News

Sav fire station in poor condition

By KAVELLE ANGLIN-CHRISTIE, Staff Reporter

TO THE PASSER-BY the fire station in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, may look like a decrepit garage, but to the firefighters posted there it is the place from which they must work and are still expected to function effectively.

A firefighter at the station told THE STAR last week that not only are they without basic equipment, but the station itself is not suitable for them to function adequately.

When THE STAR visited the station, there were remnants of fire trucks parked under the few sheets that served as the roof.

"When it rains the men in the duty room get wet because there is no roof," the fireman said.

He said the roof was damaged during last September's Hurricane Ivan and has not been repaired. He said the firefighters went as far as covering the holes with a tarpaulin, but that helped the situation for only a short time.

"We had to put the tarpaulin over the roof because the situation was so bad. We tied the tarpaulin on to the roof, but when it rains with a lot of wind, it blows off," he said.

However, it seems the roof is just one of the station's major problems, when compared to the fact that of their three trucks, only one functions ­ and not all that well, either.

"With the recent bush fires, we had to be responding to the fires in St. Elizabeth, and if something happens in Hanover, we usually go there as well," the firefighter said.

He said that once there was a fire beside the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital and they were unable to respond to the call on time because the truck broke down. "We had to sit there and wait for another truck to pass by and ask for it pull us there," he said.

Another firefighter showed THE STAR the sleeping quarters. All the mattresses had huge holes. There were only two windows and most of the countertop in the kitchen was gone, with the roof caving in.

The Ministry of Local Government and Development was unable to offer a comment at press time.