The Barbados Fire Service is warning that smoke emanating from the asbestos roof of the old Barbados Family Planning Association building Jemmotts Lane, St Michael poses a danger to households in the area, and is therefore advising residents to vacate their homes for now.
Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard this morning ordered residents to remove themselves from the direct path of the plume since the smoke should not be inhaled.
“As asbestos smoke it is dangerous, and therefore we don’t want you to inhale it. So as much as possible, move away from the scene until the fire is extinguished,” he told members of the media this morning.
Divisional Officer of the Barbados Fire Service Tremelle Perch said three fire tenders from the Bridgetown and Arch Hall fire stations responded to the blaze which started around 10:35 a.m.
“It is mostly under control at the moment, but we are just giving it a few more minutes before we can say that it is definitely under control,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents in the area who said this was about the seventh time a fire had occurred at the abandoned building in recent times, called on authorities to demolish derelict structures, particularly in The City. (AH)
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