Authorities urge vigilance after 4 children die in two house fires
ST ANN, Jamaica — Following the deaths of three children in a fire Sunday morning, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and the Ministry of Education and Youth are appealing to parents and guardians to be vigilant in safeguarding children and to implement fire safety measures at home.
The latest incident in Walkerswood, St Ann claimed the lives of a boy and two girls.
READ: Three children die in fire in Walkerswood, St Ann
It came four days after five-year-old Kimberly Harrison perished in a Whitehall Avenue blaze in St Andrew.
READ: TRAGIC FIRE: 5-y-o dies in Whitehall house blaze
Following the incidents, CPFSA Chief Executive Officer Laurette Adams-Thomas issued an urgent appeal to parents and guardians while emphasising the importance of fire safety practices at home.
“We implore you to be extra vigilant in the care of your children. Never leave them unsupervised or in situations where their safety may be at risk, especially at home. Always ensure that your children are in the care of responsible adults who can protect them and act quickly in emergencies,” she stressed.
Adams-Thomas added, “It is crucial that parents create and implement a home fire safety plan, and then rehearse it with their children. Everyone in the home, especially children, should understand what to do in case of a fire. Teach them to recognise the smell of smoke, to call for help, and to head for the nearest exit. Fires often spread rapidly and can overwhelm even adults. By preparing ahead, we can help reduce the likelihood of these devastating events in future.”
Likewise, Minister of Education and Youth Dana Morris Dixon lamented, “The heart-breaking loss of these young lives is deeply distressing, and serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities children face in cases of emergency.”
Morris-Dixon in an update said the CPFSA was already on the scene in St Ann and the Ministry of Education would also be moving into the children’s school on Monday to provide counselling “and emotional support to classmates, teachers, and other members of the school community as they grapple with this tragedy”.
