Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Association will host the Caribbean Association of Firefighters (CAFF) Good Will Games tomorrow at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. The games, which begin at 10 am, will be attended by fire officers from Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Kitt’s and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Minister of Sports Anil Roberts, Minister in the Ministry of National Security Subhas Panday, and Chief Fire Officer Carl Williams are all expected to kick off the games with a special salute ceremony to all the officers from the region. CAFF President Charles Ramsaroop described the event as a significant milestone for the Association, as it showed their strong attempts at integrating a uniformed system throughout the Caribbean through training, sporting events, and cultural activities. “We would all have different backgrounds and different levels of training. This event brings together all those things in a very unique way,...

People watched in awe, despair, disgust and a slew of other emotions as historic Sam Lords Castle burned yesterday evening. Spectators from the surrounding area gathered to watch fire officials unsuccessfully battle the blaze which consumed the once stately building. Shareholder, Thomas Grant, called it a “disgrace”. “It is a disgrace to see the building left this way and now it has gone up in smoke,” he said. Grant said most of the buildings had already been destroyed by CLICO, who were in the process of acquiring the property, and the castle section was one of the few buildings left. Divisional Officer, Tyrone Trotman, said one of the problems they faced was a lack of nearby fire hydrants so they had to collect water from hydrants in the surrounding area and bring it to the combined ladder platform appliance for distribution. As the evening wore on, the fire continued to burn, when asked, Trotman said he had little hope of saving the building. Source: www.nationnews.com

A piece of Barbadian history last night went up in flames. Sam Lord’s Castle, the historic hotel property acquired by CLICO from previous owner Thomas Grant, was gutted by a fire which set the St. Phillip sky ablaze yesterday evening. The flames, which first appeared in the roof during the late afternoon, soon became a raging fire that engulfed the building as the evening progressed. Acting Fire Chief Lloydson Phillips told the Barbados Advocate that his department received reports of the fire at 5:41 p.m. and responded immediately. The scene was attended by five senior officers, 18 junior officers and five fire trucks. However, it was of little use as the main building was already overwhelmed by the bright orange flames. “The whole building was engulfed,” said acting Division Officer, Tyrone Trotman. However, firefighters made efforts to contain the fire to the building, which was surrounded by thick vegetation. “We are using a combined attack – aerial ladder platform and ground attac...

"Foot On Fire Pon De Boat" The officers and members of the Barbados Fire Service Sports and Social Club will take to the sea for their annual cruise on Friday, October 22, 2010 on board the M.V. Harbour Master from 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. Tickets can be obtained from Ryan Lovell 242-5533, David Vaughan 252-9199, Troy Gibbons 263-8712 or Grantley Greene 243-0824. Advance tickets are $45.00 and $50.00 at the dockside.

A “labour of love” is how co owner of Cafe Sol Jacinta Cothrin describes the Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar which was extensively damaged by fire in the early this morning. Jacinta, and her husband Mark Cothrin, say they received the call around 6 a.m. “Apparently, the fire happened just after 4 a.m but nobody managed to get through to us until minutes to six. Right now, we are not sure as to the extent of the damage as the police is not allowing anyone inside,” says Mark. The property is insured he says. Jacinta describes it as a “precious little spot” and says what happened was “awful”. “It was a very personal thing for is and it really hurts but we are determined to reopen, we won’t let this stop us,” she says. Fire officials report that two water tenders - one from Worthing and one from Probyn Street headquarters - responded to the fire. The operation was under the command of Divisional Officer Evans Morris. Investigations are continuing. Source: www.nationnews.com

It happened in a flash. One minute Charlotte Parris was sitting in her car waiting patiently for another vehicle to proceed through water; the next thing she knew she was deep in a ravine, standing on top her vehicle and grabbing onto branches for dear life. It was Friday evening that firemen and good Samaritans combined their efforts to pull a shaken Parris to safety, using an inner tube and some rope at the Belle, St Michael. Still too traumatised by last Friday evening’s life-threatening event, Charlotte could not speak to the DAILY NATION, so her father Mike Parris spoke on her behalf, saying his daughter was “unhurt, but still very shaken”. Parris, who recalled the event that could have claimed his daughter’s life, said she was giving great thanks to the Fire Service for the sterling job they performed in the rescue. “The Fire Service showed tremendous bravery. They responded very quickly with two tenders to the scene, headed by leading fire officer 80 Boyce. “I must say a special...

It was a rescue like no other. But firefighters - Andrew Boyce, Pernel McClean, Glenn Harewood and Anderson Barrow were up to the task. It was their efforts, with the assistance of some civilians that brought Charlotte Parris to safe ground after she was trapped on top her car with raging waters surrounding her. That rescue took about 15 minutes. Pernel McClean (left) relives the rescue during an interview with the Nation earlier today. Glenn Harewood was also on the scene using his muscle and might to bring the woman to safety. Source: www.nationnews.com

For the next two months, the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) will have a Land Rover LR3 at its service. The BFS was presented with the vehicle which is valued at over $350 000, along with hoses, smoke alarms, first aid kits and fire extinguishers, to assist their Fire Prevention and Community Relations Unit, during a ceremony at their Probyn Street headquarters yesterday. The materials, which were donated by the Rotary West of Barbados, G4S Security, and Warrens Motors, who also donated the vehicle, will be used to help in assisting the fire service with their fire prevention programmes. Chief Fire Officer, Wilfred Marshall, who was hand to witness the presentation, explained that for years the BFS had been spreading the message of fire prevention across Barbados, but due to several reasons including a lack of financial and equipment resources, as well as the absence of a dedicated Fire Prevention Unit, their efforts had been short lived. He pointed out, however, that with the help of thos...

Fire fighters plucked Charlotte Parris from atop the roof of this car in The Belle, St Michael yesterday after fierce waters forced it off the road and into a gully. It took the combined efforts of firemen and some good Samaritans to pull a shaken Parris to safety using an inner tube and some rope. The incident was one of several resulting from the downpour brought on by a combination of light winds and an abundance of low-level moisture and strong daytime heat. Parts of St Michael, St James and St Thomas were hard-hit by the rains. Source: www.nationnews.com