Fellow Anguillians, citizens, residents and visitors as you are aware during the month of October we in Anguilla usually join with the United States based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and fire services throughout the United States and Canada to celebrate Fire Prevention Week. This year, fire prevention week will be celebrated from October 6-12 and the theme is “prevent Kitchen fires.”
The Government of Anguilla is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our island and therefore fire is a serious public safety concern to all of us. It should be noted that homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire. Although no one in Anguilla has been killed in a building fire in recent years, persons have suffered injuries. Our Fire and Rescue Service responded to 19 building fires in 2012 and so far for 2013 they have responded to 5 building fires. As our forebears taught us prevention is better than cure.
It is known that cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States and two of every five home fires start in the kitchen and unattended equipment was a factor in one-third of the reported cooking fires. It is also known that 57% of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries in the USA occur when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves and that children less than five years face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.
Therefore, it is important that persons should stay in the kitchen when frying food on the stovetop, keep a three-foot kid-free zone around cooking areas and keep anything that can catch fire away from stove tops. It is also known that persons who have planned and practiced a home fire escape plan are more prepared and will therefore be more likely to survive a fire and that working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
As first responders, the officers of the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education. It is hoped that citizens and residents of Anguilla will continue to be responsive to public education measures and will continue to take personal steps to increase their safety from fire, especially in their homes.
The Government of Anguilla continues to be committed to the welfare, safety and wellbeing of the men and women who serve in the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service. The Government of Anguilla has passes a number of Regulations that will support the work of the Fire and Rescue Service. The Government of Anguilla is committed to building a new Fire Station and will do so as soon as the funds are available to commence the work. In June 2013, the Government of Anguilla engaged the service of a qualified fire professional to assist with the professional development of the men and women of the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service.
Fellow Anguillians, citizens and residents, the 2013 Fire Prevention Week’s theme, “Prevent Kitchen Fires!” effectively serves to remind us all to stay alert and use caution when cooking to reduce the risk of kitchen fires.
THEREFORE, I Evan Gumbs, Minister with responsibility for the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service, do hereby declare Fire Prevention Week 2013 in Anguilla open, and I urge all the people of Anguilla to check their kitchens for fire hazard, use safe cooking procedures and support the many public safety activities and the efforts of the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service during Fire Prevention Week 2013.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
