Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

HAPPY 48th INDEPENDENCE BARBADOS - Very best wishes from the Bajan Fire Fighters' Network. "Without moral and intellectual independence, there is no anchor for national independence" - David Ben-Gurion.

Firefighters with one fire tender responded to a bus fire last night. One Transport Board bus was destroyed by fire just after 2040 hours at Sugar Hill, St. Joseph. No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.

The Lodge Road Sports Club under the patronage of the Honourable Ronald Jones presents the "King R" Cricket Fun Day in memory of the late Rodney "King R" King (Fire Officer). Lodge Road Sports Club versus The Barbados Fire Service in a cricket match on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Kingsland Playing Field, Christ Church at 12 noon.

Firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident just after 1236 hours at Chapel Road, St. James today (November 25). One truck was extensively damaged after it went over a precipice and collided with a section of stairs on a nearby house. The driver of the vehicle was treated at the scene by paramedics before being transported to the hospital. (Images: BFF/KS)

A small group of firefighters took to the streets in support of the Nation Newspaper's Funathalon 7 km run/walk on Sunday. From all accounts they had a wonderful time, they shared some love and helped to spread the message of ending violence. Special thanks to Heather Brathwaite (Nation Staff) for the invaluable assistance rendered.

Another dwelling has been destroyed by fire. Fire officers responded to a house fire at Flat Rock, St George around 0048 hours this morning (November 24). On arrival the timber structure was found to be engulfed in flames. Two fire tenders under the command of Station Officer Gordon Boxill attended the incident; the occupant was not at home at the time of the blaze.

Despite the inclement weather many friends, relatives and a large contingent from the Barbados Fire Service gathered at the St. Martin's Anglican Church, St. Philip for the funeral service of retired Divisional Officer Randolph Cox. The Thanksgiving Service was conducted by Canon Seibert Small who indicated that due to the saturated grave site, burial would be postponed and interment would take place on Saturday, weather permitting. Cox enlisted in the Barbados Fire Service on August 1, 1973 and retired on December 31, 2010 after briefly acting in the post of Chief Fire Officer. The former Divisional Officer died on November 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. (Images: Ron Lashley)

An early morning fire at Browne's Gap, Arthur Seat, St. Thomas destroyed one house.

Fire officers, relatives and members of the public turned up at the Bridgetown Fire Station to convey condolences and view the body of retired Divisional Officer Randolph Cox as it reposed at Probyn Street today. The former veteran firefighter died on Sunday, 9 November at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held tomorrow Friday, November 21, 2014 at the St. Martin's Anglican Church in St. Philip at 3:30 p.m with the interment in the churchyard following the service.

The Ministry of Health will conduct a simulation exercise this week to test the country’s preparedness for dealing with a case of the Ebola virus. While there have been no cases of Ebola in Barbados, the exercise is intended to identify any gaps in planning so that these areas may be strengthened. Several agencies in the health sector, security forces and other stakeholder organisations will be involved. As a result, members of the public may encounter personnel conducting various exercises, and they are advised not to be alarmed since this forms part of the simulation. The Ministry will issue a report at the end of the exercise to update the public on the outcome. (BGIS)

The funeral service for the late Randolph Cox former Divisional Officer of the Barbados Fire Service will take place on Friday, November 21, 2014 at the St. Martin's Anglican Church, St. Philip where relatives and friends are asked to meet at 3:00 p.m. Viewing of the body will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Bridgetown Fire Station, Probyn Street, St. Michael.

The retired fire officers of the Barbados Fire Service have formed an association. The new organisation called the Barbados Association of Retired Fire Officers (BARFO) was recently established. Membership is open to all retired fire officers and the retired civilian staff of the Barbados Fire Service, Honorary membership is also available. An interim committee was selected to manage the interest of the association until elections. The members of the committee are: Keith Ward, Wilfred Marshall, Michael Lowe, Charles Holligan and Neal Smithwick.

Pomp and pageantry will be the order of the day when the annual Independence Ceremonial Parade is held on Monday, December 1. The culmination of activities to mark Independence celebrations, the Parade will see several detachments of armed and unarmed units assembled at the Garrison Savannah for the 8:00 a.m. ceremony. Governor-General, Sir Elliott Belgrave, will inspect the detachments on parade, which will include the Mounted Troop of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF), the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), the Barbados Cadet Corps, and the Bands of the BDF and RBPF. The unarmed units will include the Barbados Fire Service, the Red Cross Society of Barbados, the Barbados Landship Association and the Government Security Guard Service. Spectators will also enjoy a special presentation by the Band of the Royal Barbados Police Force, which is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year. At the end of the ceremony, troops will march from the Garrison Savannah to Bay Street,...

One timber structure was extensively damaged this afternoon after a fire at Dean's Village, St. Michael. Two fire tenders from the Bridgetown Fire Station under the command of Station Officer Gordon Boxill responded to the incident. The occupant was not at home at the time of the blaze.

The driver of a motor car was treated by paramedics and later transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a vehicle accident around 2054 hours last night. Two persons were traveling in the vehicle when the accident occurred on Maxwell Road, Christ Church. The front of the vehicle was extensively damaged after it collided with a house. Two fire tenders under the command of acting Station Officer David Barrow responded to the incident.

Local firefighters are once again mourning the death of a retired senior officer. Former Divisional Officer Randolph Cox passed away this morning at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. We extend our sincere condolences to his family during this time of bereavement. Funeral arrangements will be made public in a subsequent announcement.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war - We Shall Not Forget. #LestWeForget #RemembranceSunday

Check out the "Bajan Firefighters - October 2014" monthly news and information digest via Flipboard. See:  Flipboard Magazine