KINGSTON Jamaica — The highest-number of genuine calls received by the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) in 2023, were for bushfires.

In fact, calls for bushfires went up more than 80 per cent last year.

This was highlighted on Tuesday by the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

“In 2023, our firefighters were called to put out 6,443 bushfires across all parishes. This is a whopping 81 per cent increase over the number of bushfires recorded in 2022. Since the start of 2024, we have already had 2,134 bushfires,” McKenzie said.

He said the JFB is now anticipating where these fires will occur by using the Bushfire Warning Index provided by the National Meteorological Service.

“These initiatives are having the desired effect as the brigade has been able to respond strategically and save hundreds of hectares of residential, commercial and government lands, rather than being blindsided by bushfires,” McKenzie said.