Westmoreland Fire Brigade reports surge in emergency calls amid ambulance challenges
Published:Tuesday | October 14, 2025 | 12:09 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
While fire calls were down by 14 per cent nationally in 2023-2024, the situation was far different in Westmoreland, which registered a staggering 35 per cent increase that was further compounded by a whopping 62 per cent increase in prank calls.
Indications are that the situation is unlikely to get better this year as, speaking during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC), District Officer Andre Fullwood, who is in charge of the Savanna-la-Mar and Negril fire stations, said firefighters responded to a combined 36 fire-related calls during September.
“For suppression, we responded to a total of 36 calls - 21 were genuine calls. Three were malicious calls, two were calls made with good intent, and 10 were special services,” said Fullwood, who further explained that the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division has been under persistent pressure, with Negril shouldering the majority of emergency medical responses due to the absence of a working ambulance in the parish capital.
He noted that “they responded to a total of 112 calls, responding mainly from Negril because Savanna-la-Mar is without a working ambulance”, which is putting an additional strain on the Negril unit.
Of the 112 EMS calls, Fullwood said 26 were motor vehicle accidents, 13 trauma cases, and 71 medical and surgical emergencies. He added that the division also responded to two obstetrics and gynaecology cases, while in three instances the patients were dead on arrival.
Despite the operational strain, Fullwood said the fire department continues to execute fire-safety inspections and educational outreach activities across schools, businesses, and institutions throughout the parish, as part of the brigade’s preventative mandate.
Fullwood also announced that the Jamaica Fire Brigade will observe Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week from October 26 to November 1 under the national theme ‘Safe Homes, Safe Communities: The Power of Prevention’.
“One of the things that is particular about this year is that Area Four, which comprises Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Hanover and St James, will be having an open day right here in Westmoreland. It should be held at Independence Park on the 28th of October,” he said.
Fullwood said the event will feature several government and private-sector entities showcasing their services.
“We’re going to be having not only the Fire Brigade, but other agencies will be coming out to advertise or to demonstrate whatever products and services they have to offer,” he noted.
Providing further clarity on the parish’s ambulance crisis, Fullwood confirmed that one of the two ambulances assigned to Westmoreland remains out of use at the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Station, while the other is currently being repaired with the assistance of the Negril Chamber of Commerce.
“One is still at the station, while one is at a mechanic shop. The work is being done as we speak. Based on information that we got, some parts were overlooked when they did the initial assessment to find out what parts were needed to fix it. So they are in the process now of preparing those items to have it completed.”
During the meeting, Councillor Artnell Colley, who represents the Negril Division, suggested exploring additional partnerships to supplement the ambulance fleet, including possible assistance from the JAH JAH Foundation.
“As it relates to us using the JAH JAH Foundation ambulance, it would need clearance to operate and that one would have to come from the hierarchy,” said Fullwood. “Reason being, we are civil servants, and under the Jamaica Fire Brigade or Ministry of Health, you know that we would have insurance. The Government will insure us on those ambulances. For the JAH JAH Foundation, I’m not certain how that would work, so for that we would have to get clearance from the hierarchy.”