Fires rage in St Ann - Parish records 280% increase in bush fires

A CONTINUING dry spell in St Ann has manifested in a massive increase in bush fires for the month of April 2020 compared to the similar period the previous year.

The Jamaica Fire Brigade’s report for April, tabled at this month’s meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, showed that for April 2020, there were 133 bush fires compared to 35 in April 2019, a massive increase of 280 per cent.

The figure also reflected a huge jump over the previous month, which recorded just 22 bush fires.

And it appears that bush fires are still raging as since the start of May, The Gleaner has received several reports of bush fires in St Ann.

Andrew Wildman, senior deputy superintendent, who until recently acted as officer in charge of St Ann and whose report was tabled at the meeting, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that bush fires are usually the result of human behaviour.

“Some are caused by people clearing land, some by burning rubbish, some we wouldn’t have arrived at the origin; but I think, based on the dryness of the time then, this would have given rise to an increase in the number, despite numerous public education exercises that we would have been sharing with the public not to light [fires], or in cases where you need to light [a fire], then you need to ensure that you have a clear fire break of at least 15 metres around the fire,” Wildman explained.

He reminded that under the Country Fire Act, a person needs to get a permit from a sub-officer at the nearest police station to light a fire. Further, fires must not be lit between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Meanwhile, buoyed by the increase in bush fires, genuine fire calls for April 2020 stood at 152, compared to 67 for the corresponding period in 2019, an increase of 127 per cent.

Fortunately for the fire service, which is stretched because of the limited number of fire trucks, residential fires saw a decrease from 10 to four over the periods under review.

There was also a decrease in fires at commercial buildings and at garbage dumps, but an increase in motor vehicle fires, which moved from zero to three.

The fire report stated that estimated property loss was $57 million, while estimated property risk saved was $263 million.