On April 8th, the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service received new fire water tenders and a specialised heavy rescue vehicle.
This acquisition is intended to address long-standing resource shortages and replace parts of the service’s ageing fleet.
President of the Fire Service Association of T&T, Keone Guy, said ongoing resource constraints not only affected rural communities.
“Right in communities like in Woodbrook, Maraval we have the same circumstance occurring as well, where the lack of resources has led to the loss of life and left those communities underserved. But particularly in the rural communities, we’ve had in recent times the need to close the Princes Town fire station because of infrastructural concerns as well as health and safety issues where we had rodents at the stations.”
Mr. Guy also outlined where the new fire equipment will be deployed, noting that priority will be given to stations serving high-risk and previously underserved communities across Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Mayaro fire station now has an appliance, the Penal fire station, now the Point Fortin fire station was opened a couple of years ago, that we made the statement at the time that this station was now being constructed and opened without a vehicle. We made that statement, and then the Minister at the time failed to open the station or have the function, but we’re now seeing those communities having the appliances and the officers there able to provide that protection. It’s essential.”
The specialised heavy rescue vehicle, which is equipped to handle hazardous materials incidents, complex road traffic accidents, and industrial emergencies, has been deployed to the Chaguanas Fire Station in Charlieville.