Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

The severely burned fire victim Michael Albert, telling his story to police investigators on the scene. An early morning fire at a National Housing Corporation unit on Country Road, St. Michael left two men with burns about their bodies — one with potentially life-threatening injuries. Police Pubic Relations Officer, Inspector David Welch, said the worse of the two, Michael Albert, of 9D Country Towers, sustained burns to 90 per cent of his body.  Inspector Welch said that 38-year-old Albert, who was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance in serious condition, was detained in the Intensive Care Unit.His 27-year-old brother, Greville Headley, who lived at the same residence, received burns to his neck and hands.  Police said the girlfriends of the two men escaped injury. Reports indicated that the fire was sparked by a dispute at the house.  The NHC unit, which comprised two floors received extensive damage to the living room and its con...

A wave of charged particles from an intense solar storm is pummeling the Earth right now, which may trigger stunning aurora displays and cause minor disruptions to satellites and other communications equipment over the next two days, NASA scientists say. The storm began when a powerful solar flare erupted on the sun yesterday (Jan. 23), blasting a stream of charged particles toward Earth. This electromagnetic burst, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), hit Earth at about 9:31 a.m. EST (1430 GMT), according to scientists at the Space Weather Center at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Several NASA satellites, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and the Stereo spacecraft observed the massive sun storm. Data from these spacecraft were combined to help scientists create models to calculate when and where the CME was going to hit Earth.

We take this opportunity to remind residents that you must NOT use the 311 emergency lines to make nuisance calls to the Fire Service. Persons in need of the correct time should call 976-8463 , if you require information on weather conditions please call 976-2376 . When you repeatedly engage our 311 lines requesting such information you deprive someone else of the opportunity to obtain urgent assistance from the Fire Service.

Rev. David Holder, Pastor Victor Roach and Fire Chief Wilfred Marshall. Rev. David Holder, Pastor Victor Roach and Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall during a seminar this morning at Fire Service Headquarters in Bridgetown. Pastor Roach was addressing fire officers on the topic of Breathalyzer Testing and also urged the Fire Department to pledge its support and endorsement for its implementation in Barbados.

Firefighters John Haskell and Jamie Windsor (Team Atlantic Dash) as they arrived this morning at the Port St. Charles Marina in Barbados around 0800 hours. The team from South Wales Fire & Rescue Service are participating in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and left the Canary Isles on December 4, 2011 to row across the Atlantic unsupported in order to raise awareness and over £100,000 for charity.  Congratulations to John and Jamie on a tremendous job. The members of the Barbados Fire Service extend our very best wishes to you on your fantastic accomplishment (2,615 nautical miles in 45 days, 19 hours and 21 minutes). Members of the Barbados Fire Service with John and Jamie after the presentation ceremony ceremony.

Homeowners are being urged to pay closer attention to electrical installations which, if not carried out correctly, could lead to their homes going up in smoke. Word of this from Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall as he reviewed some of the trends that were seen in 2011 and the fire prevention programmes which will continue into the New Year. Marshall lamented that fires which are started by electricity are being seen from time to time by the Barbados Fire Service. “Over the Christmas season, I was concerned about the number of fires...there were about three or four fires that I am aware of that involved Christmas lights. That was beginning to bother me, but the season has passed and most of the lights should be down now but I would still like persons to pay attention to electrical installation and appliances.” Noting that there has been a marked decrease in the number of recorded fires last year over the previous year, he expressed hope that the Barbadian public w...

Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall held his first General Meeting for the calendar year 2012 yesterday at Fire Service Headquarters in Bridgetown. During the meeting the Fire Chief announced that 25 officers hired as temporary fire officers since November 2006 would receive their letters of appointment yesterday. He also announced the appointment of Errol Maynard as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer commencing January 15, 2012.

Two fire tenders under the command of Acting Divisional Officer Ricardo Gittens and Acting Station Officer Neal Smithwick responded to a motor vehicle accident around 1238 hours today at Six Roads, St. Philip. Firefighters extricated a 50-year-old man from the truck (water tanker) he was driving after it overturned trapping him in the process. The driver was treated at the scene and later transported by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. ( Photo compliments: E Pilgrim )

Acting Station Officer Errol Maynard is the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Barbados Fire Service. The 47-year-old officer’s appointment takes effect from Sunday, January 15, 2012. Maynard has been a member of the service for 27 years. During his career he has moved through the ranks of Leading Fire Officer, Sub. Officer and recently carried out the duties of acting Station Officer. Other notable accomplishments include; Officer-in-Charge of Information and Technology, Deputy Officer-in-Charge of Training and also former Secretary of the Barbados Fire Service Association. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Deputy Chief Maynard and wish him the best in his future endeavours.

Motorists were forced to use alternative roads yesterday when an accident along busy Waterford, St Michael, left that stretch impassable.   However, the three people involved in the collision around 11:15 a.m. between a car and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) escaped major injury. The driver of the car, Vanessa Bowen, 40, of No. 5 Hillside Terrace, Gall Hill, Christ Church, and her mother Audrey Chase, 56, of Deighton Road, St Michael, complained of back pain and were taken to hospital by ambulance. The driver of the SUV was Tyrone Small, 30, of No. 3 Venture, St John. Small’s vehicle and Bowen’s car were involved in the collision at the Waterford junction. His SUV hit the electricity pole, which snapped in half and fell to the ground, bringing the attached power lines down with it. The vehicle landed on its side. Officials from Barbados Light & Power arrived at the scene shortly after the collision to assess the damage and begin repairs. (DP) Sourc...

A motor vehicle accident around 18:30 hours yesterday at Weymouth, Roebuck Street, St. Michael resulted in two vehicles being extensively damaged the collision. Firefighters from Fire Service Headquarters using two tenders responded to the accident which involved a Route Taxi and a motor car. One female occupant was treated and transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital by paramedics, three others received medical attention.

On Friday, December 30, 2011 members of the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) in collaboration with personnel from Esso Barbados SRL conducted a fire drill at the Holborn Terminal. The objectives of the exercise were to test the BFS emergency response procedure and provide a familiarization tour to members of the Fire Service.

Members of the Barbados Fire Service conducted a familiarization tour of the National Housing Corporation's new Country Park Towers high-rise housing complex located at Country Road, St. Michael. Several Gazetted Officers of the department along with fire officers visited the complex on Friday afternoon.

The New Year has started unfortunately with five persons receiving medical treatment after a three car collision around 2:54 hours this morning at the junction of Reservoir Road, Lodge Hill, St. Michael. Two fire tenders under the command of Acting Divisional Officer Tyrone Trotman responded to the incident. Two of the vehicles were extensively damaged the other slightly. The injured were transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in three ambulances.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year... may your year be filled with peace, good health, happiness, prosperity and much love... xxxx.