A programme involving the use of the government’s Rapid Response water truck is being developed by the ministries of local government and community development and water and housing to fight bush fires, land and environment minister Dean Peart said in a broadcast to the nation last night.

The initiative, the minister said in his broadcast, is expected to improve the capacity of the beleaguered fire service, which he said has had to respond to more than 700 severe bush fires since January.

At the same time, Peart said a high-level meeting involving himself and the ministers of agriculture, local government and community development and water and housing, will be held tomorrow to determine what additional measures may be required to deal with the continuing drought and the spate of bush fires.

The move comes as the island continues to experience drought conditions, with the Met Service reporting that the monthly average rainfall was below average for every parish in February, which combined with the windy conditions being experienced, have resulted in an unusually high number of bush fires.

Drought is currently being experienced in Hanover, Westmoreland, Manchester, St Elizabeth, Clarendon, Trelawny, St Thomas, St Catherine, St James and St Ann.

Last week, huge bush fires raged across the bread basket parishes of St Elizabeth and Manchester, as well as in places such as Jacks Hill in upper St Andrew, causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

Peart also noted that as the country entered what is traditionally the end of the dry season in April, drought conditions could be expected to get worse and the yield from water sources could decline.

“These problems have presented the need for a multi-agency response. At various levels, the government has remained concerned abut this issue. In addition to the funds normally used by the various agencies, at the end of February, Cabinet approved the provision of over $12 million to alleviate the problems across the island,” the minister said.

Of that amount, $3 million was earmarked to provide assistance to farmers who lost crops as a result of bush fires and $9 million was allocated to assist with the trucking of water into the six parishes then identified as being the worst affected by the drought, said Peart.

In the meantime, he urged members of the public to be extra careful in the use of fire.

“.We cannot overlook the fact that bush fires often result from the careless use of fires, especially in the dry, windy period. The nation is therefore urged to exercise extreme care in the use of fires.

“Farmers, in particular, are urged to desist from practices such as using fires to clear lands for farming. Everyone can help in exercising care in the disposal of cigarette butts and the burning of garbage. Never light a fire in an open area where it is windy and if you have to start a fire, do not leave it unattended,” the minister said.

He also urged citizens to conserve water, and gave an assurance that the government was acutely aware of the prevailing conditions and would be doing everything within its authority to ameliorate the situation and safeguard life and property.