OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Pointing to a death resulting from a house fire in Claremont a few months ago, Councillor Kaydian Harty has again appealed for a fire station to be built in her division and she has been given an assurance that efforts are being made to get it done.

“I’m afraid the issue of the fire station being built in Claremont, it is not being dealt with as a matter of urgency. A life was lost due to fire, what are we going to do, wait until another is lost? How many more?” asked Harty.

She was speaking during Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC).

It is reported that about 8:00 am one day in September, residents saw Norman Haye’s three-bedroom dwelling engulfed in flames and summoned the police. Fire trucks from St Ann’s Bay and Ocho Rios responded but they were unsuccessful in rescuing the 51-year-old truck driver.

Haye’s remains were found on his veranda near a locked grill.

In response to Harty’s appeal, SAMC CEO Jennifer Brown-Cunningham reminded that efforts were under way to secure the land identified to build the fire station.

“I’m really surprised at the response of the councillor. We indicated to this committee that we’ve been having discussions. I had made contact with the gentleman at National Land Agency and he assured me that the matter was receiving attention and the document was at the minister’s desk for signing. That is what I reported last month,” she pointed out.

“You also said that you are very optimistic that you would have something concrete to tell us this sitting of general council,” retorted Harty

The disgruntled councillor pointed out that her colleagues have been advocating for the fire station from as far back as 1981.

“I was elected to represent the people of Claremont and that is exactly what I’m doing,” Harty insisted.

Brown-Cunningham urged the councillor to be patient.

“I expect that in short order an approval would be here because it is being dealt with and getting the attention it deserves,” the CEO said.

Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis added that he is also optimistic there will be progress soon.

“The fire station is in a far advanced stage of completion and it will be the first fire station in the history of Claremont. The collaboration is working great and we should see the station soon,” he assured.