Commence live webcast via the internet & podcast show. 12:00 noon Sound Off: Wailing of sirens for 30 seconds followed by one minute of silence. 01:00 p.m. Interviews with fire service personnel... audio podcast show. 04:00 p.m. Official end of day's events. We invite you to join with us is celebrating this auspicious occasion by visiting your nearest fire station or by sending greetings and shout outs. Take a few minutes on Tuesday to stop and thank a firefighter. If you're a firefighter take t...