KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will install smoke detectors in several homes across the island as part of efforts to incorporate technology into reducing fire-related deaths and injuries in the country.
Commissioner of the JFB, Stewart Beckford, announced the media launch earlier this week of the JFB’s Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week,
The week will be observed from October 27 to November 2 under the theme ‘Embracing Digital Innovation to Improve Fire Safety.’
Beckford said technology can be leveraged to protect life and property from fire incidents better.
“Statistics have shown that since the start of the year, we have lost some 21 Jamaicans in fires, lives that could have been saved because fire-related deaths are preventable. Statistics in the United States would have indicated that three out of every five deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors, or if they did have one, it didn’t work because there was no maintenance of those smoke detectors,” he said.
“The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) has also indicated that you are 54 percent less likely to die in a fire if you have enough smoke detectors in your home, and so this is one area we will be focusing on to help better the public to help themselves, and one of the initiatives we will be looking on for this year, is how can we install some smoke detectors in the homes of persons who may not be in a position to acquire those,” he said.
The Commissioner said that starting this weekend, firefighters will go into homes to install smoke detectors.
“Not only are we encouraging persons to install smoke detectors, but we are going to be installing smoke detectors in homes across the country. How many, I’m not sure, but it all depends on the availability of the resources, but what we do know for sure is that in many of the divisions across the country, firefighters will be going into homes to install smoke detectors,” Mr. Beckford said.
“We are starting as at this weekend (Sunday). We will be out doing that. We will do it for the rest of the week of activities, but that doesn’t mean that the work ceases at the end of the week,” he said.
He also noted that persons may reach out to the Brigade if they need assistance installing their systems. “If persons are interested in having smoke detectors installed, they can reach out to us, so whether they are buying them and they may not know how to install them or they want us to come and install them, as long as we have them in our possession, then we will do that,” he said.
While unable to provide a budget for the undertaking, he said, “A lot of it is through the kind sponsorship of corporate Jamaica.”
The Commissioner said that as people continue to embrace technology and the convenience it brings, “it’s crucial that we remain aware of the importance of safeguarding our lives and livelihoods from the ravages of fires.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie informed that smart technology will be installed in three infirmaries across the island.
“To ensure that Jamaicans understand the new approach to safety in their homes, we will be using three of our infirmaries to commence installing this new advanced technology in fire safety in the homes. Our infirmaries carry close to 2,500 residents, and they are probably one of the most vulnerable in the society, so I believe safety should and will start there first,” he said.
Bemoaning the frequent destruction of markets due to electricity theft, he said the Musgrave Market in the eastern parish of Portland is being built with sprinklers to reduce the possibility of a fire occurring at the facility, noting that the JFB made that recommendation.
He also said the Government will continue to invest in improving the services of the JFB.
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