The Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service, based at the Clayton Lloyd International Airport, began Fire Prevention Week on Sunday, October 6, with officers attending the St Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church service, conducted by Father PawelCzoch.
The Chief Fire Officer, the Fire Service Consultant and the Fire Officers were welcomed to the church, and commended for their work on the island, by the Catholic Priest. Among those at the service were Governor Christina Scott; Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes; the Minister of Infrastructure, Evan Gumbs; and his Permanent Secretary, Larry Franklin.
Senior Citizens Home
The focus of the week of activities involved a warning to all householders in Anguilla about the danger of kitchen fires. This was addressed to some extent by Fire Station Officer, Shondell Hodge, towards the end of the service. He took the opportunity to give a history of Fire Prevention Week which was established in the United States to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire which began on October 8, 1871, destroyed 16 towns, killed over 1,151 persons and scorched 1.2 million acres of land.
Officer Hodge said that this year’s Fire Prevention Week in Anguilla was being held under the theme “Prevent Kitchen Fires” because the kitchen was the origin of most domestic fires. “A basic understanding of the common cause of fires – and the corrective measures should one occur – will help you to minimise and eliminate fire risks not only at the workplace, but at homes, hotels, restaurants, shops, BBQs and everywhere else,” he advised his listeners. “That’s why we have fire prevention ambassadors, like us, who are willing to promote fire safety throughout the beautiful island of Anguilla.”
The Fire Station Officer invited everyone to attend the various activities on the island in observance of Fire Prevention Week. The activities, including community work at the Miriam Gumbs Senior Citizen’s Home and fire prevention drills at the schools, climax on Friday, October 11, with public displays in the vicinity of the Ronald Webster Building at Social Security.
Minister Evan Gumbs, Chief Fire Officer (Martin Richardson), and Fire Service Consultant (Jim Bunting), saw Fire Prevention Week as an important event focusing mainly on fires in the kitchen and creating awareness in the schools as well as among members of the general public.
