Expand fire service to other communities

The Editor, Sir:

In November 2010, I visited the York Park Fire Station and was shocked at its condition, particularly the old trucks and derelict equipment I observed lying around the compound, both at the front and back.

The recent spate of fires in residential areas, causing householders to lose their belongings, suggests that an urgent upgrading and expansion of the fire services is now necessary. Can you imagine how damaging the magnitude of the Eventide Home blaze in the 1970s, or the Orange Lane fire, also in the '70s, would be in modern Kingston?

It must be clear to the Government that a fire station needs to be established in Papine, in order to cover the neighbourhoods of Tavern, Kintyre, August Town, Irish Town, Gordon Town, and Mavis Bank.

In these areas, bush fires occur frequently. It also follows that similar services are required in Red Hills, St Andrew.

Jamaica's roads are so choked with traffic for much of the day, making it nearly impossible for a fire truck to navigate its way quickly to the scene of a fire.

Furthermore, the relevant authorities need to undertake a study to determine which fire hydrants are functional. Despite the problems of copper theft, some effort must be made to return dysfunctional hydrants to working condition.

-- Eric Offendel, Jamaica, Queens, New York