NEGRIL, Hanover — Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) Commissioner Stewart Beckford is calling for better management of the country’s water resources to ensure the commodity is available in hydrants to fight fires, even when there is a drought.

“We need to better manage our water resources so that when we do have drought, like we experience at times, we will still have water in the taps in the homes as well as in our hydrants so that, in the event of a fire, we will have water to attack that fire and to quickly bring it under control,” appealed Beckford.

He was speaking with the Jamaica Observer on the sidelines of a ball and awards ceremony to wrap up observance of Fire and Life Safety Week 2024. The event was held at Royalton Negril Hotel in Hanover under the theme ‘Embracing Digital Innovation to Improve Fire Safety’.

Beckford cited an uncharacteristic lack of communication between the JFB and the National Water Commission (NWC) as members of his team struggled to battle a massive fire that damaged a section of Lucea Market in Hanover last month.

“They generally advise us when they are going to have those lock-offs but in this particular instance, there was an absence of that communication,” said the fire chief, who stressed that the brigade and the utility company continue to have a good working relationship despite that blip.

The October 4 early-morning blaze destroyed 22 board shops and partially damaged six others.

Following the fire, JFB Hanover Division’s second-in-command, Assistant Superintendent Tamara Snow told the Observer their response was hampered by the unavailability of water in the western town at the time of the blaze. She said fire trucks had to travel 16 kilometres, or 10 miles, over a period of 30 minutes to refill their water tanks.

“When a fire starts, it doubles in size every 10 minutes. And so, to have to travel that distance to return to fight a fire, it means that we are really losing [control of] that fire. We saw what happened where extensive damage was done to the market,” Beckford said.

While he conceded that sometimes there may be a need for water rationing due to severe drought conditions, he believes effective communication can help prevent a repeat of what happened with the Lucea market blaze.

The JFB is still investigating the cause of that fire and tallying of losses incurred is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, during last Saturday’s ball eight retired firefighters were honoured. Among them was Deputy Commissioner Samuel McIntosh, Assistant Commissioner John Forrester and 97-year-old Gloria Austin, the only survivor from among the first four women to join the brigade.

“It was an amazing feeling for me when I met her [Austin] at our national church service… for the first time. She would have joined this service in 1958 and served five years, but she was one of the first set of females — there were four together — who joined then, and she’s the only surviving member at [age] 97. I had the pleasure of spending [last week] Thursday with them at York Park because that’s where she served. And I specifically arranged for her and others who would have served from that station to be there on Thursday. We had a nice little function,” the commissioner related.

“We took her back into some of the areas, especially the duty room, the watch room where she would have served, taking and dispatching calls. And I could see the joy on her face to be able to experience this all over again. And so, I want to thank them,” added Beckford.

The commissioner said a number of the honourees who were present last Saturday night had travelled from as far as California and Canada.

“I said to them, we continue to stand on their shoulders. They have been the trailblazers. They would have overcome a number of obstacles. They would have paved the way for persons like myself and we are enjoying some of the hard work that they would have put in so that younger firefighters can enjoy certain benefits,” stated Beckford.