Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

Sanitation officials and fire officers monitored a smouldering landfill at Mangrove, St Thomas today after thousands of tyres went up in smoke, creating headaches for residents downwind. A joint effort by officials from the public and private sector sought to bring the situation under control after the landfill erupted in flames on Saturday night sending thick toxic smoke billowing towards residential areas down wind, including the plush Sandy Lane estate. However, it was residents of the nearby Arch Hall district who complained about the smoke, which they said not only inconvenienced them as they prepared their Sunday lunch, but also impacted negatively on people with a variety of health ailments, particularly asthma. Minister of the Environment Denis Kellman as well as health officials visited the scene earlier today and later this afternoon the Department of Emergency Management will be giving an update on the situation. (ES) Source: www.nationnews.com

Eleven fire officers, led by Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall, were this morning deeply involved in a battle to bring a massive blaze at the Mangrove Pond Landfill, under control. After receiving the call at 7:13 p.m., 11 fire officers in three water tenders and the water tanker from the Arch Hall, St. Thomas station and Probyn Street, City headquarters rushed to the scene to quell the inferno, which involved an estimated two million tyres. Marshall told the media sometime after midnight that “a lot of tyres” were burning over a wide area but he was optimistic that they would have the blaze under control during the day. “What we are actually doing at this time is trucking in mould (dirt) and we’re trying to smother the fire. We’re dumping the mould on top of the tyres and bringing it under control,” he said. Source: m.barbadostoday.bb

Residents living in the environs of the Mangrove landfill, St Thomas are keeping their eyes on a huge fire that broke out at the landfill tonight. Personnel from the Arch Hall Fire Station responded to the blaze around 7:15. Officials of the Department of the Emergency Management are on the scene and according to reports have closed off the access road to the landfill. Source: www.nationnews.com

Above photo: Some members of the Barbados Fire Service team at the conclusion of yesterday's Law Enforcement Torch Run . We extend our sincere thanks to all those persons who generously supported the Law Enforcement Torch Run yesterday. The funds raised will go a long way towards assisting our Special Olympians as they prepare to travel to Athens, Greece for the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011. See website: http://www.athens2011.org/en/

Six people were injured when a minibus and a lorry collided at Porey Spring, St Thomas, yesterday afternoon. Police reported that Ian Lowe, the driver of the minibus, which plies the Hillaby route, suffered injury to a foot while five passengers sustained minor injuries. They were all taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance. Ian Absalom, the driver of the lorry, was unhurt. Police from the District “D” Station are investigating. Here, police officers taking measurements at the scene. (MB) Source: www.nationnews.com

A fire that occurred in the early hours last Sunday morning has left a family of three in the north homeless. Leman King, his wife Rhonda and their daughter Sandra Scantlebury, all of Mile-and-a-Quarter, St Peter, were all at home when the blaze started. King received burns to the hands and face while Scantlebury also received burns to the face. The injured were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance for medical attention and were later discharged. Two fire tenders responded to the fire which presented a challenge because of the narrow roads. (RL) Source: www.nationnews.com

A 35-year-old American visitor was seriously injured after the scooter he was riding and a Transport Board bus collided at Rockley, Christ Church, yesterday afternoon. Police officers of the Traffic Department said Kent Bailey, who hails from California, had life-threatening injuries. He was riding a hired motorbike that was involved with a cross-country bus that left Silver Sands bound for Wanstead. The bus was driven by Paul Maitland of Martinique Road, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael. The police are probing the incident, which took place about 4:30 p.m. (MK) Source: www.nationnews.com

A family of four are homeless after a fire completely destroyed their wall residence in Welches, Christ Church, in the wee hours of this morning. Rodney Hall and his wife Carol are counting their losses after a fire swept through their house, located near Super Centre complex, just after 3 a.m. The couple lived in the three-bedroom dwelling with their two sons. Fire officers did not enter the blazing house because of the health danger posed by the asbestos roof. No one was injured, but little was saved from the building. Three Barbados Fire Service tenders from the headquarters at Probyn Street and Worthing under the command of Station Officer Darcy Smith responded to the fire. Both fire officials and the police are conducting investigations. Above, the rear view of the house which was destroyed by fire today. According to police, the residents were able to escape through the front of the building. (MK) Source: http://www.nationnews.com/

Mother's Day celebrations ended on a sad note, with three men tragically losing their lives in two separate road accidents. Just before midnight Sunday, two friends who lived opposite each other at Rosemont, Deacons, St Michael, died on the spot when the motorcycle they were riding slammed into a tree at Deacons Farm Road, St Michael. Dead are Samuel Anderson Williams, 21, and pillion rider Jamal Jeffrey Johnson, 20. Almost seven hours later, 44-year-old Anthony Lavere Walcott, of Lemon Arbor Village, St John, died on the spot in a four-vehicle accident along the ABC Highway, just opposite the playing field of Deighton Griffith Secondary School. Walcott was the passenger in a truck driven by work colleague Everton Dottin. The motorcycle tragedy hit the close-knit Rosemont community hard as some family members and close friends could be heard wailing as news of the two young men’s death spread. Raising her hands to the heavens, Williams’ mother Deborah Williams spoke of hearing her...

A road fatality this morning on the ABC Highway has claimed the life of Anthony Walcott, 45, of Lemon Arbor , St John. Police public relations officer Inspector David Welch confirmed that Walcott was a passenger in one of the trucks involved in the accident, which took place between the Edwy Talma roundabout at Kendal Hill and the junction at the Deighton Griffith School in Christ Church. The accident, he said, involved two trucks and two cars. Welch said Walcott died on the spot. He also reported that a juvenile was involved in the accident but there was no life threatening injury. In a separate accident last night in Deacons Road, St Michael, two young men lost their lives. Samuel "Andy" Williams, 31, and Jamaal Johnson, 20, both of Rosemont, Deacons Road, St Michael died in the accident which occurred around 11:30 p.m. Source: www.nationnews.com

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~ Washington Irving

The Law Enforcement Torch Run Campaign to benefit the Special Olympics began in 1981 in Wichita Kansas and is the largest grass-roots fundraising movement for the Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run, or LETR as it is commonly abbreviated, is run by Police Officers, Sheriff's Deputies, support staff, police volunteers and other law enforcement professionals from around the world. Currently, close to 90,000 police professionals in over 35 countries participate in this worldwide effort to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics. While carrying the flame, officers and athletes are referred to as "Guardians of the Flame". In the broader sense, the LETR is used to define all of the special events, and fundraising activities that law enforcement conducts to contribute to this campaign. For more information contact: Superintendent Robinson Tel: (246) 430-7660 Human Resource Department Royal Barbados Police Force

In recognition of the sacrifices made in countries all over the globe, International Fire Fighters’ Day – IFFD – was inaugurated on 4th May 1999. Since then it has been held annually, to mark a time when Firefighters of the present and past are remembered, recognised and thanked for their dedication in saving lives and protecting property. "The role of a firefighter in today's society - be it urban, rural, natural environment, volunteer, career, industrial, defence force, aviation, motor sport, or other is one of dedication, commitment and sacrifice - no matter what country we reside and work in. In the fire service we fight together against one common enemy - fire - no matter what country we come from, what uniform we wear or what language we speak." Take a moment to stop and thank a firefighter, their family or their colleagues in the fire service today. If you're a firefighter take time to thank a fellow firefighter, one or more of your mentors (perhaps they have r...