MORANT BAY, St Thomas — The fire department’s plan to install four new hydrants in sections of St Thomas were on Thursday questioned by local authorities who complained that there may not be enough water for the hydrants to work.

Divisional commander of the Morant Bay Fire Department, Mark Harris told the monthly meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation that one of the four hydrants will be placed in Church Corner. It is expected to be vital in efforts to fight blazes at the Morant Bay dump which has had fires in the past.

However, Mayor Hubert Williams (People’s National Party, White Horses Division) questioned the value of hydrants when water is often unavailable.

“When we encounter a fire situation how effective are these hydrants, considering that 70 per cent of the time, pipelines, especially in rural areas, are without water?” he asked.

“I remember I was on site where a house was on fire, and the fire truck on site had to leave to source water from a nearby river,” Williams recounted.

He expressed concern about the potential loss of life and property in situations like these and suggested that a water truck should accompany the fire unit to ensure there is a continuous supply.

As Harris explained, a fire truck must respond to each scene with a full tank of water.

The mayor has placed the blame squarely at the feet of the State-run National Water Commission which, he said, has not made the necessary investment in improving the parish’s water infrastructure over the years.

“Until the necessary infrastructure is put in place, and the pipelines consistently supply water, the residents of St Thomas will continue to face the harsh reality of water shortages and the increased risk of property loss in the event of a fire,” Williams concluded.

Taking a long-term view of the issue, Councillor Marsha Francis (People’s National Party, Cedar Valley Division) stressed the importance of having fire hydrants installed and functional.

“We may need to take a closer look at the development that is happening in our parish currently. I believe installing additional fire hydrants is a part of this development; however, the problem is that some existing hydrants are ‘dummies’,” she told the meeting.