The Saint Lucia Fire Service (SLFS) is urging the public to resist setting any fires without consent or proper direction from the SLFS.
Deputy Fire Chief Ditney Downes says the SLFS has responded to a number of domestic fires which puts a strain on the fire service.
“As it relates to our fire responses, I would not say there have been a significant reduction based on our statistics we have responded to a number of domestic fire responses.” he says.
The SLFS wishes to advise the public that it is illegal to deliberately set fires and is asking that the public call for assistance when attempting to dispose of waste by burning.
“We also want to appeal to citizens that it is illegal to deliberately set fires, especially during the dry season we have a number of persons setting fires whether deliberate or whether they try to do it in a controlled environment and it gets out of control and we’re asking that they cease from doing that.” he urged.
Deputy Downes says when these illegal fires are set they often become uncontrollable and these blazes strain the physical and Human Resources of the SLFS.
He says the fire service is currently experiencing a lack of manpower and attending to bushfires takes away from responding to life-saving calls.
Photo: createdigital.org.au
