WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Firefighters are still on location carrying out cooling down operations for a massive fire at a family-operated warehouse in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland that started on Wednesday.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Rudolph Seaton said firefighters responded to the fire shortly after 3:00 pm yesterday and remain on site.

“We are still there carrying out some cooling-down activities because it is a warehouse where you have a lot of lubricants, tyres, auto parts, and other items stored, and they still have a service station in the vicinity. They still have a lot of fuel on the compound and so forth. So, we have to make sure that there is nothing that can cause a reignition after we have left,” stated Seaton.

On the other hand, Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Stewart Bedford, in a voice note, has commended private water truck operators for the support they provided during the massive fire.

“We want to express our appreciation to the private truck drivers, water tanker drivers and owners who turned out in their numbers to lend support,” stated Beckford.

The commissioner said the brigade is aware that there are sometimes challenges with water in some urban centres, and Savanna-La-Mar was no different.

“But with the support that we got from these tanker drivers who must be commended was tremendous and that would have helped us significantly in our firefighting operation. So, I want to commend these drivers and I think this is one example of citizens, you know, rallying around to help in a situation of crisis instead of pulling out their cell phones to take videos and pictures so that they can post these online. So again, I want to thank these drivers and express sincere gratitude to them for their assistance,” emphasised Beckford.

Initially, two units from the Savanna-La-Mar Fire Station and one unit from Negril responded to the call. However, in a voice note, Beckford revealed that support was also received from Hanover and St Elizabeth.

On the sidelines of efforts to control the fire on Wednesday, one private truck operator, Anthony Clarke, pointed to the role truckers played in preventing things from getting worse.

“I am the first one as a private job to assist. Some made three and some made four. If we weren’t here today, Savanna-la-Mar [would] burn out,” argued Clarke.

— Anthony Lewis