Firemen battle Ch Ch grass fire

Firefighters spent several hours between Sunday night and Monday extinguishing a grass fire that damaged several utility poles as it spread overnight.

Acting Station Officer of the Barbados Fire Service Tremel Perch told Barbados TODAY that fire officers received a call on Sunday night about a blaze at Bannatyne, Christ Church and by morning, the inferno had stretched as far as the Globe Drive-In, Hope, and South Ridge.

Three fire trucks and 14 officers responded to the blaze.

“We are slowly but surely getting the fire under control at this time. We got a call for the fire last night but based on the circumstances of the terrain, we would have just used
defensive firefighting at that point in time,” Perch said on Monday.

“So now we are into the offensive mode in taking care of the fire and trying to put out the blaze. The wind is blowing from multiple directions so as the wind shifts, different foliage catches afire, therefore making the situation on the difficult side. But we are good enough to get through the situation and put out the blaze,” he added.

Manager, Communications and Government Relations at the Barbados Light & Power Company Ltd, Jackie Marshall-Clarke said the company was firstly concerned about the safety of residents in the affected area.

“We are aware of damage to poles but we have to give the Barbados Fire Service the room to bring the fire under control. We work in partnership with the firemen in times like these and if there is an electrical emergency or risk of life, they will alert us immediately.

“We are on standby and prepared to respond. Our crew and contractors are ready to get there as soon as it is safe to do so. We will replace the burnt poles and will assess any further damage to the electrical infrastructure at that time,” Marshall-Clarke added. (AH)