By: Drizel Hanley
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (FRIDAY 16TH MARCH 2018)- The rampant increase in bush fires remains a major concern for the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services Department (SKNFRD).
This is in accordance with Fire Chief Everette O’Garro who revealed during an interview with this media house that the SKNFRD responded to an alarming number of bush fire calls over the past few weeks.
“Most of those fires are started by someone (whether it be farmers or construction workers) who’s probably trying to get rid of some old brush or clear a piece of land,” he said.
He added: “What normally happens is you’ll have someone who is probably clearing a piece of land or…want to get rid of some brush. But in these hot windy weathers, seemingly non-threatening fires can get away and cause serious damage.”
O’ Garro further made an appeal to residents to consult with the Fire Department before starting a fire whilst noting that to do so without permission is an offence.
“We have a policy in place for anyone wishing to light any fires. They contact us at the Fire Services and we would have someone go out and look at the area, do a proper assessment and determine whether or not it is alright to light the fire,” he added.
One of the most recent and most ravaging of the fires occurred a few days ago between Newton Ground and Sandy Point.
This publication understands that it burnt through brush across several acres of land which ran through the grassland and came dangerously close to a residential area.
Farmers around the island have reported a loss in vegetation due to the wide increase in fires.
One farmer told this media house that he had just transferred some seedlings when just two days after a fire destroyed everything.
“I transferred some season pepper slips and when I went back to the hills everything was destroyed by the fire and that is a big loss for me,” he said.
This media house also observed members of the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) making its rounds around the island, replacing lamp post and wires destroyed by fire