Jamaica Fire Brigade to install smoke detectors in several homes

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will be installing smoke detectors in several homes across the island, as part of efforts to incorporate the use of technology to minimise fire-related deaths and injuries in the country.

Commissioner of the JFB, Stewart Beckford, made the announcement during the media launch of the JFB's Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in St Andrew on October 23.

The week will be observed under the theme 'Embracing Digital Innovation to Improve Fire Safety'.

The week of activities will run from October 27 to November 2.

Beckford said technology can be leveraged to better protect life and property from fire incidents.

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“Statistics have shown that since the start of the year, we have lost some 21 Jamaicans in fires, lives that could have been saved because fire-related deaths are preventable. Statistics in the United States would have indicated that three out of every five deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors or if they did have one, it didn't work, because there was no maintenance of those smoke detectors,” he said.

“The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) has also indicated that you are 54 per cent less likely to die in a fire if you have enough smoke detectors in your home, and so this is one area we will be focusing on to better help the public to help themselves, and one of the initiatives we will be looking on for this year, is how can we install some smoke detectors in the homes of persons who may not be in a position to acquire those,” he said.

In an interview with JIS News, the Commissioner informed that starting this weekend, firefighters will be going into homes to install smoke detectors.

“Not only are we encouraging persons to install smoke detectors but we are going to be installing smoke detectors in homes across the country. How many, I'm not sure but it all depends on the availability of the resources, but what we do know for sure is that in many of the divisions across the country, firefighters will be going into homes to install smoke detectors,” Beckford said.

“We are starting as at this weekend (Sunday). We will be out doing that. We will do it for the rest of the week of activities, but that doesn't mean that at the end of the week the work ceases,” he told JIS News.

He noted, too, that persons may reach out to the brigade if they need assistance in installing their systems.

“If persons are interested in having smoke detectors installed, they can reach out to us, so whether they are buying them and they may not know how to install them or they want us to come and install, as long as we have them in our possession, then we will do that,” he said.

While unable to provide a budget for the undertaking, he said “a lot of it is through the kind sponsorship of corporate Jamaica”.

The commissioner said as persons continue to embrace technology and the convenience it brings, “it's crucial that we remain aware of the importance of safeguarding our lives and livelihoods from the ravages of fires”.

Meanwhile, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, informed that smart technology will be installed in three infirmaries across the island.

“In order to ensure that Jamaicans understand the new approach to safety in the homes, we are going to be using three of our infirmaries to commence installing this new advanced technology in fire safety in the homes. Our infirmaries carry close to 2,500 residents, and they are probably one of the most vulnerable in the society, so I believe safety should and will start there first,” he said.

Bemoaning the frequent destruction of markets as a result of electricity theft, he said the Musgrave Market in Port Antonio, Portland, is being built with sprinklers to reduce the possibility of a fire occurring at the facility, noting that that recommendation came from the JFB.

Furthermore, he said the Government will continue to invest in improving the services of the JFB.

- JIS News